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;

Nine year old George Weyerhaeuser seems a bit perplexed by reporters' questions at a press conference given by the family after the boy's release from kidnappers on June 1, 1935. George, who exhibited courage and spunk throughout his captivity, earned the admiration of the reporters with his relaxed appearance after his ordeal. His recollections of his captors and his description of the house in which he was held helped in identifying the kidnappers. Original photo (series 2700, image 61) has been enlarged and cropped to make George more prominent for the newspaper photo. (TNT 6/1/35, pg. 1) TPL-9069

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

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;

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;

Mattson kidnapping case, marina showing boat houses and boats. Telephone and power lines in the background. Photograph ordered by the Seattle Star. On the evening of December 27, 1936, Charles Mattson was abducted from his home at 4605 No. Verde by a masked gunman in full view of his older brother, sister and family friend. Because the teens did not hear a car pull away, it is believed that the intruder carried the boy down a path at the rear of the house that winds down a steep embankment to a wooded gulch below. He would then escape by car on Ruston Way or by boat at the waterfront. The gunman demanded a $28,000 ransom for the boy's return. As days passed, subsequent communications by the kidnapper were confusing and conflicting. The frantic parents were unable to get clear instructions on how to deliver the ransom. The boy's body was found near Everett on January 10, 1937; he had been dead 5-6 days. The kidnapper had made ransom demands even after he had murdered the boy. A massive manhunt turned up many suspects, but no one was indicted in connection with the murder. The story slipped from the front page on January 26, 1937 as leads began to peter out. (T. Times 12/28/1936 - 1/25/1937, pg. 1)

Waterfronts--Tacoma--1930-1940; Piers & wharves--Tacoma--1930-1940; Kidnappings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Mattson, Charles--Kidnappings;

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 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);

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;

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;

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);

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);

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;

Garnet J. Cratsenberg was a police officer for the Tacoma Police Department. Cratsenberg lived at the Florence Apartments located at 414 Tacoma Avenue South, apartment 4. Garnet is wearing a houndstooth check jacket, tie and white shirt.

Police--Tacoma; Portraits; Portrait photographs; Posing; Men--Clothing & dress--Tacoma; Cratsenberg, Garnet J.;

The City of Tacoma's off duty Police officers were taking a short break to celebrate Christmas and the holiday season with the Police Chief. The Tacoma Police Department had recently increased the size of their motorcycle cops unit. View of Tacoma Police Chief, Robert C. Marshall (left) and unidentified man, who is presenting a "Merry Christmas Chief Marshall" and "Better Known as Little Napoleon the Slave-Driver Superb" poster to him.

Police--Tacoma; Christmas--Tacoma; Signs (Notices); Municipal officials--Tacoma; Law enforcement--Tacoma; Marshall, Robert C.; Tacoma Police Department (Tacoma);

Officer Robert Gibbs and J.E. Steele are seated in the accident prevention car of the Tacoma Police Department as Robert S. Temme, Commissioner of Public Safety, stands by the driver's door in front of the police department garage. Photograph taken on February 23, 1949 and ordered by the Tacoma Times, Earl Floathe. TPL-6487

Tacoma Police Department (Tacoma); Gibbs, Robert; Steele, J.E.; Temme, Robert S.; Police surveillance--Tacoma--1940-1950; Police--Tacoma--1940-1950; Automobiles--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Prowl car and radio station, Times, Earl Floathe. Officer Robert Gibbs speaks into the microphone of the accident prevention car of the Tacoma Police Department as driver J.E. Steele and Robert S. Temme, Commissioner of Public Safety, stand by outside the police department garage.

Tacoma Police Department (Tacoma); Gibbs, Robert; Steele, J.E.; Temme, Robert S.; Police surveillance--Tacoma--1940-1950; Police--Tacoma--1940-1950; Communication devices;

Mattson kidnapping case. Warehouses and shoreline along Commencement Bay. Photograph ordered by the Seattle Star. On December 27, 1936, at around 9 p.m., ten year old Charles Mattson was abducted from his parents' home by an armed intruder. The man left a typed ransom note demanding $28,000. He then, it is believed, carried the 70 pound boy down a steep cliff behind the Mattson home, across the railroad tracks and to a waiting car on Ruston Way. The following day, the area was crawling with press attempting to fill their front pages. It was hypothesized the the abductor could have hidden the boy in one of the warehouses along the waterfront. (T. Times 12/28/1936- 1/25/1937, pg. 1)

Waterfronts--Tacoma--1930-1940; Piers & wharves--Tacoma--1930-1940; Kidnappings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Warehouses--Tacoma--1930-1940; Mattson, Charles--Kidnappings;

Mattson kidnapping case. Two boys standing on a path leading up the hillside below the Mattson home. Photograph ordered by the Seattle Star. On a peaceful post-Christmas night in 1936, the Mattson children and a family friend were watching area motorists drive up to view the Christmas light display in the front yard of the Mattson home at 4605 No. Verde. An armed and masked man broke in through a rear entrance of the home and seized Charles Mattson, the smallest of the group of children. He left a ransom note for $28,000. He then, it is believed, carried Charles down this path behind the Mattson home, down a steep bluff to Ruston Way and a waiting get away car driven by an accomplice. (T. Times 12/28/1936 - 1/25/1937, pg. 1)

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

Mattson kidnapping case. View of Ruston Way and Commencement Bay from hillside below the Mattson home. On December 27, 1936, an armed intruder abducted ten year old Charles Mattson from his parents' home at 4605 No. Verde. He then carried the boy down the steep cliff behind the home leading to Ruston Way and the waterfront. A ransom note was left behind at the crime scene, demanding $28,000. Up to this point, no less than 12 well publicized kidnappings had occurred since the 1934 kidnapping of the Lindbergh baby. The previous year, 1935, young George Weyerhaeuser had been kidnapped and returned following payment of the ransom. Charles Mattson was murdered and his body dumped in a wooded area 200 feet off of the Edmonds-Everett Highway, 6 miles south of Everett. Despite an extensive manhunt, and numerous suspects, his murderer was never found. (T. Times 12/28/1936- 1/25, 1937, pg. 1)

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

A child's dial typewriter used for ransom note, with a hand operating it. Photograph ordered by the Seattle Star. On December 27, 1936, Charles Mattson was kidnapped by an armed and masked intruder at his parents' home at 4605 No. Verde. The ransom note left behind appeared to be typed on a child's typing machine or made with a child's letter stamps. The note contained less than 25 words and demanded $28,000 ransom. Misspellings were corrected with pen and ink. (T. Times 12/28/1936- 1/25/1937, pg. 1) (filed with Argentum)

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

Charles Mattson, on right, tied to a telephone pole while playing "G-men" with another boy. According to the Tacoma Times, FBI men were Charles' heroes and he and his friends often played "kidnap" where Charles doubled as the victim and the G-man. Later, in December of 1936 at the age of ten, Charles Mattson was kidnapped from his parents' Tacoma home and murdered. Despite the questioning of numerous suspects across the country the following month, the case was never solved. This photograph shows a younger Charles and appeared on the front page of the Tacoma Times December 30, 1936. (T. Times 12-28-1936 - 1-25-1937, pg. 1) (filed with Argentum)

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

ca. 1937. Sentencing of Stanley G. Morrison, Tacoma real estate and investment broker tried for mail fraud in 1937. Four men crossing the street at 9th Street and Court A on their way to the Federal Courts. Mr. Morrison would end up serving three years of a five-year term at McNeil Island federal penitentiary. In October, 1941, he would be summoned to Superior Court on eleven counts of grand larceny in the alleged misappropriation of $30,000 entrusted to his firm by Frank Berry, fisherman. (T.Times, 10-14-41, p. 1, 10-16-41, p. 1)

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

ca. 1937. Sentencing of Stanley G. Morrison, Tacoma broker tried for mail fraud, 1937. Three men standing in the doorway to the Federal Building. 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.;

This vacant and boarded up home stood about 200 feet from the home of the J.P. (Phil) Weyerhaeuser, Jr. family at 420 No. 4th. The Weyerhaeuser home is the one behind the tree at the right rear of the picture. The police suspect that the abandoned home may have been used a a hideout where the kidnappers could observe the Weyerhaeuser family prior to the May 24, 1935 kidnapping of nine year old George Weyerhaeuser. This theory was later abandoned and footprints attributed to an overly ambitious photographer trying to get a different viewpoint of the Weyerhaeuser home. (T. Times 5/28/1935, pg. 1 plus succeeding months)

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

In May of 1935, a group of newsreel cameramen and reporters were staking out the home of J.P. Weyerhaeuser Jr. at 420 North 4th Street waiting for a break in the George Weyerhaeuser kidnapping case. Nine year old George Weyerhaeuser was abducted around noon on May 24, 1935 as he walked from Lowell School at 1210 North Yakima to Annie Wright Seminary at 827 Tacoma Avenue North to meet his sister and go home for lunch. By May 25, 1935, the kidnapping had become a front page story across the United States. Reporters streamed into Tacoma. The boy was reportedly being held for $200,000 ransom, truly a fortune in the depression strapped times. The kidnapping remained a front page story until George was released on June 1, 1935, despite the fact that very little information was being released by either the police or the family. Most stories published were filled with speculation and conjectures. (T. Times 5/25/1935, pg. 1 plus succeeding months)

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