- Item
- 1935-06
Part of Richards Studio Photographs
Photograph of Harman Metz Waley, kidnapper of nine year old George H. Weyerhaeuser. Twenty four year old Harman Waley was a small time criminal and former Puyallup resident. Harman, admired by female onlookers for his wavy red hair, and his 19 year old wife Margaret seemed unlikely candidates for the commission of this crime. Waley knew co-abductor William Dainard from time they had spent together in an Idaho prison. The trio developed the kidnapping plan after the death of J.P. Weyerhaeuser Sr. and the reports of his tremendous wealth. Despite the ransom demand that the bills be unmarked, the numbers were recorded. The Waleys were arrested when Margaret tried to pass one of the bills in a Salt Lake City five and dime. The pair implicated Dainard. Harmon Waley plead guilty and received a sentence of 45 years. (T. Times 06/10/1935, pg. 1 plus succeeding days)
Kidnappings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Waley, Harman; Weyerhaeuser, George H.--Kidnappings;