The Washington times., 1937-01-12


cept DR.. MdttSon and the G.
men iho knoW all details OF the
tragic case.
BY COL. GUS B. APPLEMAN
As Told to International News
Service
(copyrisht, 1887, by international
News service)
TACOMA, Wash, Jan. IL.
After the kidnapping of Charles,
the Omen took complete charge
of the case. They intercepted my
mail. DR.. MattSon's mail and the
mail of a man who was mentioned
as q possible intermediary.
I hope to get some of my mail
back now. The Federal men, fine
investigators, received the notes
that were addressed to DR.. Matt
son by the supposed kidnaper.
They told the doctor, of course,
what was in them, but don't
think he ever saw them. The
Gmen just handled all Of the mail.
They put the ads in the paper
q, (the Seattle paper in which the
famous "Mable-Ann" series Of ads
appeared) and don't think DR..
Mattson knew about the ads until
they appeared.
Father Just OnlOoker
The Federal agents completely
took over the case and DR.. Matt
son was Just an onlooker-he re-
ceived no mail, and didn't know
|: what efforts were being made to
I: contact the kidnaper, or pay the
ransom, or effect the release Of
=, the boy.
But he. and everyone Of course,
feels there was nothing left un-
done that might have saved
Charles life.
1 now hope the kidnaper pays
the penalty for this crime.
= Mrs. Appleman and were the
last persons to see and talk to
:: Charles before he was kidnapped,
/. with the exception of the three
. children with whom he was play
ing.
We told DR.. and Mrs. MattSon
we would look in on the children,
d, Charles brother Bill, 16; his sis
ter Muriel, IA, and their 16-year.
old friend from Seattle, Virginia
Chatfield.
The Mattsons were at a recep-
ton. At BiIly's (Mr MattSon'5)
home we found the three children
popping corn, drinking root beer,
all very gay and carefree.
Charles climbed up on my knee.
He was a sweet, smiling, lovable .
boy. He had come from his bath !
about half hour previously and
was dressed in a blue Upper I
jacket. blue jeans and fur-lined
rnoccasins.
Saw Kidnaper First
Charles had little dictionary
and he laughed as he pointed out |
various words and asked me their |
meanings, which I made up ridic-
ulouSly to provoke his laughter. |
When Mrs. Appelman and left |
there was nothing to indicate the |
tragedy which so shortly befell |
Charles. The children were play
ing merrily in the living room and
popping their corn in the kitchen. |
Charles saw the kidnaper first. |
The boy ran in from the kitchen |
and told the other children he had
seen man through the window.
The children laughed at him, and
he subsided on two little steps
that lead from the living room to
another room. !
Shortly thereafter there came a
crash of glass from the French.
doors that lead from the living
room to the patio. A masked man
knocked out four panes Of glass !
with the butt of his gun, which he
held in his left hand. He tried
to push through the opening but
it wasn't large enough.
Menaced Children with Gun
He menaced the frightened chill
dren with his gun and said:
"Open this door or I'll kill
all Of you"
Charles stepped forward and
unlocked and opened the door.
He let his own murderer into the
house. But it was not because
he was afraid, for he stepped back
and bravely faced the intruder.
The man, masked and still
swinging his gun around at the
children, walked swiftly to where
Bill was standing by the radio.
Got any money!" he asked
Bill. but did not wait for a reply,
and friSked Bill, patting his
pockets without finding anything.
Mask Slips Down
Then he did the same to
Charles, Strengthened up and
looked around at the children.
His mask slipped down, revealing
a black beard. He showed it back
up.
Charles had sidled around to a
door and suddenly ran, calling
back, I'm get my air rifle" He
meant to run upstairs and get his
little gun and drive the intruder
from the house.
One of the other children, how
ever. called to Charles: There's