Evening star., 1938-05-31

EQllCc A6RN dtAhSh AAuJCo ga
nounced today that Lindberg
Heist, is, alias Iindberg Trent,
had confessed the attack-slaying
: Of 6-year-old Shirley Ann Wood
burn.
By the associated Press. as,
NEW ROCHELLE, N. Y. May 81
Murray Levine today declared he still
had no idea Of who kidnapped and
killed his l2-year-old son or why, and
said the case henceforth was entirely
in the hands Of the police"
Speaking in embittered tones. the
moderately well-to-do New York law
yer said ransom was the only motive
he could advance for the abduction
of Peter Levine, whose n1utilated body
was washed ashore on Long Island
Sound Sunday night after three
months of mystery.
Federal agents, who had remained
on the sidelines temporarily in defer
ence to Mr.. Levines hope he could
ransom his son for $4,000. have un-
leashed the full power OF their or
ganization in a methodical search for
the kidnapers, who apparently killed
the boy few days after abducting
him on February "a.
Now Up to Police.
II know no more than you do about
the case" Mr.. Levine told reporter.
Unless something new develops, this
is the last time shall talk to you
fellows The matter now Is entirely
in the hands Of the police"
Mr.. Levine said his wife was bear
ing the shock of her sons loss "as well
as could be expected"
He said he had mot yet decided"
whether he would pay the $4,000 re-
ward he had offered for the recovery
Of his sons body.
Repeating that the case was in po-
lice hands, he declined to release the
original ransom notes or to describe
the secret signatures by which he knew
they were genuine.
He said he was quite satisfied" with
the police conduct of the case.
No Advice for Parents.
His attention was directed to the
kidnapping of 5-year-old boy in
Princeton, Fla, Saturday night and
he was asked If he had any advice
for the parents.
"No. I don't know anything about
any other kidnapping" he replied. "and
have no advice to give"
Medical experts pursued their mic
roscopic examination of the slain
Peter Levine's organs in the hope of
finding some clue, such as poison
traces. to the manner in which he
was killed.
For miles around this suburban COM
munity officers explored the country
side, searched the Long Island Sound
shore line and questioned scores OF
persons in hunt for other leads-the
possibility of finding missing parts of
the body or other clues; tracing the
thin wire which bound the body; de-
termining how the boy got into the
sound.
Torso Washed Ashore.
The Levine boy, 12-year-old son Of
q moderately well-to-do New York
lawyer, disappeared February "a. His
body, lacking head, legs and arms, was
washed ashore in the sound Sunday,
many weeks after three ransom notes
had been received.
In the field of deduction a high in
vestigating authority offered the the
ory that the crime was local Job"
His reasons:
!. Levine was not prominent outside
the community and was hardly a per-
son an outside criminal would have Sc
lected for an extortion attempt.
q The placement of the ransom
notes indicated a detailed knowledge
Of the community. The first appeared
in q vacant house near the Levine
home; the second appeared in a va
cant lot next to a synagogue. the rabbi
OF which was approached by the kid
napers as an Intermediary: the third
note appeared In q vacant lot four
blocks away.
8. The condition of the body and
the wire indicated it had been sub
merged with a heavy weight; under
the circumstances, the hideout from
which 1t was carried must have been
near New Rochelle.
Believed Small Boat.
Much of the questioning of shore
residents was directed toward locat-
ing the boat from which the body
presumably was dumped-thought to
have been q small one because all
the large craft in the vicinity were
laid up for the winter.
The wire seemed a poor clue, be-
cause it apparently was common radio
aerial wire, of which large quantities
are bought with no particular atten-
ton being attracted to the buyers.
The first day OF the investigation
produced no arrests, although there
was talk that several persons were
under vague suspicion and scrutiny.
Two youths already held as ransom
"chiselers" in the case were ques-
toned further to no apparent avail.
About IS old friends Of the Leviries
were present yesterday at the funeral,
during which Mrs. Levine leaned heav-
fly on her husbands arm. DR.. Henry
Newman, leader Of the Brooklyn
Ethical Society, delivered the funeral
address.
There were only two songs, Handel's
Largo" and Chopin's funeral march.
There was but single cluster OF
flowers.
The body was cremated.
YOUTH HELD IN GIRLS DEATH.
Detained After Child's Body Is Found
Near Cincinnati Home.
CINCINNATI, Ohio, May 81 R.-
Searchers guided by the story of .
s-vear-oId boy Yesterday found In