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Bidision of Inbestigation aL S. Department of Justice ~ VWH:CSH Mashington, DB. a. October 3, 1933 MEMORANDUM FOR THE DIRECTOR Reference is made to the statements made by Eugene C. Reppert, Director offPolice,fXansas City, Missouri, before the Uptown Business and Improvehent / Association, as reported in the Kansas City Journal~Post on October 2, 1933, with heedlines as follows: "PLAZA KILLING BLAMED On U. 8." Naren ASSERTS MASSACRE DUE TO NEGLIGENCE", It should be stated ‘that the charges, in substance, ere {1} that the massacre was due to criminal negligence on the part of the Agents of this Division in failing to notify the Kansas City police either of the identity or character of the - prisoner Frank Nash, whom they were to meet at the Union Station, ‘thus depriving the police of the opportunity to properly equip themselves, (Z) that the lew enforcement officers grouped ebout the person of Frank Nash, rather than scattering for purposes of protection, (3) that the McElroy kidnaping case might well have been investigated and prosecuted-successfully without the aid of Federal Agents, end (4) that the Division of Investigation has not solved the Kansas City massacre, but that it has been solved by Chief Higgins of the Detective Bureau of the Kansas City Police Department. With reference to the first charge, Special Agent in Charge Reed Vetterli states very definitely that on the night of June 16th, preceding the morning of the attack upon the officers with Nash, he, Vetterli, personally called the police department and talked to the Detective Sergeant on the desk, advising him that. the Agents expected to meet, the following morning et Union Station, other Agents of the Division who had in custody Frank Nesh, a desperate criminal and escaped Federal prisoner, who had been apprehended that day and was being transported to Leavennrorth Penitentiary. The desk sergeant stated over the telephone thet in view of the character of the prisoner he would meke a notation for the assignment of officers from the “hot squad". The following morning two police officers put in en appeerance and accompanied the Agents to the Union Station. This informatiop gb charge made by Reppert. ENVISION GF IBMT Mr. "Hughes Mr. Quinn ......--- Mr. Locke....-- ee ee ee Ge _ DEC 19 1933 *% 3 AON EDGAR HOOVER co f . ; — DIRECTOR “a lv —_ 7/ or OOPY FILZD IN