The Press: Tripleheader

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In a recent issue, the Saturday Evening Post (circ. 4,583,064) ran an article on the "Ten Most Wanted" criminals in the U.S. Underneath their pictures, the Post told its readers: "Call the nearest office of the FBI if you see one of these men." Twenty-four times since 1950, the FBI has nabbed criminals as the result of tips from readers of newspapers and magazines that published the criminals' pictures. But last week FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover announced that the Saturday Evening Post had scored a tripleheader with its single article.

While the Post was putting its issue to press, one of the ten criminals was caught. Hastily the Post stopped its presses, substituted a picture of Thomas Massingale, a kidnaper, for the remaining 75% of its press run. The change was worth the trouble. The day after the Post hit the stands, a reader tipped off the FBI that it could find Massingale in Las Vegas, N. Mex. FBImen made the arrest. Next day another Post reader told the FBI where it could find Sydney Martin, wanted for robbery and attempted murder. The FBI picked him up in Corpus Christi, Texas. Last week, after FBImen were alerted by a Post reader, they arrested Charles Johnson, wanted for robbery and assault, in Central Islip, N.Y.