Evening star., 1937-09-27
Retired Manufacturer Suf-
-fered From High Blood Pres
sure and Heart III.
ABDUCTORS WITHHOLD
DEMANDS FOR RANSOM
Grieving Wife of Elderly Chica.
goan Anxiously Awaits
Word From Gunmen.
(Pictures on Page A-2.)
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
CHICAGO, September 27.-Fear
that Charles S. Ross had died in the
hands of kidnapers increased today
as hours passed without word from
the retired manufacturer or his alb
ductors.
Capt. Daniel Gilbert of the States
attorneys police theorized the r.
year-old victim, suffering from high
blood pressure and heart ailment,
might have died of shock since he
was carried off Saturday night.
His captors, the captain added,
might have hidden the body.
Gilbert's officers and detective
squads were stationed at strategic
points awaiting receipt of a ransom
note or telephone call, on the alter
nate premise that Ross was still alive.
His wife, distraugtt and apprehen-
sive. remained near the telephone in
their luxurious apartment.
Former Secretary in Car.
Ross was abducted on a road west
of Chicago as he was driving in
from Sycamore with Miss Florence
Freihage, As. Office secretary of a
greeting card company, which Ross
headed until his retirement two years
ago.
While officials modified a force of
500 officers for an intensive search of
the countryside, the first substantial
p1tIo frtrrichod Hty y,1O os
the Fargo Hotel in Sycamore. Ross
and Miss Freihage had dined there
Saturday evening.
Capt. Gilbert said bellhops and a
desk clerk reported a man in gray
cap had talked with Ross alone in
the lobby.
He was described as about 80. six
feet two inches tall, weighing about
l65 pounds.
May Have Been Spotter.
''It is highly possible" Capt. Gilbert
pointed out, "that this man was a
spotter for the kidnapers."
At the same time, the captain depre-
Gated an early theory that the alb
ductors merely planned to rob Ross.
He said:
I'm certain now that this is a
bona-fide kidnapping, but one done by
young punks. There are certain ele-
ments in the jobs that smack of anna
teurishness"
Federal Agents Not Active.
The captain said Federal agents
ot
definitely established that Ross was
held for ransom.
Meanwhile. several prominent Chi
cagoans, among them Judge Grover
c. Niemeyer of the Superior Court,
notified Gilbert they we're ready to
assist in the search for their elderly
friend.
Il haven't heard a word from the
kidnapers. Mrs. Ross said, "but I'm
sure I will Oh, if they will only call
me and make their demands so I'll
know what to do"
Miss Freihage. described by Mrs.
Ross as fine woman" and a'''friend
of the family" said her former en-
ployer invited her to dinner to dis
cuss matters pertaining to the valen-
tine and greeting card company which
he headed until his retirement two
years ago. Miss Freihage is secretary
for one of the new owners.
Drove to Sycamore, iii.
"We drove to Sycamore, ILL.," she
said. land when we started back I
remember a car pulled out of the
parking space of the hotel where We
dined. 1t followed us for great dis
tance.
Finally Mr. Ross remarked that
the car behind him was shining its
light onto his mirror. think I'll
draw over to the side and let it BY
he said. One man jumped out. He
was young =. He thrust pistol
at Mr.. Ross and yelled that he'd shoot
unless the door was opened.
''Mr. Ross obeyed and at his COM
mand got out of the car. I think
there were two other men in the car.
The one with the pistol said
This is snatch; my boss told me to
bring you along
He took Mr.. Ross over to the other
car. Then he returned and took $85
out of my purse. He says, You're his
secretary; is he good for a half mil
lion or a quarter million?' I assured
him Mr.. Ross had no such wealth.
THE man paid no attention to
that. You get down on the floor of
the car he said. If you get up
Ill shoot you"