Evil Plan Drunkenly Botched

They and the family hoped such action or lack of action would hurry the child home unharmed, said Bernard Brandon, chief of Police. Were treading lightly. We're just waiting to hear if the family is contacted. He gave no idea how long the waiting period would last. Greenlease, seventy one is a distributor for Cadillac. He said, quote, I don't know why anybody would do anything like this. There are so many reasons why anybody would be foolish to take

such a risk. It just doesn't make sense. Unquote Greenlee said he believed the kidnapping was the work of professionals. That he said made him hopeful the perpetrators would make contacts soon with a ransom demand. This, he felt would make it more likely that the child would be released unharmed, as the professionals would be interested primarily in the money. Greenley's active in civic affairs, has been in the automobile

distributing business for forty five years. He married Missus Greenlease, who was in her mid forties, in nineteen thirty nine, after divorcing his first wife. Missus Greenleas collapsed from strain and was under care of a physician. The Greenleases also have an eleven year old daughter. The boy was taken from the school yesterday morning. The woman gained admittance to the school by telling a nun Missus Greenlea's had suffered a heart attack and the boy had to be taken

to the hospital. She said she was the boy's aunt. The nuns suggested the woman pray for Missus Greenlea's in the school chapel while she waited for the child to be called from his class. The woman walked into the chapel and knelt on leaving the school with Bobby. The woman remarked, I'm not a Catholic, but I hope God

heard my prayers. Eugene M. Pond, chief of Detectives, said police were following all normal processes in the investigation and added we are awaiting a request from the parents before starting an intensive investigation. Announcement of the kidnapping was withheld from the press and radio for three hours. Police Chief Brannon explained authority's feared earlier disclosure might result in death

or injury to the child. The woman, described as chunky, about thirty five years old and having reddish brown hair, left the school with the boy in a taxicab. The nun then telephoned the Greenlea's home, talked with Missus Greenlease and learned she was not ill. Then it was discovered that the boy had been taken from the school on a ruse. Later, the taxicab driver, Willard Creech, sixty two, told police the woman and young Greenleas left his cab at a parking lot only a few blocks from the school.

They got into a late model blue sedan with Kansas license plates and drove off. Creech said quote he didn't cry or anything. While he was in the cab, she kept talking to him about how things were at home and things like that. She asked him about a couple of dogs that word at home, and he said something. I remember. They had talked about the fact that they had a parrot at home. Unquote, Creech said the woman referred to a black parrot. The parrot, however, is green.

The cab driver said the woman didn't seem to know the boy very well, but he didn't think there was anything unusual about his passengers' actions. About ten days ago, a woman telephoned the Greenleas home, saying she was a representative of the public schools. She asked the ages of the children and where they attended classes. A housekeeper recalled the incident last night. School officials said they were unaware

of any such survey being made. The boy was wearing a white, short sleeved shirt and short brown linen trousers when taken away. He weighs about fifty three pounds, has fair skin and light brown hair. Bulletin the father of kidnapped Robert Cosgrove Greenleas Junior, suddenly left his home today. The millionaire automobile dealer asked newsman and photographer to leave the premises and said, we believe someone is trying to

make contact. He did not elaborate. True Crime Historian presents an Eye for an Eye, a special edition of Yesterday's news, exploring the criminal justice system at its most extreme, inflicting the death penalty. Episode three hundred and sixty two takes on one of the most evil crimes imaginable, as told

from the point of view of the perpetrator. By the time police caught up with Carl Austin Hall, he had made so many mistakes in the kidnapping and murder of a six year old boy that he knew the game was up, so he told the whole story in a coldly matter of fact thirty six page confession here adapted for the first two acts. The third act will call the comuppins. I'm true crime historian Richard O. Jones, and for your horror and indignation, I give you evil plan

drunkenly botched the Greenleace kidnapping tragedy. I was born in Kansas City, Missouri, July one, nineteen nineteen, the son of John and Zella Hall. Both my parents are now dead and I have no brothers or sisters. At the time of my mother's death, my inheritance from my father's estate was valued at approximately two hundred thousand dollars. My mother

died in nineteen thirty four. I attended grade school at Pleasanton, Kansas and Kemper Military Academy, Boonville, Missouri from nineteen thirty four until the close of the school year in nineteen thirty six. I graduated from the Pleasanton, Kansas High School in nineteen thirty seven. I also attended one semester at

the William Jewell College at Liberty, Missouri. I joined the United States Marines at Kansas City in nineteen thirty eight and received an honorable discharge in January of nineteen forty six. I was formerly married to Irene Holmes Hall, but she divorced me in nineteen fifty There were no children of this marriage. I wish to say that relative to planning a kidnapping, I've had it in mind for at least two years. I believed that kidnapping was the one crime

I could commit once and obtain a large sum of money. However, up to April twenty fourth, nineteen fifty three, I had not picked out any specific victim to kidnap. I knew that Robert C. Greenlea's was extremely wealthy. I also knew from newspaper accounts that mister Greenley's had two children living at his residence with them. I then placed a fictitious call to the Greenley's home and spoke to an individual

who claimed she was the maid. From the maid, I ascertained the ages of the children, what school they attended, and other pertinent data. I met missus Bonnie and Hetty at a cocktail lounge in the Robideaux Hotel Saint Joseph, Missouri, in about the latter part of May nineteen fifty three, and began living with her as husband and wife in

a common law relationship. About the middle of nineteen fifty three, I began to discuss with her the details for kidnapping Bobby Greenlea's, pointing out to her that she would only have to participate in luring Bobby from the French institute and use her home to keep the child until the

ransom was paid. Upon securing Bonnie Hetty's consent to participate in this kidnapping, I later placed in another telephone call to both the Greenlea's residence and the Greenlease Motor Company, and was informed that the family at that time were in Europe, but were expected to return home sometime in the first week of September in order that the children

could commence their schoolwork. About two weeks prior to the actual abduction, Bonnie Hetty and I drove to the Greenlea's residence twenty nine Verona, and there observed mister Greenlee's senior taking the children to school. We followed him in Bonnie Hetty's blue station wagon and observed what time mister Greenleas would leave the home and what time the boy was

left at school. On two occasions prior to the abduction, I followed Missus Greenlea's from the home to the school which Virginia Sue Greenlea's attends, and then to the French institute of Notre Dame d Seon, where Bobby Greenlea's would be picked up by his mother. At one time during the planning stage, I considered the possibility of appearing at the Greenley's home in the absence of the parents and

at pistol point abduct Bobby from his home. I consistently planned to kidnap Bobby Greenley's junior, but had also given some consideration to the abduction of Virginia Sioux. About two weeks prior to September twenty eighth, nineteen fifty three, Bonnie Hetty and I followed fowed Missus Greenlea's and Virginia Sioux, who were in a blue Cadillac Sedan from Virginia's school to the plaza near Kansas City, Missouri, where Missus Greenlee

parked the Cadillac car near a large drug store. Bonnie and I observed Missus Greenlea's alight from the car and enter the drug store. I suddenly got the urge to abduct Virginia, got out of Bonnie's station wagon and proceeded over to where the Green Lease automobile was parked. I approached the Greenlease automobile, but Virginia Sioue was in the process of alighting from the car, and I realized I could not abduct her at this point without creating some confusion, excitement,

and possible apprehension. As I realized that Virginia Sioux would be much older and more mature inner observations, I finally abandoned the plan to abduct Virginia Sioue. In the preparation for instant kidnapping, I purchased a fifty pound sack of lime at the Sawyer Materialurial Company in Kansas City. I purchased this lime to be used in the disposal of the victim's body. I had read some time in the past that hot lime would quickly eradicate human flesh and bone.

I purchased this lime for about thirty five cents, and upon returning to Bonnie Hetty's home in Saint Joseph, I stored the lime in the basement of her home. Also preparatory to the kidnapping, I purchased a long handled, true tempered shovel at the Hatfield Hardware Store on Frederick Avenue, Saint Joseph, Missouri, on Saturday, September twenty sixth, nineteen fifty three, at around four pm. I purchased this shovel for the sole purpose of digging the grave of Bobby Greenlea's prior

to the kidnapping. Also prior to the kidnapping, the exact date I do not recall, I purchased a thirty eight caliber Smith and Wesson revolver at Uncle Sam's loan office located on Minnesota Avenue, Kansas City, Kansas. At the same time, I also purchased one or two boxes of ammunition for the revolver, as well as some ammunition for the revolver

owned by Bonnie Hetty. I purchased at a variety store in Saint Joseph, Missouri, a pad of high toned linen finished writing paper, and at the United States Post Office some stamped envelopes to be used in sending the ransom letter in connection with the caves. I decided that the

ransom amount would be six hundred thousand dollars. I arrived at this figure because I had previously read in some magazine or other periodical an article giving the weight and size of a package containing a million dollars and ten and twenty dollars bills. I recalled that a million dollars would be too bulky to handle, but that six hundred thousand dollars and ten and twenty dollars bills would weigh

approximately eighty to eighty five pounds. I thought, if this amount were placed in a duffel bag, it would not

be too awkward or unwieldy for me to handle. In comparative safety, I decided to direct in the ransom notes that the money be obtained from the twelve Federal Reserve Bank districts, as I believed the bills would be serialized in the lists published to the general public, and if they came from one Federal Reserve bank it would be too easy to check, but having the money collected from the twelve Federal Reserve banks would be more confusing for

anyone to check. Also, in preparation for the kidnapping, I purchased from the Western Auto Supply at Saint Joseph, Missouri, two pieces of blue plastic sheeting. I purchased this plastic sheeting because I believed the duffel bag, which would contain the ransom money, would be treated by some chemical or powder which, if handled, would transmit a stain to my hand or clothing, which would assist in identifying me if

apprehended as the kidnapper. Therefore, the plastic sheeting was to wrap the duffel bag and thus prevent and a chemical or powder from being transmitted to my hands. I purchased another piece of blue plastic sheeting to wrap around the victim's body when placing it in the grave. One evening

prior to the kidnapping exact date not recalled. Bonnie Hetty and I drove to Kansas City, Missouri in her blue Plymouth station wagon, and I purchased an issue of the newspaper of the Daily Oklahoma at a newsstand known as Rubac's, located near the mule Lebac Hotel. I knew that mister Greenley's had an interest in a motor company in Oklahoma City, so I planned to use a business one ad to assist in directing the first ransom letter to the Greenleys family.

I located this newspaper ad and clipped it from the newspaper. Later, I pasted this clipping on the outside of an envelope containing the first ransom letter. On Sunday, September twenty seventh, nineteen fifty three, I vince Bonnie that it would be necessary to kill Bobby Greenley's due to the fact if he were released alive, he might be able to identify both of us, as well as Bonnie's automobile used in

the abduction, and her home in Saint Joseph, Missouri. On Sunday, September twenty seventh, nineteen fifty three, I took the long handled shovel which I previously purchased and dug a grave for Bobby Greenlea's on the property owned by Bonnie Hetty. I dug this grave in the area immediately north of the back porch of Bonnie Hetty's home twelve oh one

thirty eighth Street, Saint Joseph, Missouri. It took me nearly the entire day to dig this grave, as I would dig for about an hour, then enter the house and rest, and then return until the grave was completed. As I recall, this grave was approximately three feet deep and about five feet long. After digging the grave, on Sunday, September twenty seventh, Bonnie and I, while in Bonnie's rest residents, prepared the

first ransom letter. Bonnie hand printed the message, which, in substance advised the Greenleys family, your boy has been kidnapped to get six hundred thousand dollars and twenty and ten dollars bills. It instructed that when mister Greenley's had the money, he was to insert an advertisement in the Kansas City Star as follows, m will meet you in Chicago next Sunday, signed mister G. I was present at the time. Bonnie had a hand printed this letter and made numerous suggestions

to her relative to the spelling in its preparation. I then placed the note in an envelope, on the outside of which I pasted the name Greenlease, which I had cut from the Daily Oklahoma newspaper I had previously purchased. I then placed this envelope in a large one and addressed this envelope to mister Robert Greenley's twenty six hundred Varona Road, Kansas City, Missouri. On Sunday evening, September twenty seventh,

I stole the set of license plates. I cannot recall where in Saint Joseph I stole the plates or from what make of automobile they were stolen. However, to the best of my recollection, they were in nineteen fifty three Missouri license plates, but I cannot recall the digits appearing there on. I stole these plates for the purpose of using them on Bonnie's automobile during the actual abduction on

September twenty eighth. On Monday September twenty eighth, Bonnie and I arose earlier than usual, and around seven thirty am we got into her blue Plymouth station wagon and drove via US Highway seventy one to Kansas City, Missouri, proceeding to the vicinity of the French Institute of Notre Dame, where we parked the station wagon in a position where we could observe the school. We sat in this park car.

At about eight fifty am, we observed mister Greenlease and Bobby Greenlea's in the blue Cadillac entering the school grounds. Bobby got out of the automobile and entered the school. I was then positive that Bobby would be at the school during the normal school hours. Bonnie and I then drove to the vicinity of fortieth in Maine, Kansas City, Missouri, where I parked the blue station wagon on the main

street near the Cat's parking lot at that intersection. I loitered in this vicinity waiting for Bonnie to return with a victim. At around eleven am, I observed Bonnie and the victim alight from a taxi cab near the Cat's parking lot mentioned above. I joined them and we all three entered the station wagon. I drove. Bobby Greenlease was in the middle and Bonnie sat on the front seat

to the right of Bobby. I immediately drove west on Westport Road to the state line, then south the Highway fifty and west to Highway sixty nine, traveling through Overland Park, Kansas. After driving through Overland Park, I turned into a wheat field and turned around with the station wagon headed back north toward the road from which I had turned.

at the rear of the car. I had a piece of rope which was part of a clothesline I had obtained from Bonnie's home. I then placed this rope around Bobby's neck and endeavored to strangle him. This rope was twelve or fifteen inches long and was too short for me to hold in my hand and get a good twist. I realized then that I would be unable to strangle

the victim. Bobby was struggling and kicking, so I took my thirty eight caliber revolver and fired what I believed to be two shots at Bobby's head at close range. I missed him all the first shot, but the second one entered his head, causing him to bleed profusely and subsequently die. I do not remember exactly what position Bobby was in at the time of his death, but I believe I had pushed him down on the floorboard of the Plymouth because of his profuse bleeding from the head.

I pulled him out of the station wagon on the side opposite the driver and placed him on the ground. I was certain at this point that the victim was dead, so I picked him up and placed him on the plastic sheet in the rear of the station wagon, wrapping him in this sheet and covering the body over with an old comforter which was already in the station wagon. This old comforter had been in the station wagon for some time and was used by Bonnie's dog to lie

on when he was riding in the car. During the actual killing, Bonnie had walked to the rear of the station wagon up along the hedgerow, and at the present time cannot recall whether or not she had her dog with her. After the shooting, Bonnie returned to the station wagon and got in the car. I drove and she sat in the front seat opposite me. I then drove

back to Kansas City, Missouri. Bonnie and I, with the body of Bobby in the back of the station wagon, then turned on Southwest Trafficway and proceeded all the way to downtown Kansas City on this artery, crossing over the North Kansas City by way of the Airport Bridge. I recalled stopping at Lyn's Tavern in North Kansas City, but I do not definitely recall changing the license plates on

the Plymouth station Wagon. At this point, I drove in behind Lyn's Tavern to a parking lot and Bonnie went into the tavern and bought me a drink of whiskey. I could not enter the tavern because the blue sharkskin suit I was wearing was smeared with the victim's blood. It was even spattered on my face. I was in an extremely nervous state and was afraid if I entered the tavern somebody would question me as to the source of the blood stains. I believe Bonnie bought me one

or two drinks from the tavern. After obtaining the liquor, Bonnie and I then proceeded via Highway seventy one to Saint Joseph, Missouri. I drove Bonnie's station wagon into the basement of her home and unloaded Bobby's body, placing it on the basement floor. I then removed the Jerusalem metal which was pinned to Bobby's shirt. Bonnie went around and opened the door at the top of the basement steps. I carried the body upstairs, through the kitchen and into

the yard. I then laid it in the grave and covered it with lime, which I had obtained from the garage. I partially filled the grave with approximately six inches of dirt. I instructed Bonnie to finish filling the grave while I used the garden hose in an attempt to wash blood

stains in fresh blood out of the station wag. When I had completed this operation to my satisfaction, I then left alone in the station wagon and traveled by way of Highway seventy one to Kansas City, Missouri, where I mailed the first ransom note in a mailbox, which I believe was on the northeast corner of thirty ninth in Broadway.

After depositing the first ransom letter in the mailbox, I then drove to a drug store at thirty first in Main Streets in Kansas City, Missouri, and called Bonnie collect at her home in Saint Joseph to tell her that everything was okay. By this, I meant I had gotten to Kansas City and had mailed the letter. I then returned to Saint Joseph, Missouri. I cannot now recall whether I drove directly to her home or whether I stopped

for a few drinks en route. When I arrived at Bonnie's home, I went into the basement, obtained some turpentine, gasoline, and other cleaning materials, and attempted to clean the basement. I washed the basement door with water using a broom in an attempt to remove the blood stains. As I recall, I put the ribbon to which the Jerusalem metal had

been attached in the waste paper basket. I recall I put the empty cartridges from my thirty eight caliber revolver into the waste paper basket, and then the contents of the waste paper basket were dumped into the incinerator the clothing which I was wearing at the time of the kidnapping. I then took to a cleaning establishment on Frederick Avenue, Saint Joseph, Missouri, and then requested that the blood stains

be removed. I informed the clerk that the blood stains were the result of my having been involved in an accident. The shirt I had worn, which also contained blood stains of the victim, was put in a washing machine in Bonnie's home in an attempt to remove the blood. Cannot recall what this position was made of my shoes or necktie. Some time on two Tuesday morning, September twenty ninth, nineteen fifty three, Bonnie and I drove to Macintosh's Flora shop

and purchased a dozen chrysanthemums. Bonnie and I both entered this flora shop, purchased the chrysanthemums, returned to her home, and we both planted these flowers on the grave of Bobby Greenley's This was done and in order to furnish an explanation should anyone discover newly turned dirt in the yard of Bonnie's home, Bonnie and I prepared the second ransom letter to the Greenleys family. Inasmuch as I realized I had not placed the correct address on the Greenley's

home on the first ransom letter. The second letter started out, you must not have got our first letter. The second letter reiterated the ransom demands and the directions to place the ad in the personal column of the Kansas City Star when mister Greenley's had the money ready and available. Second ransom letter was addressed to mister Robert C. Greenley's Vernon Road, Mission Hills, Kansas. I placed either six or seven three cent stamps on the envelope, and Bonnie marked

the envelope special. In the second letter, I instructed the Greenleas family that the money should be delivered in an army duffel bag at the time of the final payoff. The letter M, which I used as identification on the ransom notes, had no special significance. I could just have Wells put up another letter of the alphabet. On Wednesday, September thirtieth, nineteen fifty three, Bonnie and I drove to Kansas City and Bonnie's Plymouth station wagon and had dinner

at the Coat's house. While eating dinner, I excused myself and made a phone call from a paystation in the hotel to the Greenlease residence. The telephone number at the Greenlease residence was Gilmore sixty two hundred. I had placed my handkerchief in the corner of my mouth in an attempt to disguise my voice. A man answered to telephone and I said, this is EM. The man said, what

did you say? And I repeated M. I do not recall the exact conversation, but this man asked some questions which I did not pay any attention to, but merely uttered phrases six hundred thousand, tens and twenties. The man asked some questions concerning Bobby, and I replied with one word metal. I then terminated the conversation and returned to where Bonnie was sitting, finished dinner, and we returned in

her station wagon to Saint Joseph, Missouri. On Thursday evening October one, I observed in the personal column of the Kansas City Star, to which Bonnie regularly subscribes, the following ad M meet me in Chicago Sunday. G This was the contact I had been waiting for, as I had previously instructed the Greenleys family to place this item in the when they had the ransom money prepared. I did

not go to Kansas City at all on Thursday. On Friday, October second, I drove to Kansas City and placed a telephone call to the Greenleaf's residence, identifying myself as M. I attempted to disguise my voice with my handkerchief as in the preceding call, and into the conversation by saying tonight and hung up. I then started to lay out

a payoff route. The first point on contact was at twenty ninth in Holmes, Kansas City, Missouri, where I placed a note with instructions to go to forty second in Charlotte, Kansas City, Missouri and look under a mailbox on the corner. I fastened this note to the bottom of the mailbox with some adhesive tape which I had bought at Herman drug Store in Saint Joseph. At the same time, I had also purchased some red chalk at Kat's drug Store in North Kansas City. I used this chalk to mark

a rock at the corner forty second in Charlotte. This mark was a red cross, and under this rock I placed a second note of instructions which directed the Greenleas family to deposit the ransom money in the alcove of a church at fortieth and Harrison Streets, Kansas City, Missouri. I do not know the exact name of this church, but believed that the words first Brethren were part of

the correct name of the church. Bonnie was with me at all times during the laying out of this payoff route, and she was inebriated and did not know what was going on. On October first, Bonnie Hetty rented a nineteen fifty two Ford Sedan from a U Drive company in the two hundred block on seventh Street, Saint Joseph and

the name of Bonnie Hetty. I drove this car to Kansas City, and Bonnie drove the station wagon to Kansas City, where the station wagon was left on the parking lot of a filling station across from Lynnz Tavern in North Kansas City. I desired to rent the ford in order

to allay suspicion from Bonnie's Plymouth station wagon. Early in the evening of October two, nineteen fifty three, I stole the set of license plates from an automobile park on the streets in North Kansas City, Missouri, and threw away the regular license plates for the rented ford. At this time, I was armed with the thirty eight caliber Smith and

Wesson revolver. I had no intention of picking up the ransom money on this first attempted payoff, but merely wanted to give the Greenlease family a dummy run to determine if they were sincere in their desire to pay the ransom money, and to further observe whether or not the car carrying the representative of the Greenleases was being placed

under surveillance by the FBI or police. On Tuesday, September twenty ninth, nineteen fifty three, I took the Jerusalem medal which had been removed from Bobby's shirt and placed it in the envelope of the ransom letter number two, so that the Greenleys family would know I was the real kidnapper and had custody of Bobby. I do not recall the hour that Bonnie and I left Saint Joseph, Missouri and drove to Kansas City, Missouri, but I do recall that we drove in her blue station wagon via Highway

seventy one. I'm certain that Bonnie and I stopped at Lynn's Tavern near Kansas City and had several drinks prior to the mailing of the second ransom letter addressed to the Greenleaes family at the main post office, Kansas City, Missouri. After mailing this letter, Bonnie and I returned to Saint Joseph and her station wagon again via Highway seventy one, returning there late in the evening. I do not clearly recall any other events of that evening, as Bonnie and

I proceeded to get drunk. At one thirty a m. October third, I placed it another time telephone call to the Greenlease residence from a bar located near the intersection of Trust and Armor, Kansas City. I do not remember the name of the bar, but I remember that the bar was in the process of closing for the night at the time I made this call, I identified myself as M and directed the man who answered the phone to go to twenty ninth and Holmes for further instructions relative

to the payoff. Bonnie and I drove around in the rented ford until about four a m. We drove to forty second in Charlotte, and I noticed the rock under which I had placed the second note was still intact. I drove them back to the telephone booth located at the street car shelter at Brush Street in Maine, at which time I placed another phone call to the Greenlease residence and asked the party who answered what had happened.

I was advised by the party that the Greenleace family did not have the money at home, and they were having difficulty finding my written instructions and were afraid it would be daylight before where they could comply with my instructions. The party informed me over the phone that the Greenleys family had written me a note and placed it where I had directed the payoff to take place. After receiving this explanation, I replied in a disguised voice, tonight and

hung up. I did not go to the church to pick up the message they claimed to have left, as I was afraid it was a trap. Bonnie and I then returned to Saint Joseph, Missouri, in the rented ford and remained until Saturday afternoon, at which time we returned to Kansas City in the rented ford and laid out

the payoff route in North Kansas City. We then rented a room in a motel or tourist court at the intersection of US Highways seventy one and sixty nine, using the name of mister and Missus V. B. Hetty and giving the address of either Boonville, Columbia or Sedalia, Missouri. About one thirty am Sunday, October fourth, I drove to Kansas City, Kansas with Bonnie and she was again inebriated.

I placed another telephone call to the Greenleace residence from a payphone in the townhouse, Kansas City, Kansas, and told the answering party, after identifying myself as on previous occasions, to go to thirteenth in Summit, where they would find a note under a rock marked with a red cross.

I had previously placed this note under the rock. The note directed the receiver to go to North Kansas City and drive up Highway one sixty nine to oak View Edition sign and there to look under another rock with a red cross where I had placed a note directing them to leave the money bag up a seldom use lane close to the Lum Farm off Highway sixty nine between Highways seventy one and one sixty nine. I then drove to Highway sixty nine near the above described scene

in the rented ford. Bonnie was with me but was asleep. I saw a dark Cadillac Sedan go by and assumed it was a payoff car. I had no intention of trying to pick up the money that night, but did the drive down into the lane where I had instructed Greenlease to leave the Duffel bag. I did not see the bag at the designated spot. I then drove back to Kansas City, Kansas, and placed another telephone call from

the paystation at the townhouse to the Greenlease residence. I was informed that they had left the money and that I should go back and look for it. I did drive back and look for it, but still could not find the money. I then drove to the ben Holt Hotel in North Kansas City, at which time I again called the Greenlease residence and was again told that the family had left the money as directed, but were then on their way back to pick it up for spear

some unauthorized person or persons might find it. I advised him it was my mistake and I would call them later in the day. I recalled discussing with them about a definite attempt to make the payoff on Sunday, and that I would deliver Bobby to them within twenty four hours after I had received the money. Either in this conversation or the previous one, I talked with Missus Greenley's and she requested me to obtain the answers from Bobby concerning certain questions to prove to her that Bobby was

still alive. I also recalled talking with Missus Greenlea's about the possibility of Bobby's being brought to the telephone in order that he could converse with her. I told Missus Greenlease that it was impossible to talk to her son because it would entail too much risk to get him

to the telephone. I did not know if I accurately recall the questions she wanted answered, but believe one question pertained to the name of the chauffeur the Greenley's family had while visiting in Europe, and the other question was about what Bobby had built in his playroom the night before he was kidnapped. I told Missus Greenlea'se I would endeavor to get Bobby to answer these questions for her

and call her back within an hour. I knew all the time that Bobby was already dead, but when I returned the call to Missus Greenley's, I told her that Bobby had refused to answer the questions, and I again assured her that Bobby was alive and well, but homesick. I made some remark to her or one of the men who answered the phone relative to Bobby's telling me

that his parrot could whistle. I made this statement in an attempt to reassure the family that Bobby was still alive so that they would be certain to go through with the payoff. On Sunday, October fourth, Bonnie and I checked into Tiny and Marie's hotel on East Highway forty, taking the end cabin at the entrance on the right hand side. Bonnie had passed out and remained in bed all day. I then went out and started laying out the third payoff route and finally decided on a spot

on County Road ten, running south off Highway forty. The exact spot was a bridge about a mile from Highway forty. I then returned to Kansas City, Missouri, in the rented ford at the Cat's drug Store located at Lynwood and Trust. I again called the Greenleas home and talked to a man who said he was mister Letterman. I apologized to mister Letterman for being delayed and making contact. I believe this call was made at approximately eight thirty PM on Sunday,

October fourth. I identified myself to mister Letterman as m and told mister Letterman that I was going to make the payoff very simple and that mister Letterman could expect the child back within twenty four hours. I also told mister Letterman to go to Pittsburgh, Kansas and wait for a message addressed to him in care of Western Union at that city. I stated this message would tell him where Bobby could be picked up. At this time, I told mister Letterman that I would call him at exactly eleven

thirty pm. Due to the fact that I'd been drinking quite freely, I forgot to tell mister Letterman the location of the telephone, but recall that it was at hotel near Lynnwood and Truce, near the LaSalle Hotel. I finally advised mister Letterman that the hotel ended with the letters Shire, stating that I myself could not remember the correct name of the hotel in which the phone booth was located.

I now know this to be the Berkshire Hotel. I called Letterman as arranged at exactly eleven PM, making the phone call from the payphone in a filling station on the south side of US Highway forty between Blue Ridge and Stevenson's Cafe. At the time of this call, I told Letterman to proceed east on US Highway forty past Stevenson's Cafe ten e, and then turned south on this road for about one mile until he came to a bridge where Letterman should throw the duffel bag containing the

money on the right side of the road. On the north side of the bridge. I remember parking near this filling station from which I made a phone call, until I saw a dark Cadillac go by proceeding east on Highway forty with two men in it, whom I took to be mister Letterman and his partner. Bonnie was with me at the time of these negotiations, but as usual, she was inebriated and did not know the exact details

of my transactions with the family. About three or four minutes after the Cadillac mentioned above past me, I drove the rented four down Road ten E south to the payoff spot, but did not observe the bag, so I proceeded on south a couple miles and then pulled off the road, turned around and headed back north. I turned off the motor and lights and waited about five to ten minutes until I saw car lights coming toward me. I then started up and drove toward the approaching cadillac,

and the cars passed, going in opposite directions. In other words, I was going north and the Cadillac was going south. Bonnie was with me, and as soon as we crossed over the bridge, I stopped on the north side, got out and observed the Duffel bag in the spot which I had designated. I picked up the bag and placed it in the trunk of the ford. I received the ransom about twelve thirty am Monday, October fifth, After getting

the money. I drove back to Kansas City and made a telephone call from a bar located on the northwest corner thirty first and Forest to the Greenleace residence. I talked to mister Letterman and told him we got the bag. I also recalled stating we made more tonight than we did all last week, and also remarked I might buy

a Cadillac. In this conversation, I promised mister Letterman that I would send him a wire in care of the Western Union, Pittsburgh, Kansas, telling him where to pick up Bobby, and assuring him that Bobby was alive and well and full of hell. Of course, I knew that Bobby had been dead and buried since Monday afternoon, September twenty eighth. Prior to picking up the ransom money, Bonnie and I had checked out of the motel around eight or nine pm.

I then realized I'd forgotten to change the license plate on the Ford and immediately became panicky, fearing that when I had passed the automobile containing mister Letterman, the license plate had been observed by mister Letterman, Therefore the car would be traced to me. Prior to this time I had considered going to Saint Louis, Missouri. I then told Bonnie that if we went back to Saint Joseph, the

police would be waiting at the place for us. I believe mister Letterman obtained the license number, and that at the time my identity was known. Prior to this, I had obtained a quarter grain of morphine and had given myself an injection, and all during the evening I had stopped at various places to obtain whiskey. Bonnie and I also had a bottle of whiskey in the car. I had consumed a great deal of it and was in quite a drunken condition at the time we left Kansas

City en route to Saint Louis. I drove the rented Ford from Kansas City to Saint Louis, Missouri, leaving Kansas City on Highway forty. I was quite heavily intoxicated. But do recall that shortly after leaving Kansas City, I stopped, changed plates on the rented Ford, took a flashlight and looked into the duffel bag. Worked a package of bills estimated in the amount of six thousand dollars through the opening in the Duffel bag and placed this money in

my pocket. I also recall stopping at a filling station in an all night cafe at Boonville, Missouri. However, I cannot recall whether I made any purchases at this cafe, but I believe I did replenish the gasoline supply at the filling station. En route, Bonnie was sleeping, but periodically would waken, take another drink of whiskey, smoke another cigarette, and then go back to sleep. To the best of my recollection, Bonnie and I arrived in Saint Louis, Missouri

about six am October fifth. We were still in possession of the Ford automobile, which had previously been rented at Saint Joseph, Missouri. We first stopped at a bar, and I made a telephone call to Barney Patten to contact mccordbell Automobile rental agency and destroyer alter the records reflecting that the Ford was rented in Bonnie Hetty's name. I believe this call was made to mister Patten's home. I called a taxi cab, believed to be a Yellow cab,

and Bonnie and I proceeded to another bar. At around eight am. I remained in this bar for approximately thirty minutes, at which time I left in the yellow cab and purchased two suitcases from an army store, the location of which I do not recall. I returned to this bar with the luggage, which I bought for the purpose of carrying the ransom money. After returning to this bar, the same cab driver, Bonnie, and I drove to where I

had parked the blue Ford sedan. After paying the cab driver, Bonnie and I entered the Ford and drove around Saint Louis looking for a suitable place where we could transfer the ransom money from the Army duffel bag to the suitcases without attracting too much attention. I do not recall the exact address, but do recall driving into an alley and believe the street in front of the alley was wyoming. I got out of the Ford, opened up the trunk, removed the Army duffel bag, and then Bonnie and I

endeavored to untie the knot on the duffel bag. In the excitement, I was fumbling and unable to quickly untie the knot, and Bonnie suggested that I cut the rope. I had a knife on a keychain, which I used to cut the rope. I then opened up the two suitcases and dumped the money from the duffel bag into the two suitcases. I do not recall whether or not the twenty dollars bills were on the top in the duffel bag, as we paid no attention to these details. It was daylight and we were taking a risk of

being observed. A couple did drive up the alley, and I believe I exchanged some morning pleasantry with them, but carried on no conversation. Bonnie and I then put the suitcases in the trunk of the ford, disposed of the duffel bag in a garbage can at the point where we transferred the money, and drove the ford to a bar. I took the suitcases into the bar and had about two drinks, and left alone in the ford, which I

abandoned somewhere in Saint Louis. I then called a yellow cab, returned to the bar, picked up Bonnie and the suitcases, and drove to another bar, believed to be located somewhere on King's Highway in Saint Louis. Here I made another telephone called a Barney Patten of Saint Joseph, to determine whether or not Patten had been successful, and having the records at mccordbell Automotive Rental Agency altered so that they

would not reflect Bonnie Hetty had rented this car. I made these calls to Patent because I was afraid letterman and whoever accompanied him to deliver the ransom had observed the license plate of the Ford. While in this tavern, I left Bonnie at the bar and I walked to a motor company where I bought a red Nash. This Nash was purchased in view of the fact that I

desired transportation and had abandoned the Ford. I then drove back to the tavern where I had left Bonnie, and at approximately noon both of us left the tavern in the Nash Sedan. We left to look for an apartment, and some argument arose between Bonnie and me because she desired to stay either in the Chase Hotel or a hotel out on King's Highway, and I desired to rent a quiet apartment where we could live unpretentiously and attract no attention. Bonnie was heavily intoxicated and put up quite

an argument with me. Around noon, I made a phone call to a Missus Webb at forty five four Arsenal, Saint Louis and secured an apartment for Bonnie and me to reside in. Shortly thereafter we arrived at this address where I registered in this apartment using the name Grant. Bonnie was in a very drunken condition, and I believe I told the landlady that Bonnie was indisposed and ill, as I was afraid the the landlady would see Bonnie in her drunken condition. I was successful, however, in getting

Bonnie into the apartment without creating any disturbance. I brought the suitcase containing the ransom money into the apartment and placed them in the clothes closet, staying for a few minutes to have a drink, and then left alone in the Nash automobile and went to a tavern where I

secured the services of a taxicab. On this occasion, I bought a small radio in order to listen to newscasts regarding developments in this case, particularly to determine whether or not the Ford automobile which we had rented had been identified. After purchasing the radio, I returned to the apartment where Bonnie was located. Shortly thereafter, I called another taxicab and

stopped at a tavern to have a few drinks. I had been drinking quite heavily, but recall that at the time I left the Arsenal Street address, I took the two suitcases with me. Inasmuch as Bonnie was creating a great deal of argument about living in such a dump, I was afraid that she would create a scene and that either of the neighbors, landlady or someone else would hear a conversation and called the police and our identities

would be discovered. I went to a hotel believed to be the Jefferson Hotel, where I met a cab driver by the name of John Hager, and subsequently we transferred the two suitcases to Hager's cab. I am certain Hagar was driving for the Ace Taxi cab company of Saint Louis. In the conversation with Hager, I expressed a desire for

some feminine companionship, and Hager made a phone call. Shortly thereafter, Hager introduced me to a girl whose last name was Odeay, and shortly following that Odey Hager and I went to another bar for some drinks. At this bar, I wrote a note to Bonnie advising her that I had left, but that I would get in touch with her later. At around four thirty pm, Odey Hager and I left

this bar to secure a motel. I stopped at drug store, purchased some shaving equipment, and gave Hagar instructions to have another cab driver deliver the note which I had previously written to Bonnie at the Arsenal Street address. I recall instructing him to ask for Missus Grant. Shortly thereafter, O'Day Hagar and I shopped at a liquor store believed to be located on or near Highway sixty six in Saint Louis.

Around five point thirty we arrived at the Coral Court, where I registered for myself and Oday as mister and Missus Robert White. In cabin forty nine A. O'Day Hagar and I had several drinks, and I then instructed the cab driver, Hagar, to go to downtown Saint Louis and purchase some clothing for me, giving him the sizes and description of the clothing desired. O'Day and I stayed at the Coral Court Motel. At about ten PM, Hagar returned

with the clothing. Thereafter, Odey, Hagar and I left to have dinner, which I believe was at the Harbor Inn in Saint Louis. At around eleven thirty PM, we returned to the Coral Court Motel. The three of us Odell, Hagar, and myself stayed at the motel drinking until around midnight, when I instructed Hagar to leave. I requested him to buy another suitcase a briefcase, and to rent an automobile

for my use. On the following day, which would be October sixth, nineteen fifty three, Oday, and I stayed at the Coral Court. We arose about nine am October sixth. At this time I wrote a letter to mister Barney Patten, attorney in Saint Joseph, and gave Sandra Odey one thousand dollars to proceed to Los Angeles to mail this letter

for me to Patent. I did this because I thought if I had been identified as one of the kidnappers, no doubt the FBI would check all my my own associates and friends in Saint Joseph and among them would be patent. I thought of pat and received a letter from me in my own handwriting, postmarked Los Angeles, California. It would throw the FBI off the trail, inasmuch as

I was actually proceeding in the opposite direction. Around ten am, Hagar returned to the Coral Court with a nineteen fifty two Chevrolet, which Haygard claimed he had rented at a car rental agency, and also brought with him the suitcase and briefcase which I had instructed him to purchase. Around eleven am, Hagar and Oday left for Odey's home, as

Oday was taking a plane to Los Angeles. About one PM, Hagar and I left in the rented car, in the trunk of which I had placed the suitcases containing the ransom money. I do not recall exactly where I dropped Hagar off, but I proceeded alone to a hardware store, where I purchased two garbage cans, a shovel, and some plastic spray. At this time, it was my honest intention to find a secluded spot where I could safely bury

the ransom money for future use. I proceeded west on Highway sixty six, but not having found a suitable place. I discarded the garbage cans near a river. I returned to Saint Louis proper, contacted John Hager and had him rent an apartment for me at the Townhouse. I then went to a bar for some drinks. As I recall, I stayed at this bar until around four pm, when Hagar returned and we then went over to the Coral

Court motel. Around five pm, Hagar and I left the tourist court to purchase some shoes and other more substantial clothing. After purchasing clothing and securing some food, Hagar and I returned to the Coral Court motel. Around seven thirty pm. Hagar and I arrived at the townhouse, taking the ransom money into the room with us. Hager left the apartment and was to return about eight pm with additional supplies.

At about eight pm, I heard a knock on the door, and thinking it was Hagar, I opened the door and was arrested by an officer of the Saint Louis Police Department. I was taken into custody and was booked at a precinct police station. Around eight forty five or nine pm October.

or two back into the room from the door. At that point, the larger officer advised me that they were bonifide officers. When I was told I was under arrest, I asked the officer what the hell for. The larger man informed me to never mind the questions and instructed me to sit down. At this point, the larger man searched me briefly and reached into my breast pocket and removed the keys from the pocket to the suitcases which contained the ransom money and which were located in the

clothes closet of this apartment. I was instructed to take my coat off and believe a continued search may have been made of this code after I had removed it. I believe I laid the coat over a chair, and at this point I was instructed by the uniformed officer to sit down, being directed to an overstuffed chair in

the living room of this apartment. At this time, the uniformed officer was standing in front and to the left of me, gun in hand, and I believe I asked permission to obtain a drink of whiskey, which was refused by the uniformed officer. I asked the uniformed officer what the arrest was all about, and the officer advised me that he did not know. At this point, the large ununiformed officer went into the closet out of sight, to

where the suitcases containing the ransom money were located. Shortly after the large man entered the closet, I heard a click which indicated that one of the suitcases had been opened. At this point, I stated to the uniformed officer, the jig is up. The large man then came out of the clothes closet and made no mention of seeing a large amount of money in the suitcases. The ununiformed officer then walked to the briefcase, picked it up, and walked

to a point six feet in front of me. At this time, the briefcase contained my wallet, which had twenty four hundred or twenty five hundred dollars and twenty dollars bills which were plainly visible, and inside the briefcase itself was approximately twenty thousand dollars and twenty dollars bills, all having been previously taken from the duffel bag containing the ransom money. At this point, the ununiformed officer asked me,

what's all this dough Where'd you get it? I replied that the money was mine and informed the officers that I was in the liquor business with a brother in Illinois, and that my present residence was in Kirkwood, Missouri. I made this statement as Hagar had furnished me with fictitious identification of papers which bore the name of John D.

Byrne of Kirkwood, Missouri. At this time, the large ununiformed officer finished looking in my briefcase, closed it in my presence, and informed me he was putting it back exactly where he got it. This man continued to look through my identification, which prompted me to inquire what the arrest was all about, and a large man informed me he would tell me when he got ready. I was then instructed to put on my coat, and the two officers and I left

the apartment. Just prior to the arrival of the arresting officers, I had taken inventory of the money in my possession and made some notations on an envelope. This was a plain wide envelope, and the numbers twenty one, four and one or two other numbers had been placed thereon by me.

These numbers represented the thousands of dollars which I had removed from the ransom money, and I finally estimated that I definitely had between five hundred and sixty thousand and five hundred and seventy thousand dollars in the two suitcases in the closet. The other side of the envelope contained a list of several items of clothing which I intended to purchase the following day. At no time while I was in the presence of the officers in my apartment

was any search made for a gun. I was asked if I had a gun, and I replied that I did not on leaving the apartment, I closed the door myself. As I stepped out of the door, both officers were there, and one of them made a remark about how to emerge from the apartment. I do not know why, but the large officer stayed at the door, and the uniformed officer and I walked the entire length of the building looking for the rear steps leading from the third floor.

We were unable to locate any steps there, and as we turned to go back, looking up the hallway, I noticed a man standing at the end of the hallway facing my room. I am not positive, but this man appeared to be talking to someone in the direction of my room, but I was not able to hear any of the conversation. This individual was wearing a light tan snap brim hat, a pair of rust colored slacks with matching jacket, which was a short jacket gathered at the

belt line. This man was about medium height and decidedly slender. I can give no further description of him, as I observed only his profile. I am positive this man was not John Hager and that I have never before seen this individual. When the uniformed officer and I arrived at the end of the hall to go down to my room. This man disappeared. At this time, the uniformed officer and I met the large plane clothes officer at the head

of the steps. As we walked, I was looking for the green automobile which Hager had rented for me, but I did not see it. The two officers and I proceeded to the police car, which was parked a short distance away from the front entrance of the building. We all three got in the front seat of the car and proceeded to the police station, with the uniformed officer

driving the car and I seated between them. Up to this time, there had been no conversation about the money in the suitcases, and I believed there was a possibility the big ununiformed officer had not seen all of this money. Neither the money nor the suitcase were brought to the station with me. I am positive neither of the officers carried any suitcases or briefcase when we left the apartment

for the squad car. After arriving at the police station, the larger ununiformed officer told me that my arrest had been predicated upon receipt of a complaint from an unknown woman that a man in my apartment was carrying a gun. He said we would all go down to the station and I would be checked and if cleared, I would be released. At the time of my arrest in the apartment, there was no apparent search made for any firearm. The gun was located in the compartment in the drawer of

the telephone table. The trip to the police station consumed approximately ten minutes, and upon arrival, I was searched and my wristwatch, cigarette lighter, ballpoint, papermate, pen, and seven or eight hundred dollars in money were taken from my pockets and I was given a receipt which I also signed

as John Byrne. I was placed in a cell in about two or three hours later, the large, ununiformed officer stated that I must be one of the kidnappers of Bobby Greenlea's as I had considerable money in those suitcases, and he told me we cannot hold this up much longer from the FBI. Give me the facts and I'll get a promotion. The large officer then left. He returned in about fifteen or twenty minutes and questioned me concerning the whereabouts of this woman who was implicated in this kidnapping.

The officer then took me out of the cell, and I believed that about four other officers joined us. We all left police headquarters in order to have me locate Bonnie's apartment. I directed them to the Arsenal Street address, where Bonnie was taken into custody and I was returned to police headquarters by two of the officers. During the time I was incarcerated and immediately after my arrest, I made several attempts at conversation with the jailer to contact

the large, ununiformed officer who had booked me. I was informed by the jailer that he had been unable to reach this officer and assumed that the officer was busy with the chief of police. I never saw my suitcases after I left the apartment from the time of my arrest, with the exception of one time at the police station. While in the station, I was being removed to another room for interview, and as I passed a door, I observed the corner of one of these suitcases and saw

some money in it. At the time of my arrest, I had been drinking, but definitely was not drunk or under the influence of narcotics and was aware of the incidents which transpired during my arrest. I'm certain that at the time of my arrest, I had about five hundred and seventy thousand dollars in the two suitcases and about twenty two thousand dollars in my briefcase. Signed Carl Austin Hall, October seventh, nineteen fifty three, declining to reveal the name

of the tipster Husky. Lieutenant Lewis Shoulders of the Newstead Avenue District gave reporters the following account of the arrest of Carl Austin Hall and Bonnie Brown Heady, the confessed kidnappers. Quote about three thirty pm yesterday, I received a telephone call on my private line here at the station from a man. He said, if you meet me about seven point thirty to night at Union and Pershing, I'll give

you something plenty hot. I don't know what it is, but it is a guy with a big revolver and he's been spending plenty of money. I'll give you the information if you don't reveal my name. I'm afraid of him and I don't want to get killed. I took patrolman Elmer Dolan with me to the meeting at Union and Pershing. Our informant was there and told us that the man he suspected was in apartment three oh three

of the townhouse and was expecting him. He said he had agreed to take a girl to the apartment at eight o'clock and the man would not be suspicious. We are instructed to knock three times and call out, Steve, this is John. We went to the apartment and Dolan knocked on the door and gave the signal Steve, this is John. A man in the apartment replied okay and opened the door. We nailed him and placed him under arrest. He had no weapon on him, but his wallet contained

more than seven hundred dollars. There were two new suitcases in the apartment, and when I opened them, they were full of the money. It turned out later to be three hundred thousand dollars, all in ten and twenty dollars bills. As soon as I saw that cash, I knew our prisoner must be one of the Kansas City kidnappers. Shoulders and Dolan took the prisoner to the police station, where he identified himself as Hall and readily admitted he was

the long sought kidnapper. Dolan returned to the apartment and after a thorough search, found a snubnosed thirty eight caliber revolver in the drawer of a telephone desk. The weapon contained five cartridges. Hall told us he had left Bonnie Hetty in a room they had rented in South Saint Louis. He said he did not know the address, but could take us to the house about midnight. I sent a detail of officers with him, and they found Bonnie sleep in a room in a house at forty five four

Arsenal Street. When they brought her in, she admitted she was the woman who took Bobby Greenlease from the Kansas City School. After we determined there were about three hundred thousand dollars in the two suitcases, I asked Cal where the balance of the six hundred thousand dollars was. He said that after he left Bonnie head he drunk at the Arsenal Street house. Monday, he met another woman through a taxi driver and spent the night with her at

a tourist court on US Highway sixty six. When she was preparing to leave in a taxi cab yesterday morning. Hall gave her money, he said. He said he thought he gave the girl two thousand or three thousand, but it could have been a lot more because he was pretty drunk. Hall left the tourist court in a taxi cab and had the driver rent an automobile for him. He drove to the townhouse and rented the apartment at one hundred and eighty five dollars a month. It was

his intention. He told us to hole up for a month before the heat was off. Before leaving the taxi cab driver, Hall gave the driver several thousand dollars with instructions to buy him some new clothes and bring the garments to the townhouse. Later, police learned that the woman with whom the kidnappers spent the night later telegraphed her aunt,

with whom she made her home from Kansas City. Before her hasty departure, she sent a taxi cab driver to her home on North ninth Street for additional apparel and with two hundred dollars for the ant. The young woman, described as twenty two years old and the mother of a small daughter, has no police record. Jefferson City, Missouri, December eighteenth, nineteen fifty three. In the four weeks they spent in death Row, Hall and missus Hetty were regarded

as docile prisoners. Condemned prisoners are not allowed outside their cells, and the only time they emerged was to walk a few feet to take a bath from a specially constructed shower. The two were separated by six cells. They were given food from the officer's mess, and special precautions were taken to see that neither was poisoned. The resentment of the inmates here being deep and sharp because they feel Hall

may have jeopardized their own future paroles. Hall was released on a taxi cab robbery conviction last April because the parole board considered him a good risk. He had no prison demerits against him, had never been in trouble before, came from a fine Kansas family, and was discharged under honorable conditions from the Marine Corps after four years of service, some of it in combat in the Pacific. Hall and missus Hetty upset the usual pattern that fiction writers follow.

They were not hardened criminals. They had led a respectable life until divorce turned her to excessive drinking. Hall apparently became money mad after squandering his two hundred thousand dollars inheritance, and believed society consisted mostly of little people far beneath them. Neither their appearance nor their background fitted the two as criminals. Hall was five feet nine inches tall, weigh one hundred and eighty pounds, had auburn hair and blue eyes. His

appearance was described as nice to rather handsome. Missus Hetty liked fine clothes and was always well groomed. She was five feet three and a half inches tall, weighed one hundred and twenty pounds, and was definitely of an attractive type, with brown hair and sparkling brown eyes. During their stay and death row, they caused no trouble and made no unusual requests. Both began reading the Bible shortly after being admitted. Missus Hetty, the calmer of the two, tried to stay

well groomed. Each letters to mister missus Greenlea's begging forgiveness. They ate well even up into the last meal. While Hall's expression became hard and unyielding in the final days, Missus Hetty seemed to maintain a serene expression. This is what I wanted, she said of the death sentence. I could not have stood a life in prison. There were requests variously estimated at around ten thousand for permits to

witness the execution. There were thousands of letters that flowed into Jefferson City from all parts of the nation directed to the pair, some bitterly denunciatory, others offering prayers and spiritual hope. The two were not allowed to see any of the letters. At least fifty persons wrote directly to Governor phil Donnelly asking clemency, although he was without authority to interfere in any way. He turned the letters over

to the federal government. And arbor in the prison yard was draped with Christmas trimmings, and a nearby tree gleamed with bright bobbles. These were part of decorations put up by convicts. There was no sign of any demonstration by the twenty five hundred inmates as the hour reached midnight. Within the walls, it was a normal quiet night. Prison officials noted that on previous occasions of executions in the penitentiary,

the inmates sometimes would rattle their sall bars. At the time, a condemned prisoner was walking down death Row toward the gas chamber. This time, the only manifestation was a few shouts from nearby cell blocks as the witnesses paraded down to the gas chamber. The group climbed the seven steep stone steps to the ground level landing of the building and then pushed through the large double doors to the outside. In the sharp night air, The two groups entered so

separate motor cars that awaited outside of b Hall. The gears meshed and they drove slowly past the long school building, went east between the school and the plumbing shops, halted momentarily while the gate was opened, and then rolled out onto the recreation field. The cars went down a small incline, passed a withered rose arbor and the little white stone crosses embedded in the concrete walk that leads to the

gas chamber building. They stopped just outside the building. Big spotlights stabbed the recreation field with hard rays of eerie light. Guards paced around the gas Chamber building while other guards on the wall towers maintained a sharp alert as extraordinary precautions were taken to assure a precision procedure for the execution. Although most condemned prisoners are given a haircut before being executed. Halls was rather long. Her brown hair was also long,

but neatly done up. Missus Hetty wore a bright green cotton prison dress and a pair of scuff type sandals. Hall had on regulation prison pants and a shirt of olive green twill. He also wore shoes without laces but no belt. Their legs were bare. On the way down from death row, missus Hetty was kept warm in the twelve degree cold by a coat thrown over her shoulders by missus Tapman. The Marshal's wife, Missus Tatman, stepped outside

before the actual execution. The Marshal's wife, one of the guards who has been with missus Hetty the last four weeks, rode with missus Hetty in the car from her death row cell to the gas chamber. She remained at missus Hetty's side until she was strapped into the metal chair. Missus Tapman's said, I had planned to say something to her after she was strapped in, but everything was going so smoothly. I was afraid to for fear I would

say something wrong. Missus Tapman said she had not noticed any change in missus Hetty's attitude or manner in the last day of her life. She told me that she knew I didn't like my job, but I had to do it. She thanked me. She also told me that she knew she had made a mistake and would have to pay for it. Missus Tapman said that as an individual, and not considering the crime she had committed, missus Hetty

seemed to her to be a nice person. Quote. She seemed very interesting to talk with and seemed to be an intelligent woman. Unquote. Missus Tapman said missus Hetty complained that she was cold when they left death Row and stepped to the motor car. Missus Hetty had no coat and wore no hoes. Missus Tapman said she gave missus Hetty or black Persian lamb short coat to wear. The remark about the cold was the last thing missus Hetty

said to her. Missus Tapman said when the prisoners reached the death house, they prayed a few minutes with their spiritual advisers, the Reverend George L. Evans, episcopal minister from Kansas City, Kansas, and his curate, the Reverend Robert H. Bull, the second Father. Evans said the killers were absolutely and completely reconciled. He said they made no last requests. The kidnappers were allowed ten minutes together in the small detention cell just off the gas chambers. Tatman was in the

cell a few feet away. During those ten minutes, the two smiled and talked in a casual manner. Hall was smoking a cigarette and he leaned over to give missus Hetty a puff. They were manacled, but held hands while they talked. Missus Hetty, who seemed animated, laughed aloud at something said by Marshall Tatman, who sat in front of them while they sat side by side on a cot.

The private chat with Tatman sitting in could not be seen throughout the death chamber, but when Hall came out to enter the gas tank, his lips were red as if he had received a final kiss. Sitting in the metal chairs within the gas chamber, Carl Hall and Missus Bonnie Hetty were given an opportunity this morning to make a last minute statement. They said they had nothing to say.

Missus Hetty had indicated earlier in the day that she was afraid she might break down, but both were calm as they went to their death for the Green Lease murder. The opportunity to make a final statement was offered by William Tatman, acting Federal Marshall at the last. Just before the gas chamber closed, Tapman asked them if they had

anything to tell him. Both shook their heads and missus Hetty said no. While missus Hetty watched, a black blindfold was put over Hall's eyes, tied and back with a double strap. Then she was blindfolded and they were led into the gas chamber. Hall going first. I can't see a thing, missus Hetty said. While she was being strapped into her chair. She said, it is tight. I'm not going anywhere. She asked Carl whether he had plenty of room. He did not answer. He was breathing hard as the

straps were tightened. Just before the big iron door was closed on the condemned pair, missus Hetty turned a Hall and asked, in a calm tone, are you doing all right, honey? Yes, mamma, he replied in the gas chamber. Missus Hetty, although she could not see, tilted her head upwards and said goodbye, and thanks to Tapman. Bernard Poiri, Assistant Deputy Warden, who has taken the pair of their food for the four weeks they were in death row helped to adjust the

straps around missus Hetty. Missus Hetty tilted her head again and said goodbye, mister Poiri and thanks for everything. Poiery shook hands with both of them, and she again thanked him before the airtight doors were closed. Although sounds cannot be heard by witnesses after the doors are closed, the

two conversed briefly until the fumes began arising. Neither got a clear view of the gas tank and its deadly apparatus, who was kept screening from them until after the blindfolds were fixed twelve o two o'clock, when the jars of sulfuric acid were shoved beneath the metal chairs. Warden Ralph Hedson, who pulled the lever that released the fatal pellets inside the chamber, said he thought everything went off smoothly. The executions were the eighth and ninth he has conducted in

the four and one half years he has served as warden. Quote. It's a job I hate to do, but I wouldn't ask anyone else to do it for me unquote. The three North Kansas City policemen who were among the official witnesses, said that missus Hetty seemed nonchalant to the end, but Hall struggled when he was strapped into the metal chair in which he died. Lieutenant G. W. Stevenson said, we noticed that missus Hetty seemed nonchalant after she got inside

the gas chamber. I believe she had a smile on her face, at least her Her mouth looked like it. Her eyes, of course, were covered by the mask. Hall seemed to be mumbling to himself, talking fast. We couldn't hear what he was saying, but we assumed he was praying to himself. Corporal Roberts Seemed Moore and patrolman George Spencer said they believe missus Hetty and Hall spoke to each other just before their deaths. All three policemen said it was the first time they had witnessed an execution.

Spencer said, quote, it wasn't a pleasant thing to watch. I never want to see another one. Prison officials said the pair were quote among the calmest we ever saw unquote. Hall and missus Hetty were pronounced dead officially by doctors William V. Mcneally and doctor Donald Schule. Prison physicians. Doctor McNally said missus Heaty appeared to breathe a little longer

than Hall did. Doctor Schull explained that death from the gas chaminamb is caused by inhalation of the gas fumes caused by a block in the exchange of oxygen from the arteries to the body tissue. The tissue dies from monoxia, he said. The central nervous system and brain, Doctor Schul said, are the first to be effected. The two physicians pronounced missus Hetty and Hall dead unofficially first by observing them

through the gas windows in the chamber. After the gas had been cleared by exhaust fans, they checked for heart tones and reflexes and made their official statement. The bodies were taken to the Bucher funeral Home, about three blocks west of the prison. A traffic jam developed in front of the funeral home as persons with curiosity tried to see the hearse taking the bodies to the home. Highway patrolmen and auxiliary police cleared up the traffic congestion in

about fifteen minutes. Their deaths closed the book on the kidnapped, slaying and in which the seventy one year old Robert Greenlease paid six hundred thousand dollars in ransom, only to receive the body of his son in return, but there are several anticlimactic chapters to be solved. What happened to the missing three hundred thousand dollars is one mystery officials still hoped to solve, and whether Hall carried that secret with him into the gas chamber may never be known.

It was the first federal execution here since the gas chamber was constructed in nineteen thirty seven at a cost of five thousand dollars, and the fourth double execution. It was the first execution of a woman. Epilogue. The missing three hundred three thousand, seven hundred and twenty dollars from the suitcases has never been recovered, although the two arresting officers were both found guilty of perjury in the matter of the missing money for their handling of the suitcases

and both serve prison sentences. That was evil plan drunkenly botched the Greenlease kidnapping tragedy called from the historic pages of the Kansas City Times, the Saint Louis Post Dispatch, and other newspapers of the era. True Crime Historian is a creation of popular media opening theme by Nico Vitessi. Incidental music by Nico Vites, Chuck Wiggins, and Dave SAMs. Some music and sound effects licensed from podcast music dot Com. Closing theme by Dave sam and Rachel Shott, engineered by

David Hish at Third Street Music Media Management. And original logo graphics for each new episode by Sean R. Miller Jones. And here I am putting my best foot forward. I'm true crime historian Richard O. Jones signing off for NAT