Evening star., 1938-09-05
pictures on Page B-6.)

BY the Associated Press.
MARYSVILLE, Calf, Sept. 5.-Mrs.
William r. Meeks, IS, was under the
care of physician at her home today
after being held captive for 56 hours
by kidnapers who kept her blind
folded, threatened continually to kill
her, and bedded her down on hill.
side covered with poison oak growths
Dr. p B. Hoffman. the Meeks fam
lily physician. said she was dangerous
ly near pneumonia.
She returned to her home early yes
terday. Her abductors, she said, be-
came fearful Of discovery and aban-
doned her. Mr.. Meeks, orchardist-
husband of the woman. said none Of
the $4,000 ransom the kidnapers had
demanded had been paid.
Mrs. Meeks told authorities today
of the nerve-shatterings strain she un-
derwent
Tormented by Hunger.
Threats of being shot to death and
the twin torments of thirst and
hunger, she said, were the worst fea-
lures Of her captivity.
In addition she suffered from poison
oak Inflammation, and from bug bites
that became infected.
Il don't have any idea who the
men were who kidnapped me-" Sheriff
Charles Mccoy Of Yuba County quoted
her. They never called each other
by name.
Il caught glimpse once when
the blindfold slipped slightly, and saw
one of them rolling up his trousers.
I could see that he had hairy legs,
and that the hair was red"
The sheriff said she declared her
captors were never rough or brutal"
but threatened numerous times to
shoot her.
Saturday afternoon. she said, one
of the men handed her a little pack
age of cheese, the only food she had
during her captivity.
Late Saturday." the sheriff quoted
her. "he came back and talked to me
again. He said: I'm going to
leave you here awhile, and I'm telling
you again we'll blow your brains out
II you yell or move: I'll be back, and
then I'll take you back home"
Mrs. Meeks said she remained there
all though the night, until, finally,
through the bottom Of her blindfold,
she could tell it was beginning to get
light. She said she called out hello"
several times. No one answered, and
she pulled of the blindfold.
A manhunt, called of Friday night
to allow Meeks an opportunity to try
to contact the kidnapers, was re-
sumed today under the direction of
State and county officers.
We have an idea who the kidnap-
ers are" Capt. E. w. Personius of the
State Higk~sy Patrol Investigation
Bureau said.
There are probably three OF them.
II they are the persons we think they
are they are itinerant workers. The
job wasn't planned. it was on the
spur Of the moment"
l,,ehway patrol captain saie
4.4>. Meeks told him she would know
tho mems voices, but said she never
saw their faces. Once, however, she
pushed UP her blindfold enough to
see one of them turning up the cufY
Of his trousers.
"She said he had red hair on his
leg" Capt. Personius reported.
Three peach pickers taken into Gus
tody Saturday night after they had
been drinking near the Meeks' orchard
in Southern Sutter County were ques-
toned by Sheriff Charles J. Mccoy of
Yuba County and Highway Patrol
Capt. Personius. Both officers said
they we're convinced the men had no
connection with the case, but they still
were being held because other au-
thorities wanted to question them.
The hillside hideout, where Mrs.
Meeks was taken after her abduction
last Thursday midnight. was found
yesterday. 1t was situated Z miles
northeast Of the town of Sheridan,
some 3 miles from . highway.
Mrs. Meeks said her captors re-
peatedly threatened to kill her Satur-
day, before leaving the sp@.