Interview of New York man who placed newspaper ads seeking the hijacker

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

FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION

Date of transcription 4/28/72

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[REDACTED], New York, New York, was con- tacted at [REDACTED] stated he was willing to be interviewed only in presence of [REDACTED] He was advised of Identities of [REDACTED] [REDACTED] as Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). He was advised that an inves- tigation was being conducted to attempt to identify the in- dividual responsible for the hijacking of a Northwest Airlines Flight on November 24, 1971, and his subsequent receipt of $200,000 from that airline. [REDACTED] was furnished a form entitled Interrogation; Advice of Rights, which he and his attorney read. [REDACTED] stated he understood his rights and would consult with his attorney whenever he wished to clarify answers to any questions. He advised he had a personal attor- ney, [REDACTED] of Atlanta also representing him.

[REDACTED] advised that he was interested in the hijacking incident and had placed advertisements in the San Francisco Chronicle, Portland Oregonian, and Seattle Times, indicating [REDACTED] and asking that "D. B. COOPER" contact him listing his, [REDACTED] home tele- phone number. In early February, [REDACTED] received a telephone call at his home and requested caller recontact him the follow- ing evening so that he could set up arrangements for a secure telephone call. This individual then called the following evening furnished his name as [REDACTED] and based on this telephone call, [REDACTED] agreed to meet [REDACTED] at a motel at the Seattle Airport, name unrecalled, on or about February 15, 1972. [REDACTED] contacted [REDACTED] at this motel; and shortly thereafter, another individual knocked on the side door of the motel room and entered through this sliding patio-type door. He was introduced as the hijacker, D. B. COOPER. At this ini- tial meeting, [REDACTED] had requested the sum of [REDACTED] [REDACTED] and [REDACTED] This was to be in three payments of [REDACTED] each. The initial payment was to be made when [REDACTED] and the third [REDACTED] payment upon [REDACTED]

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Interviewed on 4/25/72 at New York, New York File # NY 164-627 SE 164-81 by SA [REDACTED] SA [REDACTED] JJS:pal/bgw Date dictated 4/28/72 - 132 -

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-24415

2

NY 164-627 SE 164-81

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[REDACTED] advised that [REDACTED] was not agreeable to paying this sum of money. [REDACTED] obtained [REDACTED] from [REDACTED] [REDACTED] and this was the final price agreed on by [REDACTED]

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[REDACTED] requested that [REDACTED] who recently had a severe heart attack and operation, not be contacted due to his poor health and in view of the fact [REDACTED] was not aware of the full details concerning [REDACTED] [REDACTED]

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[REDACTED] on February 20, 1972, at the Edgewater Inn, Seattle, when [REDACTED] turned over the [REDACTED] in cash consisting of an unknown amount of bills in 20, 50 and 100 dollar denominations. [REDACTED] obtained a [REDACTED] from [REDACTED] for this sum of money, which stipulated an agreement that it would be put in a trust fund by [REDACTED] to use as funds for legal defense in the event [REDACTED] was charged with the crime. [REDACTED] stated that during the course of contacts with [REDACTED] he learned that the true name of [REDACTED] became extremely agitated and criticized [REDACTED] for letting his true name become known. [REDACTED] advised that all his contacts with the individual [REDACTED] were through [REDACTED] He advised that [REDACTED] on February 22 and 23, 1972, and on the second date, used [REDACTED]

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[REDACTED] He did not allow these two individuals to have direct contact with [REDACTED]

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[REDACTED] They were not aware of the identity of [REDACTED] other than by his nickname. [REDACTED] He identified a photograph of [REDACTED] furnished by the Seattle Office, as identical to the individual named [REDACTED] he had dealt with initially using alias [REDACTED] and to whom he paid the [REDACTED] He identified the photograph of the individual wearing a black and white knit cap and the photograph of an individual wearing what appeared to be a wig, as the same [REDACTED] [REDACTED]

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DB Cooper-24416

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NY 164-627 SE 164-81

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[REDACTED] was not one of the individuals present when wig was purchased. He does not recall seeing [REDACTED] without a hat or cap whenever he met him. [REDACTED] described himself as a devout Catholic who had been married to the same woman for 25 years. [REDACTED] alleged he owned a boat, a camper and three automobiles. Further description not known. [REDACTED] indicated he had two children, a married daughter, and a son in college. [REDACTED] indicated he had worked for Boeing Aircraft Company, Seattle, for 14 years and had been discharged and replaced by a man 15 years younger than himself, approximately two years ago when there was a general lay off at Boeing. [REDACTED] indicated he formerly lived next door to an Episcopal minister. [REDACTED] described [REDACTED] as a white male, almost [REDACTED] years old, about 5' 9" to 5' 10" tall, 160 to 175 pounds, large ears, thin lips, sharp nose, with balding dark brown hair, right handed, and a heavy smoker of filtered-type cigarettes. [REDACTED] has some sort of [REDACTED] further description not noticed. on the [REDACTED] [REDACTED] has a [REDACTED] [REDACTED] and has slightly prominent veins in the center of his forehead, which are somewhat obvious in the photograph of [REDACTED] taken on the street. [REDACTED] has [REDACTED]

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[REDACTED] of them. He concealed these [REDACTED] with makeup prior to being photographed on February 23, 1972, by [REDACTED] advised that he was furnished a Xerox copy of three twenty dollar bills and the photograph of [REDACTED] on the street. [REDACTED] [REDACTED] delivered these items to the New York Office on April 21, 1972, based on instructions from [REDACTED] [REDACTED] personal attorney, to furnish all information to the FBI. [REDACTED] had previously furnished a [REDACTED] [REDACTED] to the Department of Justice, along with the [REDACTED] in the black and white cap which [REDACTED] on the beach. This [REDACTED] [REDACTED] [REDACTED] [REDACTED] except for three twenty dollar bills he kept for comparison with any published list. [REDACTED] advised that [REDACTED] at the Edgewater Inn Motel,

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DB Cooper-24417

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b6 b7c

b6 b7c

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NY 164-627 SE 164-81

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exhibited three twenty dollar bills to [REDACTED] is 98% positive that the serial numbers of those three bills are identical with the Xerox copy of three bills he received from [REDACTED] did not record the serial numbers of the three bills exhibited to him by [REDACTED] that he met [REDACTED] to a group of Boeing employees. [REDACTED] how he could [REDACTED] [REDACTED] visited [REDACTED] at his home and observed two skydiving awards on a mantle place at [REDACTED] home. [REDACTED] is allegedly unemployed and existing on interest and dividends from other investments he has made in the past. [REDACTED] advised that he was hopeful that [REDACTED] would surrender himself and the ransom money. [REDACTED] has had no contact with [REDACTED] since February 23, 1972, and some- time several weeks ago, [REDACTED] called [REDACTED] advising [REDACTED] he wished to talk to [REDACTED] subsequently advised [REDACTED] that [REDACTED] has refused to contact [REDACTED] until [REDACTED] will not furnish [REDACTED] [REDACTED] advised that he had contacted

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[REDACTED] advised that he will recontact his personal attorney, [REDACTED] to determine if [REDACTED] will agree to [REDACTED] furnishing [REDACTED] [REDACTED] and [REDACTED] for [REDACTED] signed by [REDACTED] states he believes [REDACTED]

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upbringing. [REDACTED] stated that based on his eleven years experience as [REDACTED]

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[REDACTED] advised that in addition to being a [REDACTED] [REDACTED] [REDACTED] in the near future in the Los Angeles area. He advised that [REDACTED] also has other business interests.

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DB Cooper-24418

3

NY 164-627 SE 164-81

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The following description of [REDACTED] was obtained during observation and interview:

Sex Male Race White Date of Birth [REDACTED] Eyes Brown Hair Graying Height 6' 1" Weight 175 pounds

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[REDACTED] made available a photograph of himself at the conclusion of the interview. He advised that he planned to return to his residence at [REDACTED] Los Angeles, California, on February 26, 1972.

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[REDACTED] requested that any further contacts with him be through his [REDACTED] telephone [REDACTED]. He advised that his personal attorney is [REDACTED] currently in Washington, D. C., and he did not wish to be interviewed further without either [REDACTED] present. He stated his reason for desiring an [REDACTED] was his belief that he [REDACTED] who provided him with information leading in this case, [REDACTED] D. B. COOPER. He to [REDACTED] wanted to [REDACTED] if the details he obtained were true as he had invested considerable time in [REDACTED] [REDACTED]

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DB Cooper-24419