The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1936-04-18

ana executive ability HAY USC0 40
sponSible for the growth Of the
Department Of Justice, took per-
sonal charge Of the case.
The voice at the other end OF
the phone informed the Chief OF
the omen that he, West Virginia
State Trooper Harry Brown, had
been searching all night for
George N. Davis, pro minent
Lewisburg citizen and retired in
dustrialist, and his friend, Robert
K. Robinson, who had been kid
mapped about $50 on the night OF
August /.
Davis, the State trooper said,
had been called to the telephone
shortly after he reached his eS'
tate, Just outside Of LewiSburg. by
a man who gave his name as mr.
Liggett."
"Mr. Iiggett," said he, was at
the General Lewis Hotel. He stated
he was an Internal Revenue Agent
and that he wanted to talk over
some discrepancies in Mr.. DAVIS
income tax returns.
Davis at first refused to- meet
Liggett but the man insisted 1t
was imperative. He said he was
returning to Richmond, Va, that
night. that he had made q special
trip to see Davis and that he must
see him.
Clever Actor
The induStrialist telephoned his
attorney, M. L. Jarrett, and &C
companied by o mutual friend
Robert K. Robinson, the three
men drove to the hotel.
They were met by q coatless
man who said he was "Mr. Lag
gett Of the Internal Revenue Blu
reau." He explained he had lost
his coat the day before IN Hunt
ington.
While Jarrett and Robinson
waited in the lobby, Davis and
Liggett talked in one Of the hoters
private rooms.
The supposed revenue agent
showed q surprising knowledge OF
Davis affairs-so much so that
he almost convinced him he was
what he represented himself to be.
He explained the conference As
being in line with a new pro
cedure instituted by the Govern
ment for checking accuracy Of in
come tax returns. The Govern
ment, he said, had been informed
that Davis had failed to declare
5000 acres Of valuable coal land
and extensive winnings derived
from speculationS on the New
York Stock Exchange.
Davis Indignantly denied this
Questioned closely by the man.
he said that his income was ap'
proximately $4,000 a year.
They returned to the lobby and
Liggett left. The three friends,
Jarrett later told special agents,
watched Liggett get into a blue
Chevrolet coupe which had been
parked at the curb. They noticed
another man in the machine
watching them through the rear
window.
It was one Of those unusually
black nights, and raining heavily,
when they entered Davis car,
the attorney stated. He told
agents that Davis dropped him
at his home in Lewisburg and,
with Robinson, drove on to his
estate located just outside the
city. That was the last seen
Of either Davis or Robinson.
At Mr.. Davis home, his sec
rotary, Carolyn Peyton, told Fed
eral men that about $50 on the
night of August ! she heard a
shot. She went out to investi
gate and saw two cars in the
driveway. Thinking it might
have been a backfire, Miss Pey
ton said she returned to the
house.
Agents, securing surrounding
towns, picked up their first i'm
portant clue. Cecil Wiseman, q
young man living in Ronceverte
w. Va, who had heard about
the kidnapping, got in touch with
the Omen. He said that about
II o'clock on the same night
Davis disappeared he was walk
ing along the street when a
man driving q blue Chevrolet
coupe hailed him. He wanted to
know if he was on the right
road to Richmond,
Good Description
WiSeman said he got on the run.
ning-board to direct the stranger
and in so doing the flaShlight he
was carrying was turned full or
the mans face. He said the mar
appeared to be about 81. That HI
had dark eyes, buShy hair and ar
olive complexion. He was hatless
and coatleSS and his Shirtsleeve:
were rolled up and his collar open
The man, Wiseman told agents
appeared greatly agitated anc
wanted to know if there were any
police in the vicinity.
DR.. c. H. Thompson, president
Of the Ronceverte Bank, where
Davis has an account, suggested
that agents notify all banks ir
Richmond to be on the lookout fol
a large check issued by the missing
industralist. The manager of the
LewiSburg Hotel said he felt sure
that Liggett would try and take
his prey to Richmond, because he
had mentioned going there.
With all roads leading to and
from Richmond watched by State
police and Department Of Justice
agents. and all banks in the sur
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