Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-06-10
L|NDBERCH CASE
TRAP USED AGAIN
'Weyerhaeuser Gang Caught
by Same Ransom Money
Check-Up.
BY REX COLLIER.

A ransom money trap similar TO
that employed in the Lindbergh case
has caught two of the alleged kidnap-
ers of George Weyerhaeuser, jr., and
precipitated an intensive search for
one or more other participants in the
100000 Tacoma. Wash, abduction.
Announcing the arrest and confess
sion at Salt Lake City, Utah. of Har-
mon Valley, 24-year old paroled bur-
glar. and his wife, Margaret Valley.
Director J. Edgar Hoover of the Fed
eral Bureau of Investigation today
was directing by telephone remote
control the establishment through
out the Far Northwest of a road
blockade to nab a third alleged kid
naper, William Mahan, ex-convict.
While Mahan was being secretly
sought by Hoovers men as result of
statements made by Valley and his
wife. police stumbled onto his car yes
terdsy at Butte, Mont, and found in
it $4,000 of the 100000 ransom paid
for the release of the Weyerhaeuser
boy. A man believed to be Mahan
left the car as police pulled alongside
to investigate il as suspicious"
VALLEY has made a full confession"
Hoover declared His wife also has
confessed"
Hoover Announces Arrests.
First announcement of the arrests
was made by Hoover last night at a
special press conference in his Office
in the Department of Justice. He and
a group of his assistants had been in
contact all day Sunday with the Fed
eral agents concentrated in Utah and
Montana.
Behind a cloak of official secrecy
developments in the investigation came
rapidly with the arrest of Mrs. Valley.
Questioned relentlessly behind locked
doors in the Salt Lake City field Office
of the bureau, the woman admitted
her identity and gave information
which led to the quiet arrest of her
husband at his home in Salt Lake
City.
Valley, wanted by Walla Walla
Wash. police as a parole violator, was
put through a severe grilling in
another room. AT first denying any
part in the Weyerhaeuser kidnapping
the agents are understood to have
tripped him in so many statements
that he decided at last to tell all"
Valleys statements precipitated an
Immediate search for Mahan in Mon
tana. Hoover said It has been estab-
1lShed that Mahan was lone of the
principal participants" This man.
hunt was under way when a Butte
policeman was attracted to a gray
green sedan of the type being sought
by the &c men," AS he approached
he saw a man whom he recognized
AS former convict. The man jumped
over q fence. In a locked compart-
ment of the car was found the cache
OF ransom money, with newspaper
containing the printed list of serial
numbers of the Weyerhaeuser ransom
fund.
Checked OFF Bills.
Apparently Mahan had been check
ing off the bills he had gotten rid
Of" Hoover remarked
Both Valley and Mahan have
criminal records in our identification
division, but We have no record on the
woman It is of interest to note that
both men have been at liberty under
parole or some other form of leniency.
Valley was paroled in 1881 after re-
- f0,-
burglary and Mahan was sentenced
to 20 years for robbery in Boise, Idaho,
in 1927, but released before expiration
of his term.
Hoover said Valley is a native of
Puyallup, Wash. His criminal record
shows five convictions on charges
ranging from f1rst-degree burglary to
automobile theft.
The Federal Bureau Of Investigs-
ton published wanted" notice with
regard to Mahan in bulletin. "Fugi-
tives Wanted by Police" issued just
a year ago. He was sought for bank
robbery and assault in Centralia,
WASH. in May, 1884.
Mahan No. 1 Enemy.
NdlldIi, lOI iIiC Uiiilc btIilS, O-tOllcS
head man on the list of most-Wanted
public enemies" If the Federal Blu
reau of investigation. Alvin Karpis,
one Of the gang which kidnapped Ed
ward G. Bremen. ST. Paul banker.
and Thomas H. Robinson, ir. kid
naper OF Mrs. Berry StOll. are close
rivals for the unenviable No. l posi-
ton.
Identification OF Walev and Mahan
in the Weyerhaeuser case sco,ches
unofficial speculation linking Karpis
and several of Ills associates with
the Tacoma kidnapping. Hoover re-
peatedly has discounted published re-
ports that these or other big shot,
gangsters engineered the sensational
snatch" of the WeyerhaeuSer heir
on May "a last.
The investigation director asked the
press to give credit to Washington
and Utah police for splendid CO.
operation with the Federal authori-
ties.