Evening star., 1941-10-02

the lntruQer from tnelr llVlnS room
Neither was hit by bullets, but Mrs
Rivers received an ugly cash over
the eye and the former State execu-
tive was so badly bruised and gashed
that physicians gave him Sedative
Neighbors trailed the .attacker
toward a roadside camp in the out
skirts of nearby ValdoSta Police
Capt. j. L. Murphy of Valdosta re-
ported that when he and two other
officers confronted the man there,
he turned on a light in his trailer
and fired .32-caliber pistol bullet
into his mouth.
Apparent Kidnap Note Found.
Capt. Murphy said the slight, 100
to 135 pound man, about 35 years
old. carried card and 1882 Penn
svlvania drivers license bearing the
name of Horace Waters Bikle and
giving a Pittsburgh address.
In New York, an employe of the
apartment house where Mrs. B1kle
lived reported she had checked out
early this morning, saying she in
tended to go to Georgia at once.
Earlier she had said: I'VE came
to New York five weeks ago. -Four
weeks ago he cher husband) said
he had obtained a post with the
America First Committee and was
going to Georgia to do some publicity
work. He was very patriotic man
and had a most gentle disposition" "
He was a former Pittsburgh school
teacher. she said.
The New York Office of America
First said it had no record of Bikle.
School authorities in Pittsburgh
said a Horace w. Bikle, jr., So, re-
signed as a teacher in the Baxter
Junior High School there in 1888
and went to the South, later writing
for recommendations to submit to
Southern school boards. They de-
scribed Bikle, who also had coached
basket ball at Coraopolis and taught
at Brookville (Pa.) High Schools, as
"likable, mild-mannered fellow"
He attended Gettysburg and Musk
ingum Colleges.
Bikle's Father Prominent.
Neighbors of the Bikle family in
Pittsburghs suburban Ben Avon
said the parents, Mr.. and Mrs. Hor-
ace w. Bikle, sr., left for Georgia
this morning. Bikle's father, promi-
nent in business and church activ-
tiles, retired seven years ago as an
officer of a retail jewelry firm. The
neighbors said they understood the
younger Bikes had lived in Miami,
Fla, and also had a Cape Cod,
Mass, summer cottage.
Capt. Murphy said a sheet of
paper. printed on both sides in
pencil and found in the trailer, ap-
peared to be a rough draft of a
would-be kidnap note. He said the
dead man apparently intended to
force Mr.. Rivers to sign it and send
it to friend while he was held un-
der threat of death. He quoted it
as saying detailed directions"
would be sent within 48 hours.
Posed as F. C. c. Agent.
Two or three lengths of heavy cord
were left behind in the Rivers home,
Mrs Rivers reported-an angle
which the officer interpreted as add
ing strength to the kidnap theory.
Capt Murphy said a strangely
worded note found in the mans
possession suggested that he planned
to attribute his action to political
reasons. 1t affirmed, he said, that
the man had no design against Mr..
Rivers life and his purpose was not
robbery.
The intruder gained access to the
Rivers home, Mrs. Rivers said, by
representing himself as an agent of
the Federal Communications Com
mission. Since returning to his law
practice last January after two terms
as Governor, Mr.. Rivers also has
been operating a radio station at
Valdosta.
Excerpts From Note.
Capt. Murphy quoted excerpts
from the apparent kidnap note as
reading;
"a terrible thing has just hap
pened which makes me greatly in
need of your help armed men
have forced themselves in here zap
parently referring to Mr. Rovers'
home. *'* I am willing to do what
ever they want, but even then my
danger is terrible for they have let
me know in no uncertain terms that
if, the police are told I will be
killed. -"
Il am leaving signed power Of
attorney (blank space here.
You will be sent detailed directions
on how to use them within 48
hours"
The officer said he believed the
other note was scribbled after the
man returned to the trailer. In ad-
dition to its political angle, he said
1t suggested suicide.
,"Since I have failed" Capt.
Murphy quoted from the note, "the
least I can do is to save the people
further expense. May God and all
those I love and that love me for
give me. My motive is not robbery,
but the futile attempt of a person
crazed
Perhaps If other Americans who
have shrugged off politicians
as none of their concern and thereby
made the continuance possible would
take it upon themselves and put the
fear of the righteous wrath of the
citizenry in them, our long political
structure now so rotten as to even
ITALY collapse in time would be
strengthened"
sSfs