Evening star., 1936-05-12
ADMITS
ST0LL KIDNAPPING,
HOOVER DECLARES
F. B. |. Director Makes An.
nouncement as Prisoner
Arrives at Louisville.
CAPTURED IN GLENDALE
ON SODA CLERKS "TIP"
Abductor of Society Matron Makes
No Resistance, Although
Armed at Time.

BACKGROUND
Thomas H. Robinson, jr, eccen-
trio Lone Wolf" kidndper OF Mrs.
Alice Speed StoI. Louisville, Ky.,
society matron, dropped from sight
after receiuing $4,000 ransom
money on October is, 1884, in In
didnapolis, sir days after abduction.
Young dbductor's Dite, Mrs.
Frances Robinson, and his father,
Thomas Fl. Robinson, Nashville,
Tenn, attorney, Uere dragged into
the case and tried for completely in
the crime. They Uere subsequently
acquitted.
BY the Associated Press.
j. Edgar Hoover said today that
Thomas H. Robinson, jr., arrested in
Glendale, Calf, last night, has ad-
mitted kidnapping Mrs. Alice Speed
Stoll, Louisville. KY. society leader.
The director of the Federal Bureau
of Investigation said Robinson told
agents that his first plan was to kid
nap c. c. Stoll, father-in-law of his
victim. Finding that the elder Stoll
was not at home, Hoover said his
story continued, he went to the sons
house, seeking a second possible male
victim.
When he could not find the younger
Stoll. Hoover said, Robinson quickly
decided to abduct young Mrs. Stoll.
Mrs. Stoll, wife of Berry Stoll,
wealthy oil man. was slugged with a
lead pipe before being taken from her
home in the $50 1000 kidnapping in the
Fall of 1884. The Federal law provides
a death penalty when kidnap victim
suffers bodily harm.
The seizure of Robinson was the
climax of an 11-day campaign of swift
raids in which Federal agents scooped
up Alvin Karpis. Harry Campbell and
William Mahan.
Hoover Leaves Fight.
Soon after the capture. the agents
of the Federal Bureau of Investigation
flashed the word to their chief here.
Hoover was attending prize fight.
but he left it instantly and called re-
porters to his Office.
We've got Robinson" he smiled.
TOOK him in Glendale. Calf.
The blond woman" disguise at
tributed to Robinson was reported
from many cities at various times in
the hunt. A lack of lobes on his ears
was the only distinguished physical
characteristic of the six-foot youth
from Nashville, Tenn.
The kidnapping Of Mrs. Stoll aroused
indignation. She was
abed with cold when a young man
gained entrance to the house on Oc-
tober 10, 1884, to check the telephone
He forced maid to tie Mrs. Stoll's
hands and when the society matron
tried to buy him off with a check he
slugged her. Bleeding, Mrs Stoll was
forced into a car and carried away.
Left Ransom Notes.
The kidnaper left ransom demands
written on legal stationery. later
note named Robinson's wife as inter-
mediary. The ransom finally was
paid to her and she took train for
indianapolis where, according to JUS
tice agents accounts, Mrs. Stoll had
been held captive in an apartment.
Some time later, Mrs. Robinson and
Mrs. Stoll arrived at Terre Haute. Ind,
where they were met by Federal agents
Subsequently Robinson's wife and
his father were acquitted of charges
in connection with the kidnapping.
Director Hoover said that examina-
ton of the first ransom document in
the technical laboratory of the F. B. I.
has definitely established" that the
younger Robinson wrote it.
F. B. I. records of Robinson's past
say that the first charge against him
was completely in a $4,000 jewel rob-
berry. He was committed to an insane
lCao DnpYNC0N poco o.