The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-12-09


 he opening parade above. Eugene Weidmann. He was born in Frankfort-Am-Mai1l, Germany in 1908 and came to France last March to avoid army service. He became an interpreter for foreigners visiting the Pare Exposition, he said, and this was his only income until he took up murder.
 The murder villa, despite ex- elusive surroundings was plain one story building of yellow with 8 red chimney. Two cars were found parked in its garden. Both had been stolen by Weidmnan.
 Miss DeKoven came abroad last spring with her aunt, Mrs. Sack helm for 8 European tour. While at the Hotel Ambassador on July 21 they met young man who offered to help them with the French lan- guage which they found difficult.
 Mrs. Sackheim was unable to re- member the mans last name but told police that they called him Bobby" Mrs. Sackheim left her niece with the young man for sev- eral hours while she went shopping,
 Two days later Jean failed to keep an engagement with her aunt at the Ambassador Hotel. She had told her previously that she had promised to telephone Bobby" that afternoon.
 The clerk at Miss DeKoven's hotel reported that she had arrived there late in the afternoon to get her camera, saying she was going to St. Cloud to dine. The clerk said that he saw a man waiting for her. The mans description fitted that of Bobby"
 The next day Mrs. Sackheim went to the American Consulate for aid but she was told not to be alarmed, that Jean would turn up. Returning to her hotel, Mrs. Sackheim found 8 telegram addressed to her.
 Don't worry-arn all right.-letter will follow" 1t read.
 That night she received a letter reading:
 Held For Ransom
 "Jean DeKoven has been kidnapped and is being held prisoner for a ransom of $500. When you are ready to pay, put an advertisement in the New York Herald: (Paris edition of the New York Hearld-T -Tribune) Jean please come back Say nothing to the police. If we learn that you have put this business in their hands we will break off all negotiations and we will take her for a ride--you know how the Chi- cago bandits work"
 Police said that the handwriting of the letter and telegram were indentical.
 Mrs. Sackheim immediately ad- vertised and on July 27 she received a telephone call from the kidnaper A voice described as having Q Ger man accent asked:
 Have you the money?"
 Mrs. Sackheim replied that she had and asked for the identity of her caller but was told she would receive another call the, following day.
 Money Ordered Ready
 On the following day Mrs. Sack helm was told to have the money ready when a taxi called at her hotel. She was to deliver 1t to the chauffer. But he was unable to understand French and went into the hotel where 8 detective, dis guished as 8 hotel employe, handed him 8 dummy envelope and told him to follow the instructions of the man who had engaged him.
 Later Mrs. Sackheim received aii- other telephone call. Her caller warned that the police were to be left out. They made another ap- pointment to pay the ransom. This time she was to leave 1t in a cafe. But 1t was never called for.
 Several weeks later she received a postcard reading:
 "You thought yourself very clever in getting mixed up with the cops. This is the last warning. If you in- form the police again, we will get rid of her. We give you a week to think it over"
 Up to that time that news of Miss DeKoven's disappearance had been kept secret but on August c the story was printed in the Fernch Press.
 Then checks from Miss DeKoven's book of traveller checks began to turn up. All apparently had been cashed between August 2 and August 6. The signatures appeared to have been forged, although in several in- stances htey were signed by wo. man in the presence of salesgirls.
 On August 28 the man telephoned Mrs. Sackheiim saying, "Jean De- Koven is dead"
 Miss DeKoven's brother Henry, came to Paris to aid his aunt in the search but returned to the United States after nine weeks convinced that Ahe was dead.
 --------------------------r-~~ WA The maiden name of Betsy Ross,