The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-10-13
THIRD DAY PASSES
WITHOUT CLUES TO
FATE OF MRS. SYOLL
Authorities Comb Area Near
Home on Belief Body May
Be Found
ILL WHEN CARRIED AWAY
Authorities Cooperate in Keep
ing Lines Clear for Any
Contacts


Louisville, KY, Oct. 13.-(R-Fear
that Mrs. Alice Speed Stoll might
have been killed by the kidnaper who
stole her from her home Wednesday
was indicated Saturday by sudden
rush of city and county police and
federal agents to search the entire
area around the 16-acre Stoll estate
on the fashionable Lime Kiln Lane
near here.
Belief that the woman's body might
be found was expressed by one po-
liceman as he dashed up in the sud-
den conveyance of about so officers
in striking contrast to the withdraw
al of all guards a short time before
Fridays announcement that the ran
som demands had been met.
Search Abandoned House
Dunlap Wakefield, Louisville direc-
tor of safety, who led one party, con-
centrated upon q ng-abaI1doned
house a few miles southwark Of the
Stou home. He searched it intensive
ly from cellar to attic, poking under
its partly fallen in floors, but his only
answer to question, prompted by the
policemens remark, as to whether he
was looking for Mrs. Stoll's body, the
$4,000 ransom or the kidnaper him
self, was: II can't say, except that
we are overlooking no clues"
Wakefield, accompanied by Forrest
A. Taylor, president of the Louisville
board Of aldermen, poked into an old
rotting corn crib on the place and in
to the hollow stump Of dead tree.
The officers were divided into four
parties, some Of them including about
IS ex-service men, and they combed
the woods and brush southwark Of
the Stoll estate.
The kidnaper's note found last
Wednesday on the bed on the second
floor OF the Stoll home, lengthy and
carefully typed document covering
several pages, was filled with
abuse Of the Stoll family. It threat
ened harm to other members Of the
family besides pretty Alice Speed
Stoll who the man took with him
after striking her on the head with
an iron pipe.
Mrs. Stoll. according to her maid.
Ann Violet, gave up and said Lets
go, them" after the kidnaper had
threatened III Berry comes, I'll kill
him."
The note, which in its original form
had demanded $4,000, had been
changed by the kidnaper before it
was left, the original sum scratched
out and the amount made to read
$4,000. Young Stoll said at the time
the note kept referring to G. G. Stoll,
his father, and that he believed the
writer was some one who knew the
family. The text of the note was
never made public, officials giving the
impression it contained much detail
as to how the ransom was to be paid.
Activities Kept Secret
What basis there might be for the
family's hopeful attitude was not dis
closed. If a contact had been made
with the kidnaper, it had been done
in strict secrecy.
I! Considerable excitement prevailed
at Harrod's Greek, near the Stoll
estate in the early morning hours
when plane was observed twice fly
ing over the estate. Coupled with the
fact that there was small floodlight
on one side of the house. just above
an upstairs window. this led to specu-
lation that some kind Of contact was
being made by the kidnaper. A check
Of possibilities, however. turned up
the probability that it was the regu-
lar mail plane, coming in and taking
off again from Bowman field, few
miles away.
Consideration for the safety OF Mrs.
Stoll remained the primary interest Of
everyone working in the case Satur-
day. Arrangements were carefully
made to guard against any move
which might cause the kidnaper to
fear making contact with the family.
All interviews were forbidden to
members Of the family and the serv-
ants. At the urgent request OF the
Stoll family and that Of Mrs. Stoll's
parents, Mr.. and Mrs. William s.
Speed, they have been left in complete
isolation. A newsreel cameraman who
got into the estate was arrested be-
fore he succeeded In making pictures
there. Taken Immediately before
County Judge Ben F. Ewing, he was
released on his promise not to enter
the premises again.
Mrs. Stoll's maid, Mrs. Ann Violet,
the only person except the principals
who witnessed the abduction, and her
husband, Fowler Violet, caretaker OF
the Stoll estate, hav. living quarters
there, and have been carefully kept
away from interviewers. Conflicting
accounts Of what occurred during the
hour and half the kidnaper was sup
posed 20 hare been IL the house have
been attributed to the maid.