Henderson Daily Dispatch

Paroled Convict, Central Figure in Case In 1923, Is Freed After Hard Grilling

TWO FOREIGN-BORN SERVANTS MISSING

Tip at Highland Park, N. J., Where Pair Left Day After Lindbergh Baby Was Stolen, Is Investigated; Chisel Figures in That Inquiry

Bristol, Pa., March 16.—(AP)—Charged with attempting to extort $50,000 from Colonel Charles A. Lindbergh, Oscar Searchrist, 38, has been committed to the Bucks county jail without bail.

State police said Searchrist admitted writing two letters to Colonel Lindbergh declaring he would deliver the aviator's kidnaped son if $50,000 ransom was left at a designated spot. Police said the letters threatened Colonel Lindbergh if he failed to comply. Searchrist, who is employed at a mission at Croydon, was arrested Monday.

New York, March 16.—(AP)—Police at the Lindbergh home received an anonymous letter today saying the kidnaped Lindbergh baby was safe in a house at 135 Green Street, Syracuse, N. Y., occupied by Callie Folz.

Rochester, N. Y., March 16 (AP)—Stanley G. Crandall—paroled convict and central figure in the Alexanderou kidnaping case in 1923, was freed of all suspicion today in connection with the kidnaping of baby Charles Lindbergh, Jr.

RECORD OF OTHER YEARS ARE SEARCHED FOR LEADS

Hopewell, N. J., March 16 (AP)—Police delved still further back into the history of kidnaping today in persistent efforts to see if from almost forgotten famous cases they might learn the secret of the theft of the Lindbergh baby.

Yesterday attention of investigators was focused on the fantastic and frustrated attempt to kidnap Max Phillips, wealthy retired collar maker, seven years ago.

Nothing being learned from study of that case which might help solve the present mystery, police eyes were turned to another famous case which occurred nine years ago.

In 1923 little Verner Anderson, son of a Schenectady, N. Y., scientist, was kidnaped. There was a terrific furor of public excitement and the search spread across the country.

The child was found at last near the Canadian border.

Today Rochester, N. Y., police picked up Stanley G. Crandall, paroled convict, who was one of the principal figures in the Anderson kidnaping. It was announced that he was to be questioned about the Lindbergh kidnaping, but it could not be immediately learned whether police working on the case here would go to the up-State New York city to take part in the examination.

The morning bulletin issued here today made no reference to Crandall, but it was known that the reports of his examination was eagerly awaited.

The bulletin, signed by Colonel H. Norman Schwarzkopf, superintendent of State police, said that investigators sent to the home of Mrs. Leandro Lightfoot, in Highland Park concerning the most likely local lead of the moment had not returned, and it was not known whether anything of value had been discovered.

Mrs. Lightfoot had told of two foreign-born servants who left her employ the day after the kidnaping—Coincident with their departure, Mrs. Lightfoot discovered that a chisel and some rough wood such as the kidnapers' ladder was made of were missing from her estate. A chisel was found beneath the Lindbergh nursery window.