Interior of the machinist room of the McNeil Island Federal Prison. Prison guard and two men can be seen speaking around a work desk at the right side of the room.

Interior of dining hall of the McNeil Island Federal Prison.

Fred Hipkins. This US Postal Service special delivery messenger became front page news when he reported that he had seen what appeared to be an attempt to deliver ransom money in the George Weyerhaeuser kidnapping. In a front page story of the Tacoma Times (not carried by the News Tribune), Hipkins reported that as he drove home to Lake Louise about 1:15a.m., he saw a very bright light suspended in a tall fir tree about 300 yards south of the junction of Custer and Steilacoom Highways. He felt that the light was a signal. Later on, near Western States, he saw a large black sedan parked with its lights out and four people inside. The next day, several stones in a nearby wall were found to be dislodged, possibly in an attempted ransom drop. This story was not repeated in the following days, undoubtedly a dead end. (T. Times 5/31/1935, pg. 1)

Kidnappings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Hipkins, Fred; Weyerhaeuser, George H.--Kidnappings;

Evidence in the kidnapping case of nine year old George Hunt Weyerhaeuser; communication by letter from the kidnappers. The first ransom note from the abductors arrived around 6:30 p.m. in the evening on May 24, 1935 by special delivery. It demanded $200,000 in ransom in special unmarked denominations. It gave the family 5 days to raise the money and gave the instructions to take an ad in the Seattle PI signed "Percy Minnie." The typed letter was signed "Egoist, Egoist" and also bore George's signature. Later communications contained precise directions on delivering the money. The letters indicated that they were written by an educated, intelligent and organized person. (T. Times 5/25/1935, pg. 1 plus succeeding days)

Kidnappings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Weyerhaeuser, George H.--Correspondence; Evidence (Law);

Entrance between hedges at Annie Wright Seminary to staircase; area where George Weyerhaeuser was kidnapped shortly after noon on May 24, 1935. Following the death of J.P. Weyerhaeuser, obituaries citing his wealth caught the eye of a trio looking for a fast buck. Harman Waley, his wife Margaret and William Dainard decided to abduct Weyerhaeuser's grandson 9 year old George and hold him for ransom. They took the boy as he walked from Lowell School to the Seminary to meet with his sister Ann and travel home for lunch. They held him for $200,000 in ransom. The sensational case forced everything else off the front page, including the lumber workers strike in Tacoma. (T. Times 5/25/1935, pg. 1 plus succeeding days)

Kidnappings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Weyerhaeuser, George H.--Kidnappings;

First photograph available of William Dainard, known to the Waleys as William Mahan, after his implication by the couple in the kidnapping of George Weyerhaeuser. Thirty five year old Dainard was a habitual offender who knew Harman Waley from time that they spent together in an Idaho prison. The trio, Waley, his wife and Dainard, abducted George Weyerhaeuser and held him ransom for $200,000. The police narrowly missed capturing Dainard in Butte, Mt., on June 9, 1935. Dainard fled from the stolen car that he was driving when he saw the officers approach. Over $15,000 in recorded bills from the ransom were found in the vehicle. Dainard was captured almost a year later, in May of 1936, after his designation as "Public Enemy #1," pled guilty and was sentenced to two 60 year terms. (T. Times 06/10/1935, pg. 1 plus succeeding days)

Kidnappings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Dainard, William; Weyerhaeuser, George H.--Kidnappings;

Law enforcement agents wait at the base of the ladder for accused kidnappers Harman and Margaret Waley to descend from the United Airlines airplane which has ferried them from Salt Lake City to Tacoma. The plane arrived at Tacoma Field at 6:35p.m. on June 12, 1935, to be met by waiting agents and a crowd of hundreds of curious onlookers. The pair had been arrested in Salt Lake, accused of having abducted and ransomed nine year old George Weyerhaeuser. They were whisked from the plane to the Federal Building in Tacoma where they pled "not guilty," despite the fact that they had already surrendered to agents their remaining half of the ransom money. (T. Times 06/13/1935, pg. 1 plus succeeding days)

Kidnappings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Waley, Harman; Waley, Margaret; Tacoma Field (Lakewood); Airplanes--Tacoma--1930-1940; Weyerhaeuser, George H.--Kidnappings;

This photograph appears to be of a press conference or police briefing at the J.P. (Phil) Weyerhaeuser, Jr. home after the June 1, 1935 release of kidnap victim George Weyerhaeuser. The Weyerhaeusers refused to speak to the press until after the release of George, a decision that made the ransom process go quicker and that may have saved his life. Even after his release, the family spoke only briefly and generally with the press, preferring to let George return to his normal life.

Kidnappings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Weyerhaeuser, George H.--Kidnappings;

Mrs. B. Lucille Berg; George Weyerhaeuser's third grade teacher at Lowell Elementary. On May 24, 1935, in what was Tacoma's most sensational crime, George Weyerhaeuser was kidnapped as he walked from Lowell Elementary at noontime to meet his sister Ann at Annie Wright Seminary and go home for lunch with her. He was held for $200,000 ransom and released on Tiger Mountain Road in Issaquah after payment on June 1, 1935. Mrs. Berg figured importantly in the case, supplying samples of George's handwriting to compare with his purported handwriting on the ransom notes sent to prove authenticity. (T. Times 5/25/1935, pg. 1 plus succeeding months)

Kidnappings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Berg, Lucille; Lowell Elementary School (Tacoma); Weyerhaeuser, George H.--Kidnappings;

A smiling George Weyerhaeuser poses for the news cameras after his release by kidnappers on June 1, 1935. In what the most sensational crime in Tacoma's history, George was kidnapped on May 24, 1935 as he walked from Lowell School to Annie Wright Seminary to meet his sister and be motored home for lunch by the family chauffer. The ransom demand was for the astronomical sum of $200,000. After the ransom was paid by his father Phil Weyerhaeuser, the boy was released on Tiger Mountain Road in Issaquah. He made it to the home of Louis Bonifas and identified himself; the amazed Bonifas called Tacoma and began driving him home. Reporter John Dreher of the Seattle Times on a hunch started out on the road to Issaquah in a taxi, met Bonifas and convinced him to allow the reporter to deliver George to the Weyerhaeuser home. What resulted was an exclusive interview with the world's most famous kidnap victim. A shaken, but otherwise okay, George was delivered to his parents at around 8 a.m. on June 1, 1935. (TNT 6/1/35, pg. 1)

Kidnappings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Weyerhaeuser, George H.;

This US Postal Service special delivery messenger, Fred Hipkins, became the man of the hour when he reported that he had seen what he felt was an attempt to deliver the ransom money in the George Weyerhaeuser kidnapping case. The Tacoma Times carried a front page story that Hipkins had seen a bright light suspended in a tall fir tree near the intersection of Custer & Steilacoom Highways. He interpreted this as a sign from the kidnappers. Later, near Western States, he saw a large dark sedan with its lights off and people inside. The following morning, tire tracks and dislodged stones could be found in the stone wall surrounding the asylum, a possible ransom drop. This story occupied several pages in the May 31, 1935 Tacoma Times only to disappear and not be repeated. Obviously a dead end. (T. Times 5/31/1935, pg. 1)

Kidnappings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Hipkins, Fred; Weyerhaeuser, George H.--Kidnappings;

The backyard of the Weyerhaeuser home at 7:45 a.m. on Saturday morning, 6/1/1935, when newspapermen heard read an official statement from Mr. and Mrs. Weyerhaeuser that their son George had returned home after his kidnapping ordeal. The tall man next to the automobile, turning away from the crowd of reporters, is H. Marfield Bolcom of Seattle. Mr. Bolcom was a friend and confidant of the Weyerhaeuser family and served as unofficial spokesperson during the kidnapping. (T. Times 6/1/1935, pg. 8)

Kidnappings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Weyerhaeuser, George H.--Kidnappings;

An investigator or reporter examines a rock wall at Western States Hospital where stones have been dislodged in a purported ransom attempt for kidnap victim George Weyerhaeuser. Fred Hipkins, a US postal service messenger, reported what he interpreted to be an ransom attempt. In the early hours, he saw a bright light suspended in a tall fir tree near Custer & Steilacoom Highways. Later, near Western States, he saw a sedan parked with its lights off and people inside. The following morning, tire tracks were found near this wall with dislodged stones indicating a possible ransom drop. The story dominated the May 31st, 1935 Tacoma Times paper, only to disappear in the next days, a probable dead end. (T. Times 5/31/1935, pg. 1)

Kidnappings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Weyerhaeuser, George H.--Kidnappings; Stone walls;

Washington State Patrol officers review Charles Mattson kidnapping crime scene photographs with an unidentified man. Ten year old Charles Mattson was kidnapped for ransom on December 27, 1936. His battered body was recovered January 10, 1937. His murder was never solved. Frank Olson, a mental patient at Medical Lake Asylum, confessed to kidnapping the Mattson boy. After two days of questioning by the State Patrol at the Winthrop Hotel, Olson, also known as Lester Mead and Charles Thorp, was found harmless and was returned to the Asylum. He was in residence at the Asylum at the time of the kidnapping. (T. Times 7/13/1938, pg. 1; TNT 7/13/1938, pg.1)

Kidnappings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Washington State Patrol (Tacoma); Mattson, Charles--Kidnappings;

Copy photograph of Charles Mattson, on pony, wearing hat, scarf, leather vest and chaps. At the age of ten, Charles Mattson was kidnapped at gunpoint from his parents' home at 4605 No. Verde. Copies were made of several older photographs of the boy, such as this one, as newspapers fought to fill their front pages with the story. No fewer than 12 high profile kidnappings had occurred since 1934 and the famous kidnapping and murder of the Lindbergh baby. Charles' parents, Dr. and Mrs. William W. Mattson, were an unusual target; they were only modestly well-to-do and not widely known. In fact, Dr. Mattson had lost much of his savings in the Depression and his $50,000 home was heavily mortgaged. The boy's battered body was found in the woods in Snohomish County, near Everett, on January 10, 1937. His death brought the largest manhunt in Pacific Northwest history, involving federal FBI men, state, county and city law officers. After a few weeks, despite questioning a large number of suspects, all leads failed. The story slipped from the front page January 26, 1937 and the murder remains unsolved. (T. Times 12/28/1936- 1/25/1937, pg. 1; photograph used T. Times 1/29/1937, pg. 1) (filed with Argentum)

Kidnappings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Mattson, Charles;

Mattson kidnapping case, schoolmates of Charles Mattson. Five young boys sitting on concrete steps. One youth is holding a small dog. The boys are Wallis Anderson, Robert Olsen, Marvin Shaw, Richard Hunt and Bill Stevenson. Photograph ordered by the Seattle Star. On the night of December 27, 1936, ten year old Charles Mattson was abducted by an armed intruder at his parents' home at 4605 No. Verde. He was never seen alive again. The intruder demanded a ransom of $28, 000 for the boy's safe return. The fourth grader at Sherman School had many friends in the neighborhood. Some of his friends pose in this picture for the Seattle Star, as newspapers across the country scrambled for pictures to fill their front pages. From 1934 to this point, there were no less than 12 well publicized kidnappings across the nation, beginning with the Lindbergh baby. (T. Times 12/28/1936- 1/25/1937, pg. 1; photograph printed T. Times 12/28/1936, pg. 5)

Kidnappings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Boys--Tacoma--1930-1940; Mattson, Charles--Kidnappings;

View of Dr. William Mattson residence, Hill and Mock, Architects, Nelson J. Morrison, designer, circa 1925. Photograph ordered by the Seattle Star. On December 27, 1936, on a night characterized by heavy darkness and fitful showers, a masked intruder forced his way into a rear entrance of the Mattson residence and abducted ten year old Charles. Charles, his brother William, 16, sister Muriel, 14, and family friend Virginia Chatfield, 14, of Seattle had been in the front room watching motorists drive up to view the enormous evergreens lit up like Christmas trees on the Mattson front lawn. The intruder carried 70 pound Charles down a steep cliff behind the home that led to Ruston Way and the waterfront. He left behind a ransom note demanding $28,000 dollars. A previous kidnapping attempt had been made in November of 1936 only two blocks away; as a prowler placed a ladder to a second floor window in an attempt to abduct the 6 year old son of Mr. and Mrs. George Franklin. The Franklins had purchased "Haddaway Hall, " the home of John Philip Weyerhaeuser Sr. at 4301 No. Stevens. The attempt was foiled when Mrs. Franklin was awakened by the beam of a flashlight. No fewer than 12 high profile kidnappings had occurred nationally since the 1934 kidnapping of the Lindbergh baby. Like in the Lindbergh case, Charles Mattson was found murdered. His murder was never solved. (T.Times 12/28/1936- 1/25/1937)

Kidnappings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Houses--Tacoma--1930-1940; Mattson, William--Homes & haunts; Mattson, Charles--Homes & haunts; Mattson, Charles--Kidnappings;

Charles Mattson's maternal grandfather Charles Fletcher showing the door through which his grandson was kidnapped. On December 27, 1936, Charles Mattson was abducted by a masked and armed man who forced his way in through this rear door. The broken glass panes have been replaced. With his parents attending a social function, Charles was spending the evening at his home with his brother, sister and a family friend. A ransom demand was made for $28,000. The ransom was never paid despite many attempts by his parents to respond to irrational instructions. The boy's body was found January 10, 1937 in a snowy woods near Everett. The crime was never solved. Mr. Fletcher was 78 years old at the time of the kidnapping and resided at 3205 No. 20th St.(T. Times 12/29/1936, pg. 1)

Kidnappings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Mattson, Charles--Homes & haunts; Fletcher, Charles; Mattson, Charles--Kidnappings;

Tacoma Police at Night. An unidentified young police officer stands by Prowl Car No. 2 in South Tacoma on June 29, 1940. Prowler car officers were used to keep the peace during the night which included breaking up family disputes, street brawls and other routine calls. (T.Times 7-4-1940, p. 3- description of job of prowler car officers)

Tacoma Police Department (Tacoma); Police--Tacoma--1940-1950; Automobiles--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Tacoma Police Department. Ten dignitaries, attending the graduation services for 37 police officers, stand on the stage at Stadium High School.

Police--Tacoma--1940-1950; Law enforcement training--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Police Department (Tacoma); Stadium High School (Tacoma); Stages (Platforms);

Harold J. O'Brien of Algona, Washington was killed on Christmas Day, when his car was sideswiped by a truck. The accident occurred about 800 feet south of the King-Pierce County line on Edgewood Road. O'Brien's neck was broken with the impact, killing his instantly. O'Brien's mother, brother and sister-in-law were also in the vehicle, they did not suffer any injuries. State Patrolmen reported O'Brien was driving 1-1/2 feet over the center line. View of State Patrolmen carrying away the body (T. Times, 12/26/47, p. 3).

Law enforcement officers--Tacoma; Traffic accidents--Tacoma; Litters; Emergency medical services--Tacoma; Rescue work--Tacoma; Wounds & injuries--Tacoma; Victims--Tacoma; Washington State Patrol (Tacoma); O'Brien, Harold J.--Death & burial;

Tacoma Police Department graveyard shift on the Spanish Steps at the Elks lodge. Police officers display beards and mustaches in keeping with the request for Tacoma men not to shave during the month of August. The city sponsored a beard contest as a part of the ceremonies celebrating the Northwest Territory Centennial. TPL-8748

Police--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Tacoma's finest, along with their vehicles, stand alertly outside the Public Safety Building/City Hall Annex on August 29, 1953. They were members of the Tacoma Police Department's Motorcycle division. TPL-7118

Police--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Police Department (Tacoma); Public Safety Building (Tacoma); City Hall Annex (Tacoma); Motorcycles--Tacoma--1950-1960;

ca. 1937. Sentencing of Stanley G. Morrison, Tacoma broker tried for mail fraud, 1937. Mr. Morrison would be sentenced to a five-year term for using the mails to defraud. He would be released on parole from McNeil Island federal penitentiary after serving three years. He then would be tried in Superior Court on 11 counts of fraud in 1941. (T.Times 10-14-41, p. 1)

Crimes--Tacoma; Morrison, Stanley G.--Trials, litigation, etc.;

ca. 1937. 1937 sentencing of Stanley G. Morrison, Tacoma investment broker tried for mail fraud. Courtroom filled with people. A courtroom awaits the sentencing of Mr. Morrison on federal charges of mail fraud. He would be sentenced to a five-year term at McNeil Island federal penitentiary and serve three years before being released on parole. He would be charged in 1941 with eleven counts of fraud stemming from a 1937 situation where Frank Berry, Old Town fisherman, lost $30,000 through investments made through the Morrison Investment Co. (T. Times, 10-14-41, p. 1)

Crimes--Tacoma; Morrison, Stanley G.--Trials, litigation, etc.;

Evidence in the kidnapping case of nine year old George Hunt Weyerhaeuser; communication by letter from the kidnappers and correspondence written by George. One of the later ransom notices, containing specific information for the delivery of money, was accompanied by this letter from George dated 5/25/1935, the day after the kidnapping. In it, he gives information about his family for verification and assures them that he has plenty to eat. A letter from the kidnappers received May 29th sets up a meeting at the Ambassador Hotel in Seattle and is signed "Egoist, Egoist." Phil Weyerhaeuser kept this appointment, signing the register as James Paul Jones as instructed, and attempted unsuccessfully to deliver the ransom on this attempt. He was successful in a second attempt. (T. Times 5/25/1935, pg. 1 plus succeeding days)

Kidnappings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Weyerhaeuser, George H.--Correspondence; Evidence (Law);

On May 24, 1935, nine year old George Weyerhaeuser was kidnapped near the grounds of the Annie Wright Seminary. The ransom demand was for $200,000. Reporters from around the country camped out outside the pictured home of the J.P. Weyerhaeuser Jr. family at 420 No. 4th St. hoping to get a story. The Weyerhaeusers managed to move secretly, pay the ransom and obtain the freedom of their son. Ironically the democratic efforts of the parents, in moving to a smaller home, in sending their son to public school at Lowell and in allowing him to walk alone the five or so blocks to meet his sister at Annie Wright, contributed to the ease in which he was kidnapped. To their credit, on his release on June 1st, they allowed him to return to his normal life without restrictions. (T. Times 5/25/1935, pg. 1 plus succeeding days)

Kidnappings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Weyerhaeuser, John Philip--Homes & haunts; Weyerhaeuser, George H.--Kidnappings;

Two men associated with the investigation into the kidnapping of young George Weyerhaeuser. The man on the left is believed to be US Attorney Owen P. Hughes and the man on the right is Pierce County Sheriff John Bjorklund. On May 24, 1935, the boy was abducted from the grounds of Annie Wright Seminary where he was planning to meet with his sister and travel home for lunch. (T. Times 5/25/1935, pg. 1 plus succeeding days)

Kidnappings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Weyerhaeuser, George H.--Kidnappings; Bjorklund, John;

George Hunt Weyerhaeuser, after his release from abductors on June 1, 1935. Nine year old George had curly hair and dark eyes. On May 24, 1935, in the most sensational crime in Tacoma history, George was kidnapped as he walked from Lowell School to Annie Wright Seminary to meet with his sister and travel home for lunch. He was held for $200,000 ransom. After the ransom was paid by his father J. P. (Phil) Weyerhaeuser, Jr., George was released near Issaquah and made his way to a local home to request help. His recollections of his abduction and imprisonment helped to convict the three kidnappers. To his parents' credit, he was allowed to resume his normal life on his return. (T. Times 06/02/1935, pg. 1 plus succeeding days)

Kidnappings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Weyerhaeuser, George H.;

Nineteen year old Margaret Waley covers her face with her coat after her arraignment on charges of kidnapping and extortion relating to the May 24, 1935 abduction of George Weyerhaeuser. Margaret, with her small stature, wavy brown hair and soft spoken ways, was generally pitied by the press. She was represented, in most cases, as being only an accessory to the kidnapping crime. She had married ex con Harman Waley against her parents' wishes. She seemed truly to love Harman however, exchanging kisses with him after the arraignment. The judge in the case, US Judge Edward Everett Cushman, later refused to accept her guilty plea and remanded her to trial. She was found guilty and sentenced to twenty years. (T. Times 06/13/1935, pg. 1 plus succeeding days)

Kidnappings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Waley, Margaret; Weyerhaeuser, George H.--Kidnappings;