Evening star., 1938-03-01
LEVINE K|DNAPERS
LEAVE TWO NOTES
Apparently Use Toy Dial
Observation-Disclosures
Directions Given.
BACKGROUND


Eugene BLK, II, a cidssmate at
Junior High School, apparently
1Uas the last person to see Peter
Leuine. H. son OF ,rell-to-do NeW
Rochelle. N. Y. attorney. He said
he lett Peter at the edge OF the
school grounds-only four blocks
from the Leuine home-atter
classes last Thursday. Peter ras
to do an errand at rillage store.
None OF the nearby storekeepers
recalled seeing the boy, and no
one has seen him since.
By the Associated Press
NEW ROCHELLE, N. Y, March !
An investigator in the kidnapping OF
l2-year-old Peter Levine disclosed to-
day that two notes were left by the
abductors. and that both apparently
were written on a cheap dial type
writer of the sort frequently sold as
toys to children
At the same time, he said the nu-
merals on the ransom communication
were SO placed that it was poss ble the
kidnapers had intended to demand
not $50 1000. as previously reported. but
only $780, There were five zeros, he
added, but the authorities had sup
posed a decimal point had been in
tended after the third figure.
Early this afternoon, two men
dressed in the clothing of laborers
delivered a note at the Levine home
They denied knowledge of its con-
tents, saying merely that they had
been directed by Mrs. Samuel D.
Shwitzer, wife of a New York city
attorney and apparently a friend OF
the Levines. to take 1t to them.
Mr.. Shwitzer could not be reached
Immediately 1t was understood he
gave the communication to his wife
for transmission to the Levines.
Fantastic Plan Given.
The investigator who told of thu
typewriter, who declined to be quoted
by name. but who was regarded
as wholly authoritative, likewise said
the abductors had directed the Levine
family to have an emissary use fan.
tastic means of indicating willingness
to negotiate.
The Levines were told, he added, to
60 to Third Avenue Elevated Rail-
road line in New York City. or to send
some one there. and to make a mark
with green chalk on a pillar at q
designated spot.
The first Of the notes. he said. was
found under the door of the $50 000
Levine home and directed Mrs. Le-
vine to 60 to nearby vacant house
There she found the ransom note
itself
The phraseology of the abductors
instructions concerning the green
chalk and the elevated pillar was not
obtainable, but competent source
said the essence of the scheme was
that the kidnapers or their emissaries
would be in the neighborhood. would
recognize the Levines or their agent
and thus would know the negotiations
were proceeding in good faith.
Police Alarm Cancelled.
The police, who Cancelled an eight
State alarm at the fathers request
after he received the note, believed
at first that the boy. a bright student
fond of detective tales, had tricked
his parents. Philip s. Tilden, direc-
tor of public safety. said he was con-
vinced now, however, that 1t was an
authentic kidnapping.
He said his force Of 800, in defer
ence to Mr.. Levine's wishes. would
stand aside until the father had ex-
hausted every possibility of recover
ing his son unaided.
Reed Vetterli, New York chief o1
the Federal Bureau of Investigation
said his department also would re-
spect Mr.. Levine's desire.