Interview of Seabeck, Washington man who placed Bremerton Sun advertisement to D.B. Cooper

FD-302 (REV. 11-27-70)

FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION

1

Date of transcription 4/28/72

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[REDACTED] also known as [REDACTED] was interviewed at his residence. He was advised of the identities of the interviewing Agents and was asked if he was acquainted with a [REDACTED] He advised that he is acquainted with a [REDACTED] He stated that he observed in a Seattle newspaper an advertise- ment run in the Personals Column asking that D. B. COOPER contact a telephone number in the Los Angeles area. He stated that based on this advertisement, he ran an advertise- ment of his own in the "Bremerton Sun" in late December, 1971 or early January, 1972. His advertisement was a promotion- al advertisement for [REDACTED] [REDACTED] also known as [REDACTED] The advertisement read, "D. B. COOPER, have [REDACTED] [REDACTED] Will defer downpayment,"and gave his telephone number. Based on this advertisement, he received a number of telephone calls, many of which were crank calls and he did [REDACTED] based on the advert- isement. He stated that he also received one telephone call at approximately 1:00 a.m. and he felt that this call came from the hijacker. His reason for feeling that this caller was the hijacker was partially the time of day that the call came and also because he did not hear any background noise in the call which would indicate that it came from a tavern and was a crank call. In addition to this, he recognized the voice of the caller as a man whom he had known and with whom he had done business in the past. He did not identify himself to the caller and does not know whether the caller recognized his voice.

He stated that the caller began his conversation by stating, "I think we have something to talk about," and feeling that this person was probably the hijacker, he suggested that the individual call him back at another time in the morning and they would set up an appointment to get together and discuss the matter. He never received a return telephone call from this individual, and although he has had conversations with this individual concerning other business since the time he received this call, he has not discussed the hijacking with him.

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Interviewed on 4/22/72 at Seabeck, Washington File # SE 164-81 SA [REDACTED] SA [REDACTED] /JSD:md - 59 - Date dictated 4/26/72

This document contains neither recommendations nor conclusions of the FBI. It is the property of the FBI and is loaned to your agency; it and its contents are not to be distributed outside your agency. DB Cooper-24342

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He felt that this person could possibly be the hijacker because he felt he had the necessary background to commit the hijacking. He stated he felt the hijacker was a former Boeing employee, probably an engineer, who had military and flying experience. He stated he felt the hijacker had probably been fired from The Boeing Company, and was a paranoid individual who was mad at The Boeing Company and possibly Northwest Airlines; however, he stated that he felt the individual would be considered to be of good stand- ing in his community.

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After receiving this telephone call and feeling he had had contact with the hijacker, he discussed the matter with [REDACTED] for the "Bremerton Sun". He stated that [REDACTED] had written some articles unfavorable concerning a [REDACTED] and he thought that perhaps if he sold this story to [REDACTED], he might get some good publicity concerning [REDACTED] In addition to contacting [REDACTED], he went to the library and reviewed old newspapers to find the telephone number which he had seen in the Los Angeles area for COOPER to call. He found this number and called and came in contact with [REDACTED] He discussed the call he had received and the reasons he felt the person who had contacted him was the hijacker with [REDACTED] over an extended period of time and incurred a $12 bill for this telephone call. He believes it was approximately the middle of February, 1972, that he contacted [REDACTED] at Los Angeles.

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After having contacted [REDACTED] he was going to California in connection with attempting to sell a coin changer device which had been developed by [REDACTED] [REDACTED] a company in which [REDACTED] and on this trip he contacted [REDACTED] in Los Angeles and discussed his information concerning the hijacking. He does not recall the exact date of this trip but thinks it was around February 20, 1972.

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He stated that sometime in late February, 1972, [REDACTED] contacted him and told him that he was coming to Seattle and would call him while he was in Seattle. He subsequently received a telephone call from [REDACTED] who told him that he was at the Edgewater Inn in Seattle; and one day, he believes on a Friday, in late February, he and his wife, [REDACTED] traveled to Seattle and met [REDACTED] at the Edgewater Inn. They discussed his information concerning - 60 -

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the hijacking, ate lunch, and during the afternoon drove around Seattle going to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport to see where the hijacking had taken place and also looking at antiques in which [REDACTED] was interested. He stated that he does not know the purpose of [REDACTED] trip to Seattle but believes [REDACTED] came to Seattle for the purpose of purchas- ing antiques.

[REDACTED] stated he did not introduce anyone to [REDACTED] claiming that this person was the hijacker.

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[REDACTED] was asked the identity of the person who had called him in the middle of the night and who he felt was the hijacker and he declined to furnish this information stating that he felt that this individual would contact him concern- ing [REDACTED] the $200,000, and at this time, he would be able to [REDACTED] and then turn the hijacker in to the FBI. He stated that he felt that there was no way of solving the hijacking unless the $200,000 was recovered and he did not feel the FBI would recover the $200,000 by digging up the hijacker's back yard but he felt he could acquire the money as he is involved in the [REDACTED] and he felt the hijacker would come to him to [REDACTED] He stated that his type of [REDACTED] and the approp- riate season for this type of [REDACTED] is between June and August; and therefore, he does not feel that it is unusual that the hijacker had not come to him prior to this time to [REDACTED]

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He further stated that he felt that he could deposit the money in his bank as the teller at his bank does not check the serial numbers of $20 bills and it would be easier to put the bills into circulation and more difficult to trace them if they were put into circulation in a lump sum through his bank than if they were put into circulation in smaller deposits through another bank.

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[REDACTED] stated that in addition to being involved in [REDACTED] [REDACTED] in Bremerton.

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[REDACTED] stated that he believes that while [REDACTED] was in Seattle at the Edgewater Inn, he was by himself and did not have anyone else with him at the time. He stated that the names of [REDACTED] [REDACTED] are not familiar to him and he did not meet these people with [REDACTED] in Seattle.

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[REDACTED] stated he did not [REDACTED] and had no further contact with him after [REDACTED] trip to Seattle inasmuch as about this time, there was consider- able publicity concerning the CLIFFORD IRVING-HOWARD HUGHES autobiography hoax and he did not want to become involved in a hoax of this type.

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[REDACTED] asked if he could be involved in a criminal violation if he did not furnish information which he had concerning the hijacking and was advised that if he had information concerning the hijacking and did not furnish it, he could be charged with misprision of a felony or possibly charged as an accessory after the fact.

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[REDACTED] was also advised that inasmuch as it appeared he had information concerning the hijacking which was a Federal violation, he could be subpoenaed before a Federal Grand Jury concerning this information. He stated that he had no desire to get involved in a criminal matter or to be subpoenaed before a Federal Grand Jury inasmuch as he anticipates running for [REDACTED] and he feels that this would be detrimental to his political aspira- tions. He stated that if he were subpoenaed, he would have his attorney fight the subpoena as long as he could. [REDACTED] advised that he desired to discuss furnishing of the informa- tion which he had with his attorney, and following discussing this with his attorney on Monday April 24, 1972, he would contact the FBI concerning furnishing the information.

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