Phoenix insert re probation officer's information on Warren David Smith and Clair Young

PX 164-571 JCK:bgb

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The following investigatin was conducted by SA JOSEPH C. KELLY at Phoenix, Arizona:

On November 21, 1979, [REDACTED] U. S. Probation and Parole Office, Phoenix, Arizona, furnished the following information concerning the possible identity of "D. B. COOPER," the person who hijacked a Portland to Seattle Northwest Airlines jet in 1971.

[REDACTED] has been supervising a parolee named WARREN DAVID SMITH, a white male, date of birth December 2, 1916, FBI Number 977-833. SMITH is an old-time bank robber whose criminal career began in 1935.

WARREN DAVID SMITH was paroled on May 10, 1978, from his latest bank robbery conviction from the Federal Detention Center at Florence, Arizona. SMITH absconded from his parole on or about September 15, 1979, while living in Mesa, Arizona.

In November, 1979, [REDACTED] [REDACTED] read a recent newspaper article recalling the anniversary of the Northwest Airline hijacking in the State of Washington.

[REDACTED] recalled after reading the article, some letters [REDACTED] had left behind which she had read and remembered the name "D. B. COOPER."

The two letters are dated April 3rd and April 17th respectively and were apparently received by WARREN DAVID SMITH in April, 1978, prior to his parole from the Federal Detention Center at Florence.

[REDACTED] told [REDACTED] the letters were signed "JACK" and were written by another convict whose true name is HOWARD HUBBEL (phonetic), who uses the alias, "JACK HUBBEL."

[REDACTED] stated the letters were found in an envelope bearing the return address and name of a third prisoner, who at the time was incarcerated at Folsom Prison in California. The envelope bore the name [REDACTED] and also located in the same envelope was a Xerox copy of an earlier newspaper item detailing the events of the hijacking.

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2/28 11-31-[illegible] DB COOPER-51126

PX 164-571 2 JCK:bgb

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[REDACTED] was told by [REDACTED] that [REDACTED] [REDACTED], whom he married in Dayton, Washington, on March 11, 1953.

[REDACTED] and [REDACTED] CLAIR YOUNG and [REDACTED] were raised in the Walla Walla, Washington, area.

According to HUBBEL's two letters, [REDACTED] told HUBBEL that [REDACTED], CLAIR YOUNG, pulled off the hijacking. The letters further indicate [REDACTED], has used the alias D. B. COOPER a number of times when registering at motels.

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On November 21, 1979, [REDACTED] was tele- phonically contacted by SA JOSEPH C. KELLY in an effort to obtain the letters. [REDACTED] later turned the documents over to the FBI on November 28, 1979.

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[REDACTED] has indicated to [REDACTED] and the FBI that she is extremely fearful of [REDACTED] She advised WARREN DAVID SMITH had stolen a .32 caliber handgun [REDACTED] about the time he absconded from supervision in September, 1979.

On December 5, 1979, [REDACTED] advised that [REDACTED] told him that [REDACTED] is believed to be accompanied by [REDACTED] who escaped from the Folsom Prison approxi- mately three months ago and is believed to be in the southern California area.

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On December 6, 1979, [REDACTED] telephonically advised she believes HUBBEL was incarcerated at a minimum security facility at Fort Worth, Texas, when the letters were written [REDACTED].

[REDACTED] said she has met [REDACTED] in the past accompanied by [REDACTED] in Rockford, Illinois, and is now believed to be living in the Portland, Oregon, area. [REDACTED] does not recall ever [REDACTED] mention the hijacking incident and does not know whether or not HUBBEL's letters contain the information or a hoax.

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DB COOPER-51127

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