◆ SpookStack

Memorandum to Mr. Tolson in At 5:40 Warren Francis called Mr. Jones' office and/Mr. Jones absence talked to Supervisor Mathews and also gave Mr. Mathews the fingerprint classification. Mr. Mathews stated he would get hold of Mr. Jones and have him call Francis back. Mr. Jones was out and Mr. Mathews was unable to get hold of Mr. Jones until shortly after 6 o'clock, and at that time Warren Francis called back. On this occasion he was perturbed and stated that another paper had received a reply, that it looked like thé Bureau was playing favorites and indicated that he was being given a run- around. At this moment Mr. Jones came in. Mr. Jones talked to him and told him I was handling the matter. Mr. Jones, in accord- ance with my instructions, then referred Mr. Francis to my office. Then Francis called he obviously had a chip on his shoulder and he immediately went into a tirade that he had called Jones and was being gtven a@ run-around and he demanded to know what the score was, stating that his paper had a deadline to make. I toid him the score simply was that the Los Angeles Ezaminer, which he in turn had mentioned by name as having the story, had furnished the fingerprints to us by wire photo, that we had made the identification, that since it was a local case it was suggested that his people contact the Police Department in Los Angeles. He was very gracious at this point and thanked me. He then asked for the girl's name and I furnished him with the girl's name. This satisfied him completely. I noted in the Los Angeles Times story that the Times stated that the Times had been informed of the identity of the girl by the FBI after the Times had sent the fingerprint classification to Washington. Shortly before 6 o'clock INS had a query from the Los Angeles Herald Express. They of course were fully informed as to the developments in the case by Ray Richards; the Herald Express ts a day Hearst paper and INS stalled on making any reply. At about 7 ‘o'clock that evening Bill Hutchinson called me and asked if we would give out a short statement around 9 o'clock which,would protect him since the Examiner would then be on the street. At 8:40 p.m. I received a call from the AP, advising that the Los Angeles Times and the Los Angeles Rraminer had the story. I told the AP that I would check on the matter and’call them back. I then issued a short statement to INS and called the AP back and tssued a short statement to them and to the UP. The statement issued ts attached, ineluded in my memorandum of January 17. Warren Francis has the reputation of carrying a chip on | hits shoulder. I would not be the least bit surprised that he might not protest against our handling of the matter. I do not think he -~ 2- , eee