Journalists from across the country congregate in the vicinity of the J.P. (Phil) Weyerhaeuser Jr. home, 420 No. 4th St., after the May 24, 1935 kidnapping of nine year old George Weyerhaeuser and his June 1st release. The kidnapping was one of the hottest news stories of 1935 and was covered by reporters from across the nation. The story ended happily with the arrest and conviction of Harman and Margaret Waley and William Dainard. Most of the $200,000 in ransom money was recovered.

Kidnappings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Journalists--Tacoma--1930-1940; Photojournalists--Tacoma--1930-1940; 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;

Reporters surround the Weyerhaeuser home at 420 No. 4th St. during the ordeal of the kidnapping of nine year old George Weyerhaeuser on May 24, 1935 and his release on June 1st. The story was covered nationally.

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

In May of 1935, police officers stand posted at the corners of the home of J.P. Weyerhaeuser Jr., 420 No. 4th St., keeping the press and the curious away while the family negotiates with their son's kidnappers. On May 24, 1935, nine year old George Weyerhaeuser was kidnapped from the grounds of the Annie Wright Seminary. Reporters from around the country camped outside the Weyerhaeuser home hoping to get a story. The Weyerhaeusers managed to move secretly, pay the ransom and obtain the freedom of their son. The boy was returned safely on June 1st. (T. Times 5/25/1935, pg. 1 plus succeeding days) (filed with Argentum)

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

In May of 1935, police guard the home of J.P. Weyerhaeuser Jr., 420 No. 4th St., keeping the press and the curious away while the family negotiates with their son's kidnappers. On May 24, 1935, nine year old George Weyerhaeuser was kidnapped from the grounds of the Annie Wright Seminary. The ransom demand was for $200,000. Reporters from around the country camped outside the Weyerhaeuser home hoping to get a story. The Weyerhaeusers managed to move secretly, pay the ransom and obtain the freedom of their son. The boy was returned safely on June 1st. (T. Times 5/25/1935, pg. 1 plus succeeding days) (filed with Argentum)

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

The La Gasa children pose with a vehicle. Photograph taken in connection with the kidnapping of George Weyerhaeuser and the resulting investigation and trial. The trio are most probably the children of Dr. and Mrs. James La Gasa. Photo ordered by the Seattle PI.

Kidnappings--Tacoma--1930-1940; La Gasa, James--Family; 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;

The dislodged stone from the wall at Western States Hospital, possible ransom drop off spot in the George Weyerhaeuser kidnapping. In late May of 1935, US postal employee Fred Hipkins claimed that he had seen what he interpreted as an attempted ransom delivery. It consisted of a signal light high in a fir tree on Custer & Steilacoom Highways, a sedan parked near Western States with its lights off and people inside, and tire tracks and a dislodged rock the next morning in the stone wall surrounding the hospital. (T. Times 5/31/1935, pg. 1)

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

Elmer J. McCune, left, 40 year old Puyallup rabbit farmer, poses with Sheriff John Bjorklund after his arrest and sentencing for murdering his wife, Maude Bulgar McCune, with an ax. On the night of November 9th, 1935, during a brief reconciliation for the couple, after being almost continually separated during their six years of marriage; the couple argued at McCune's rabbit ranch 5 miles south of Puyallup on Pipe Line Road. McCune stated that he "lost his head" when his wife nagged at him and hit him with a stick. He responded by striking her in the head with an ax. The couple's seven year old son Leroy was asleep in the house at the time. McCune buried his wife's body on his ranch. One week later, Nov. 15th, he brought Ruth Dunlap, with whom he admitted having a relationship of several years duration, from Seattle to his ranch and presented her to his son as his new mother. McCune was sentenced to life imprisonment two days after his arrest. (T.Times 4/19/1935, pg. 1; 4/20/1935, pg. 1)

McCune, Elmer; Homicides--Puyallup--1930-1940; Bjorklund, John;

The Pierce County Sheriff's Department force including patrolmen, detectives, and Pierce County Sheriff H.W. "Lee " Croft posed on the steps of the Pierce County Courthouse in December of 1945. Sheriff Croft (center, first row) was first elected to his position in 1942. He was a former logger, gold miner, heavyweight boxer, checkers enthusiast and longtime operator of the Croft Hotel on Pacific Ave. Lee Croft served two terms as sheriff and passed away in December of 1951.

Sheriffs--Pierce County--1940-1950; Pierce County Sheriffs (Tacoma); Pierce County Courthouse (Tacoma); Courthouses--Tacoma; Croft, Lee

The Pierce County Sheriff's Department force including patrolmen, detectives and Pierce County Sheriff Lee Croft. The sheriffs force is standing on the steps of the Pierce County Courthouse. The courthouse, built in 1892 and designed by Proctor and Dennis architects, was patterned after the courthouse in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It was finished with Tenino bluestone. The building was demolished in 1959.

Sheriffs--Pierce County--1940-1950; Pierce County Sheriffs (Tacoma); Pierce County Courthouse (Tacoma); Courthouses--Tacoma; Uniforms; Croft, Lee

View of Pierce County Sheriff's office new medicine kit, kit is shown both opened and closed. Medicine kit has analgesic balm, liniment, Olympic Trainer athletic liniment, Red Cross bandages, ammonia inhalant, tweezers, scissors, swabs, gauze and other first aid items. Richard's Studio has combined two images, photo ordered by Gordon Hill, Pierce County Deputy Sheriff's Officer.

Sheriffs--Tacoma; Law enforcement--Tacoma; Law enforcement training--Tacoma; First aid--Tacoma; Emergency medical services--Tacoma; Pierce County Sheriffs (Tacoma);

Pierce County Sheriff's officers, George W. Kupka on right, flank Sheriff John C. Bjorklund on the Court House steps in January of 1938. John C. Bjorklund was in his second term. When re-elected in 1938, he received the largest majority ever given a candidate for any office in the history of Pierce County up to that time. Bjorklund was for many years the secretary of the Tacoma Longshoremen's Union and he was a familiar figure on Tacoma's waterfront. (filed with Argentum)

Bjorklund, John; Uniforms; Sheriffs--Pierce County--1930-1940; Pierce County Sheriffs (Tacoma); Pierce County Courthouse (Tacoma); Courthouses--Tacoma; Kupka, George;

On January 19, 1938, Pierce County Sheriff John C. Bjorklund posed on the steps of the old Pierce County Courthouse at 1012 South G Street with his 16-member staff. Sheriff Bjorklund is in the front row, second from the left. His criminal deputies donned blue caps, coats and high laced boots for this photograph. Marian Hager, stenographer, was the only female staff member. The names of the sixteen aides are listed in the newspaper caption. (TNT 1/19/1938, pg. 7-alternate photograph)

Bjorklund, John; Uniforms; Sheriffs--Pierce County--1930-1940; Law enforcement officers; Pierce County Courthouse (Tacoma); Courthouses--Tacoma; Hager, Marian;

In November of 1940, an unidentified Civil Service Commission physician tested the lung capacity of H.E. Wood (center) and Lee York as part of the physical exam given to police force applicants. Eighty would be police officers took the exam. Twenty-three were immediately rejected because they did not meet the height and weight specifications. Those who passed the physical were given a series of mental tests to insure that they were psychologically fit. (TTimes 11/29/1940 p.3)

Police--Tacoma--1940-1950; Wood, H.E.; York, Lee; Medical equipment & supplies

Lee York, left, and H.E. Wood being given Civil Service Examination for city patrolmen. The men were undergoing physical fitness tests on November 28, 1940.

Police--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Police Department (Tacoma); Wood, H.E.; York, Lee;

Two city employees appear to be doing chin ups on the muscular arms of Lee York during the Civil Service Examination for city patrolmen. Eighty job seekers undertook the rigorous testing to become Tacoma's finest. Those passing the physical tests would undergo further mental evaluation. (TTimes 11/29/1940 p.3)

Police--Tacoma--1940-1950; York, Lee;

Mayor Cain assists in keeping score as men are being given the physical fitness portion of the Civil Service Examination for Tacoma City Police Patrolmen at the Tacoma YMCA. The men are, left to right, John Williscroft, Fred Stephenson, Al Ziegler, Tony Zatkovich (kneeling), Mayor Harry P. Cain, Harold Keller (aiding in giving the exam), Herman Williamson (taking weight lifting exam) and Sgt. E.D. Cornelison. (T. Times 11/29/1940, pg. 3)

Police--Tacoma--1940-1950; Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979; Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950;

On March 24, 1941 Officer John Hickey, behind the wheel of the Tacoma Police department's new "sound" equipped patrol car, warned two absentminded pedestrians that they were about to step into danger - and break the law. To launch the Tacoma Junior Chamber of Commerce sponsored spring traffic safety week campaign, the specially equipped car cruised the streets of Tacoma warning both pedestrians and drivers of their impending violations. Reading the paper are: (l to r) George Wilson, chairman of the Junior Chamber of Commerce safety drive, and Bill Geppert. (T.Times 3/26/1941 p.15)

Tacoma Police Department (Tacoma); Hickey, John; Wilson, George; Geppert, Bill; Junior Chamber of Commerce (Tacoma);

The uniformed graduating class of Federal Protective Officers posed for a group portrait on April 16, 1971, at Fort Lewis. The United States Federal Protective Service was formally established in 1971 as a law enforcement organization within the U.S. General Services Administration. Its duty was to protect the federal communities controlled by GSA nationally, including federal employees, visitors and billions of dollars in assets. In 1971, total employment of Federal Protective Officers exceeded 4500. Photograph ordered by General Services Administration, Auburn. (www/house.gov/transportation/pbed/09-06-01/09/06/01memo.html- article)

Law enforcement officers;

Joyce Atkins, Evalu Clevenger, and Shirley Williams (l to r), the drum majorettes for the Lincoln High School marching band, were photographed sitting on the handle bars of three Tacoma Police Dept. motorcycles on February 11, 1944. They are flanked by four unidentified policemen. The Lynx Majorettes and the Stadium H.S. Tigerannas led the combined Lincoln and Stadium bands when Wendell Willkie visited Tacoma to address the Pierce County Republican Club at their 1944 Lincoln Day dinner. (Lincolnian, 1944 p.72)

Tacoma Police Department (Tacoma); Police--Tacoma--1940-1950; Motorcycles--Tacoma--1940-1950; Drum majorettes--Tacoma--1940-1950; Atkins, Joyce; Clevenger, Evalu; Williams, Shirley; Students--Tacoma--1940-1950;

On June 3, 1944, 459 members of Tacoma's Schoolboy Patrol were the guests of the Tacoma Police Department at a picnic held at Point Defiance Park. During the school year, the boys directed traffic around the schools, making sure that students made it safely to classes. At the picnic, they directed the celebration of Public Safety Commissioner Einar Langseth's birthday by lining up to give him a good luck birthday swat. Commissioner Langseth, bending over on lower right side, replied that he was not nearly as old as the 459 swats he received. (T. Times, 6/5/44, p. 2).

Police--Tacoma; Picnics--Tacoma; Langseth, Einar, 1892-1968;

On Wednesday July 3, 1946, Frank Casey (left), a Tacoma Fabricating Company millworker, found a large military flare which had washed ashore in the Old Town area of Tacoma. Not sure whether it was a flare, or a bomb, Casey called the Tacoma police. Officer Frank Pim (rt) was dispatched to the scene. Later, a demolition team from Ft. Lewis disarmed the flare, which had been removed from the protective casing, held by officer Pim, by children. Had the children pulled the flare's safety pin, they could have been seriously injured. (T. Times, 7/4/46, p. 11).

Police--Tacoma; Signals & signaling--Tacoma; Explosives; Tacoma Fabricating Co. (Tacoma);

West Disinfecting Company. The section at the lower, right-hand corner states, "Bob Palling, West Representative, demonstrates to Officer Dan Johnson the method of using Westamine Disinfectant, now used daily on all mobile equipment of Tacoma Police Department". The doors of the garage are open. One police vehicle is pointing out towards the street. The other has its back doors open where the demonstration is taking place. TPL-6673

Police--Tacoma--1940-1950; Automobiles--Tacoma--1940-1950; Chemicals--Tacoma--1940-1950; Teaching; Johnson, Dan; Palling, Bob;

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);

During the summer of 1946, while Tacoma's school age children were on vacation, a group of police candidates were taking classes at Stadium High School. At the end of August, 37 of the candidates received diplomas and were declared full-fledged members of the Tacoma Police Department. Attending the graduation were a number of veterans of the Tacoma and Seattle police departments including: Police Captain A.E. Farrar, third from the left in the front row; Police Chief P.G. Gregg, in a dark suit and white hat; Safety Commissioner R.S. Temme, in light colored suit and "skimmer"; and Seattle Police Captain Emile Vallet, next to Temme. Others names are listed in Tacoma Times. (T.Times, 9/4/1946, p.16.)

Police--Tacoma--1940-1950; Law enforcement training--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Police Department (Tacoma); Stadium High School (Tacoma); Portraits; Graduation ceremonies--Tacoma--1940-1950;

In December 1946, 41 men graduated from the Washington State Patrol training camp, 770 men submitted applications, 45 men were selected to go through training, but only 41 completed the program. Washington State Patrol had recently gone through program budget cuts and an increase in duties, which were made by the last Legislature. The agency was hoping that this year's elections would increase program funds. View of Washington State Patrolman.

Law enforcement officers--Tacoma; Uniforms; Law enforcement--Tacoma; Offices--Tacoma--1940-1950; Washington State Patrol (Tacoma);

Herbert Algeo was the Chief of the Washington State Patrol during this time. The State Patrol had many responsibilities including: speed monitoring, first aid safety, weight control units to help prevent damage to roads, accident prevention and many other duties. The organization was formed in 1921. View of Washington State Patrolmen with first aid supplies, outside of the Vehicle Safety Inspection center. TPL-6674

Law enforcement officers--Tacoma; First aid--Tacoma; Law enforcement--Tacoma; Uniforms; Washington State Patrol (Tacoma);

Safety Award being presented in Mayor Val Fawcett's office to Police Department and other city departments by the American Automobile Association. The Pedestrian Protection Award was presented to the Tacoma Police Department and citizens for their reduction in pedestrian accidents. (T.Times, 6/24/1947, p.3)

Police--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Police Department (Tacoma); Safety; Accidents; American Automobile Association (Tacoma); Awards; Fawcett, Clarence Valdo, 1900-1965; Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Safety Award being presented in Mayor's office to Police Department and other city departments, AAA Pedestrian Protection award. Tacoma won a National Safety Plaque by the Automobile Association of America in recognition of the work done by Tacoma police and citizens to reduce pedestrian accidents. Tacoma was given third place in cities with populations from 100,000 to 500,000. (T.Times, 6/24/1947, p.3)

Police--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Police Department (Tacoma); Safety; Accidents; American Automobile Association (Tacoma); Awards;