The Washington times., 1935-05-27
MISTAKE Barred
WHEN POLICE
READLETTER
TenSeness That Rules Tacoma
In Weyerhaeuser Abduction
Indicated by Incident
BY HAROLD HEROUX
Copyright, 1895, by international
News Service)

TACOMA, WASH, May ~
(IN.SO.-A Tacoma minister was
temporarily held a prisoner early
today in the Weyerhaeuser kid
mapping case as the main post
office became the scene Of fren-
xied activity.
Alert detectives, assigned to
watch the special delivery drop,
spotted a letter addressed to John
Philip Weyerhaeuser, jr.. scion Of
the famous multi-millionaire lum.
Der family and father Of kidnapped
9-year-old George Philip Weyer-
haeuser, fall through the slot.
With drawn guns, the detec-
tives rushed from their hiding
places into the post office lobby
and seized q man in preacher
garb. The man readily gave his
name and protested the action
Of the detectives. He said:
eyes, / wrote . letter to Mr..
WeyerhaeuSer but it is no ran
som note. It Is . letter Of con-
dolence. Open it and see"
STATEMENT TRUE
The detectives summoned Gov
eminent agents Of the Depart.
ment of Justice who opened the
letter and learned the minister's
statements were true. The min
lister, whose name was not made
public, was released with apologies.
This episode characterized the
tenseness that has prevailed since
Friday noon when the slender,
curly haired boy was "Snatched"
near his school by q kidnaper who
identified himself as the "Egotist"
in his ransom demand OF 5000 900.
100000.
Full text Of the ransom note
was learned today.
Wednesday is the deadline set
by the kidnapers for payment Of
the 100000 ransom. The note
said:
I'm five days, or as soon as
you have the money, advertise
In the Seattle p. /. personal
column, say We ere ready and
sign 1t Percy, Minnie"
The long typewriter notice en-
phaSized 81 points, one Of which
declared the kidnapers had
planned the crime for three years.
The kidnapers described them.
selves as educated and intelli-
gent"
Unmarked Federal Reserve notes
were demanded-$100,00O in $40
bills, $4,000 in $40 bills, and
$4,000 in IS bills. Another para
graph said:
these bills must have been
In circulation. Be careful"
Meanwhile the grief.Stricken
parents Of the kidnapped boy were
doing everything possible to get
in touch with the kidnapers.
Word came from the father that
he will spend his last cent to
get back his son."
Way Left Open
Government agents announced
they had withdrawn from the
case until the child is safely re-
turned to its parents. This an.
nouncement was hoped to open
the path for a new contact be.
tween the abductors and the par
entS.
New York gangsters, who e.
capped after obtaining $4,000 in
the 20-day kidnapping Of John j.
O'Connell, jr., at Albany, N. Y,
two years ago, are sought in con.
nection with the Weyerhaeuser
abduction, the Pacific North.
vests first kidnapping case.
Several clues in the Weyer.
haeuser case closely resemble the
O'Connell "job," local police said.
The New York underworld fig.
ureS linked with the case here
are John and Francis Obey and
Percy Geary, fugitives since their
disappearance from Albany in
September. 1888.
Two Cases Similar
Police continued to search for
o tan sedan with a California
license seen parked near the
Lowell public school. which little
George left a few minutes before
he was "snatched." Scores Of
"tips" about this car and its pur.
ported "Suspicious-looking" occu.
RRRAAA .