The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1936-05-16
Ransom Bill Numbers Were
Listed, but Not Banks,
Kidnaper Explains.
SPENT $4,000 FREELY
Travelled Between Coast
and New York Often,
He Declares.
BY FREDDIE RUSSELL
Nashville Banner staff Writer


NASHVILLE, Tenn, May
16.-During the 10 months
between Oct. 10, 1884, and
May II, 1886, millions of
Americans tossed aside their
newspapers with this query:
Il wonder where that Tom
Robinson is ?"
Queer how an amateur criminal
could escape the laws dragnets
when G-men and others everywhere
were out to hunt him down.
Hundreds of times I asked N.Y.
self the question and at last I have
the only authentic answer, from the
mouth of, Thomas H. Robinson Jr.,
himself.
Ten years ago Tom Robinson
wasn't public enemy, but tennis
playing, fun-loving boy friend of
mine preparing to enter Vanderbilt
University School of Law.
I knew his parents then. 1 liked
and respected them. It was natural
L should accompany them to Louis
vile for his hearing and sentence.
1t was natural this boy, who had
so closely guarded every word for
almost two years, now headed for an
Atlanta cell, should smile widely.
handshake briskly and open up and
talk to the only old friend, outside
his family. he had seen since that
autumn afternoon in 1884.
Where did Tom Robinson go after
the ransom money was delivered to
him in indianapolis on Oct. 16, 1894?
Stayed 2 Days in Cleveland
In his Ford with the tag changed,
he headed for Springfield, :, driving
through Newcastle and Richmond,
The papers said they were scour-
ing that section for me-" said Rob-
inson, so left my car in Spring.
field. I took the late night bus Tor
Toledo"
Next morning, Oct. IT, Robinson
went to the railroad station and
waited, reading newspapers and
magazines, until train time for
Cleveland. There he stayed two
days, attending movie after movie,
before going by rail to New York.
IN New York he went to the
Knickerbocker Hotel, registering
under an assumed name. 1T must
have been either John Ward or
Thomas Kennedy" he said.
Moves to the Waldorf
Within a week he moved to the
fashionable Waldorf Astoria on
Park-av. There the big test came
For the first time, ransom money
was 20 be spent One of the $40 bills
was changed at the desk. He was
out of money and willing to take
that chance. Newspaper stories
limited he was in the Middle West.
1t was unbearable misery for
two days. Every walk had its
dreaded return to the hotel. Would
officers be waiting in his room?
Young Robinson had to break the
tension and he took to night clubs.
That necessitated more ransom
money. He spent it freely, even
carelessly.
Spends More Than $4,000
That began 19-month spree in
which Robinson spent more than
$4,000. To this day not $40 of the
Stoll ransom money has been
traced.
1t couldn't be traced. For the
hrst time ever published, I'll tell you
why. The source Of my information
can not be revealed.
When the package containing
$4,000 in $40 and $40 bills was ex-
pressed to Nashville in October.
1884. the numbers of the bills were
recorded at Louisville-just the
Practically all those bills were ma
tional bank notes and some one neg
noted to record the name of the
bank along with each number. A
thousand national banks in the
United States have issued paper
money and there are hundreds OF
duplicate numbers in all denomina-
tons of bills.
THESE bills can be distinguished
only by the name of the bank, and
they didn't have the name of the
banks that issued Robinson's cur
rency.
One can understand why the
young Tennesseean playboyed his
way all over New York City in No
Turn to Page Three