The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-10-18
AbduCtor'S Wife Delivered
Ransom at BeheSt of
Agents, Claim.
FEAR SUICIDE ATTEMPT
Pairing Knife Taken From
Purse and Guard at
Jail BoIStered.
BY Upton BLISH
Times staff Writer

Mrs. Frances Robinson,
charged with participating in
the kidnapping of Mrs. Alice
Speed Stoll, delivered the
$4,000 ransom money to her
husband on instructions of
federal agents, her attorney
announced this afternoon.
The brunei wife of the
fugitive kidnaper had mot
even the slightest suspicion"
that her husband was involved in
the kidnapping until the federal
agents asked her to aid them, &C
cording to the attorney.
The announcement was made by
Glenn Higgins, Nashville lawyer,
after he had conferred with Mrs.
Robinson in the Liberty street Jail
where she is held.
MISs IbOD1lAoOAA OOlO AAC5 NAAs
Higgins said, that a representative
of the Tennessee attorney-general's
Office, federal men and a member
of the Stoll family held a confer
ence in Nashville while Mrs. Stoll
was being held prisoner.
Gave $500 to Husband
"They decided that she would
carry the ransom money, which had
been sent to Robinson'S father in
Nashville, to her husband in Indi-
annapolis.
up to that time she had not the
slightest suspicion that her husband
was the kidnaper."
Mr.. Higgins said that after she
had turned the money ove to her
husband, Thomas H. Robinson Jr.,
he made her give up $500 of her
own money in exchange for some of
the ransom bills. This was done,
Mr. Higgins explained, to provide
Robinson with unmarked spending
money" on his flight.
A constant guard was main
tanned today over Mrs. Robinson
after a three-inch pairing knife was
taken from her.
The woman was in an hysterical
condition and her jailerS feared she
might attempt to end her life.
Knife Found in Purse
The pairing knife was found in
her purse when she was placed in
the Liberty street Jail, after her ar
raignment before a United States
commissioner on kidnapping charges.
Discovery of the knife by Jailer
Morton j. Corners led to an i'm
mediate order for the stationing of
two federal guards outside her cell.
The guards are On duty night and
day.
Mrs. Robinson, the mother of a
3-year-old boy, spent a restless night
and suffered from hysterical out
bursts today.
DR.. E. C. Redmon, Jail physi-
clan, spent more than an hour with
her.
She smoked constantly, lighting
one cigaret from the butt of an
other, as she paced the women's
dormitory of the Jail.
Federal Judge Charles I. Dawson
today called the federal grand jury
into session to investigate the Stoll
kidnapping.
As to Be Summoned
The call was for next Saturday
and was made on motion of District
Attorney Thomas Sparks. Judge
Dawson ordered that forty-five per-
sons be called. Sixteen will be Sc
lected for the jury.
Vigilance vas redoubled in Chi
cago when it was recalled that Rob-
inson worked there last year at the
World fair and rented there the car
in which he abducted Mrs. Stoll a
week ago Wednesday. A close watch
on all fair gates was maintained by
Chicago police and justice depart
ment men.
Mrs. Robinson was remanded
to Jail here late yesterday under
$4,000 bond after a dramatic plea
of not guilty when she was arraigned
before a United States commissioner
on kidnapping warrants issued by
Thomas Sparks, United States dis
trict attorney.
Demands an Attorney
The dark-haired young woman
who delivered the ransom money
to her husband in Indianapolis and
who was instrumental in the return
of Mrs. Stoll, wept Historically
when she faced the commissioner
and heard Oct. Is set as the date
for a preliminary hearing.
Sweeping aside the restraining
arm of Harold Nathan, in charge
of federal operations here, she cried
fiercely:
Il demand an attorney right now.
And another thing-I want to see
Mrs. Stoll right away. I want to get
in touch with her now"
Her anxiety to see the woman her
husband kidnapped was dictated by
Mrs. Stoll's expressed hope that
nothing would happen to that
woman because she saved my life
Berry v. Stoll, husband of the
kidnap victim, also expressed him.
self yesterday as being grateful to
Mrs. Robinson for acting as a buffer
between Mrs. Stoll and the dement,
ed Robinson, who twice threatened
to kill the Kentucky society matron.
Her eyes filed with tears and
her face twitching spasmodically.
Mrs. Robinson was taken back to