Evening star., 1947-01-23
Kidnapped Girl Clears
Ex-Convict;; Hunt for
Abductor RedoubIed
sy the Assoeioied Press

Ey the A,soeioied Press
LODI, Calf. Jan. 23.-Alice
Dean Devine today met and ex-
onerated Earl Shelton, San
Francisco ex-convict and studio
operator, in her KIDNAPPING, and
search was redoubled for a
smooth talking middle-aged man
who held her a day and de-
manded $4,000 ransom.
This is not the man." declared
the pretty 17-year-old Lodi high
school student on confronting Shell
ton.
Her mother, Mrs John Edward
Devine, who said she had seen the
man who sent for Alice to have her
picture taken Monday night when
the girl disappeared, joined in exon
Grating Shelton.
The girl returned home Tuesday
night unharmed except for minor
bruises and told police she had freed
herself from rope bonds and escaped
from an auto court in the absence
of her captor.
Meeting on Rural Road.
Shelton, 40-year-old operator OF a
Photographic and modelling studio
in San Francisco, came to Lodi vol
unfairly with Police Sergt. Pat Coon
last night to be cleared by the girl.
She earlier had said his picture
looked like" her kidnaper.
He met Alice and other members
of the wealthy Devine family sec
reilly at am. on rural road west
of here and confronted her in the
glare of automobile headlights.
Sergt. Coon arranged the meeting
and accompanied Shelton later to
an interview with reporters at the
Lodi police station.
Shelton said little at the interview
and departed soon after for San
Francisco. He was not under arrest
or detention in the case. Earlier his
explanation of his whereabouts was
backed up by 80 models, who said
they were taking dancing lesson
from him Monday at the time OF the
girls disappearance.
Was Trussed to Bed.
Alice disappeared after she had
gone to a Photographic studio here
to have her picture taken for what
she was told would be part of series
of national magazine articles on the
typical American girl in high school.
She was returned to her home rs
hours later by the California State
patrol after having spent a night in
a motor court near Sacramento
trussed on a bed, she said, while her
abductor smoked cigarettes and
watched over her.
Shown pictures of Shelton yes
terday, she was quoted by Lodi
Police Chief Millard L. Fore as
saying that the picture 'resembled'' y
the man who held her captive.
Earlier Sacramento Police Capt. M.
w. Lincecum, who sent a Sacra-
mento officer to Lodi with the pic
ture, said the girl was positive in
her identification"
State police today renewed their
pickup message for man who had
rented the motel cabin where Alice
spent Monday night and most OF
Tuesday.
Suspect Is Described.
The message said:
Pickup and hold for kidnapping, |
E. w. Stiles, described as AZ years,
8 feet 8 inches, weighing 165 toi
ITO pounds, dark brown hair, re-
ceding at forehead, sharp features;
was driving Ford sedan, medium
gray in color, thought to be 1897
model.
Above suspect held victim cap
tive in motel near Sacramento since
dark January 20. Victim kidnapped
in Lodi and was blindfolded, t1ed
and gagged, while being hauled
around in car.
Suspect left victim to make tele-
phone call and victim worked free
of ties and notified officers. Suspect
used the name of Giles in Lodi.
However, he signed the name OF E.
w. Stiles on motel register. Any
information for Millard L. Fore,
chief of police, Lodi, or this office"
The man, using the name of Giles
and representing himself as the
agent of a nationally known pub
fishing house in the East, arrived
in Lodi Saturday and explained that
he was making the survey of "typi-
cal' girls and s1igh schools for a
series which would be nationally
published.
Went to Studio in Taxi.
After discussing the articles with
various Lodi persons. he arranged
with Alice's mother to have the
girls. picture taken for the series
at the Lodi picture studio OF Louis
Dudley and sent taxicab for her
Monday night
Lodi police said Alice and Giles
entered the studio shortly after
7 pm. and left 80 minutes later
after Dudley had taken several
pictures. She was not seen here
again until she returned home at
els pm. Tuesday.
A neighbor, who told of seeing
the ransom note left by wood
shed at, the Devine home, said it
demanded $4,000 and Mr.. Devine's
appearance at certain Sacramento
bar at 8 pm. Tuesday with the
money.
Before the ,deadline, however,
Alice had freed herself and under
guard of police awaited the appear
ance of the kidnaper at the bar.
When he failed to appear she re-
turned home and search through
out the West for her abductor be-
gan.