The Waterbury Democrat., 1935-06-03
Listed By Federal Agents as Ex=Convict Confed-
 crate of Karpis
MAY HAVE INSIDE
 KNOWLEDGE OF CRIME
Authorities Want InfOrnla. ton on Hde=Outs of
 Former Pals

St. Paul, June 3-(UP)- Volney Davis, defiant member of the Barker : Karpis gang, was questioned by depart ment of justice agents today, supposedly in an effort to solve the George Weyer- haeuser Kidnapping. D avis. seized in Chicago and hustled here by airplane, is listed by federal authorities as an ex- convict confederate of Alvin Karpis, chief suspect in the $2oo,- 900 Weyerhaeuer abduction.
 The department of justice agents it was believed, hoped to draw from Davis lead as to the where's abouts of Karpis.
 Theory Believed.
 The theory that the prisoners already. un q CT indictment on charges of aiding in the $200.e00 Kidnapping of Edward c. Bremers might have inside knowledge 7of the Tacoma youths abduction was given credence by the closely>. guarded movements of government authorities.
 Haggard and holding his has over his face to thwart photogra- phers, Davis was brought into court under heavy guard.
 District Attorney George F. Suls livan, who convicted former allies of Davis in the abduction moved that he be arraigned on a charge of conspiracy.
 Judge Joyce asked Davis if I@ understood the meaning of the inc dictment. Davis replied that he did
 Pleads Guilty
 Asked how he pleads he ans swered, T plead Guilty"
 He then was jailed to await sens tence.
 It was understood the ctherA would be sentenced with him. They are Byron Bolton and EI< mer Farmer, John J. (Boss) Mc& Laughlin, Harold Alderton, ana James Wilson, who were found guilty with Arthur (Doc) Barkex. and Oliver Berg. Barker and Ber& previously were sentenced to life Imprisonment.
 Davis Questioned Meanwhile Davis was questioned in the Weyerhaeuser case.
 Agents believe he has been in contact with other members of the gang in recent months.
 During negotiations for ransona~ ing of the Weyerhaeuser boy DavisA name was frequently mentionedu He was identified, it was reported as man who attempted to rent an apartment near the Weyerhaeuser home.
 Agents, 1t was expected, would question him concerning hideoutn used by Karpis, Harry Campbell and William Weaver, major re~ maining fugitives of the gangs since their trail was lost early thi1 year after Karpis shot his way out of a police trap in Atlantic Citys N. J.
 Knew Too Much After pleading guilty Davis told the United Press that he admitted his part in the Bremen abduction because the government knew ae much about the Kidnapping as I did and I didn't hay chance to beat the rap.'
 Davis was believed to hava been aboard an airplane forced down at Madison, Wis, last night enroute to St. Paul. The plane, a chartered Stinsons landed at Madison at S:15 p. m. and returned three times before finally getting away toward St. Paul at 3:20 a. m. Three men with guns strapped under their coats alighted but refused to discuss1 their mission.
 Melvin Purvis. number one ins vestigator employed by the depart< ment of justice to track dowA public enemies, led a squad oz federal agents that trapped Davis The latter's connection with AlviSz Karpis led to the conclusion he may have been implicated in thu Weyerhaeuser abduction, possibly 1 (Continued on Page 4.l