Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-12-12
FIJI Reported on Trail of Kidnapers;
Sinatra Ransom Policy Inks Police

HOLLYWOOD, Dec. IL (AP).
The FBI dispatched q dozen
men to the San Fernando VAL
ley north Of Hollywood during
the night. arousing speculation
that agents might be on the
trial Of suspects In the Frank
Sinatra, jr.. kidnapping case.
The FBI acknowledged 1t
had men In the area but would
not say what they were doing.
Reporters learned through
police that several residents Of
the area telephoned the West
Valley police station, saying
men believed to be FBI agents
were checking houses on one
street and stopping cars at in
tersections In the same neigh
borhood.
Officer Gene RadomSh Of
the West Valley division Of the
Los Angeles Police Department
said it was strictly an FBI op-
Grafton" He said police hadn't
been told the nature Of the &C
tivity, but assumed it was con-
nected with the Sinatra case.
He said police observed FBI
men staked out in cars on two
streets.
An FBI agent In Los Angeles
said: I'VE have men out in the
valley" Asked If the activity
was connected with the Sinatrs
case, Agent Henry Onsgard
said: II am not In q position to
say"
Yesterday, after Sinatra, jr..
was returned to his family for
$240, 900 ransom, Los Angeles
Police Chief william H. Parker
was critical of the FBPs ham
ding of the kidnapping and
complained his department was
left completely in the dark on
developments in the case.
liked by InactiOn
This is the first time in my
memory that we have been
faced with probably criminal
activity in the city Of Los An
geles and have been unable to
(respond)," Chief Parker said
at q news conference. I'VE
have always worked as a team
with other law enforcement
agencies"
Chief Parker said the FBrs
paramount consideration" in
permitting delivery Of the ran
som money, was the life Of
young Sinatra.
II don't think our policy ION
ransom payments) Is the
same" he said. II don't want
to discuss the philosophy Of the
payment Of ransom, because we
have not been faced with that
situation here for a long time.
1t was discussed by members Of
my staff this morning, how
ever, and they thought it was
q bad policy"
Chief Parker said he didn't
want to interfere with the FBI.
"I'm sure they had adequate
reason for not bringing us in,"
he said. II am just pointing out
our position. I am concerned
with the criticism we may ulti-
mately receive in q case which
we have been deprived Of any
opportunity to solve"
Los Angeles Mayor Samuel
w. Yorty cautioned that sur
rounding the case with such Sc
crecy may make it too easy for
kidnapers" and give criminals
the impression anyone can get
away with 1t.
The Mayor added: This
case could set off a chain reac-
ton which would be extremely
dangerous"
Case Called BLACK Eye"
Mayor Yorty termed the
handling of the case a black
eye" to the city.
Sinatra, jr., q slender, l9-
year-old who has followed his
fathers footsteps by undertak-
ing a singing career, was alb
Quoted by two armed men Sun
say night from his motel room
at a Lake Tahoe resort on the
California Nevada border. He
had a singing engagement at
casino there.
Fifty-four hours later. after
his father arranged to have
$24O, 900 planted at a pickup
point in West Los Angeles,
young Sinatra was released on
a freeway about two miles from
his mothers home in the Bel
Air section of Los Angeles.
The youth told newsmen
ter yesterday he was kept
blindfolded during his captivity
but wasn't harmed at all"
The younster said he cannot
discuss details Of the abduction
until the FBI finishes question
ing him.
His mother. Nancy Sinatra,
LOST