The Bismarck Tribune Newspaper, March 8, 1932, Page 3

Recent Chicago Kidnapings Have Cost Citizens $2,000,000 Ransom Fred ‘Killer’ Burke Credited With Organizing ‘Snatch Racket’ In Detroit This is the third in a series of four stories dealing with the kid- naping racket in the United States, By BRUCE CATTON The amazing way in which kidnap- ing has become a major underworld industry is nowhere better shown than in events of the past few months in the middle west. Kndnaping—the “snatch racket” as underworld lingo puts it—has ceased to be the wotk of isolated criminals working on their own and has become cate of desperadoes with headquarters in Chicago, Detroit and St. Louis. Apparently the racket was first or- ganized in Detroit—and the notorious Fred “Killer” Burke was one of the men who organized it, which shows Had how tough the controlling gang IS. Detroit, a little more than a year ago, managed to round up some of the leaders of its group and they are now in prison. But first the gang had extended its activities to Chicago and St. Louis, and it is now firmly. en- trenched in those two cities. RECORD In Illinois alone, 49 kidnapings have been officially reported in the last two years. But authorities admit that for every kidnaping reported there may be a dozen more in which no complaint is made because of fear. An average of the estimates made by men in a position to know puts the number of kidnapings in the Chicago territory at more than 200, with a toll Mes more than $2,000,000 paid to the’ ing. That sum may seem high, But here are a few recent victims and the prices that were paid for their free- dora: James Hackett, gambler, $150,000; Robert C. Fitchie, former president of the Illinois Federation of Labor, $50,- 000; Jack Lynch, owner of a racing information bureau, $50,000; Harold Cusack, beer hustler, $15,000; Dr. and Mrs, Max Gecht, $5000, of which $2,000 was paid on account; Howard Wool- verton, South Bend,-Ind., banker, $50,000. And those are just a few of many officially reported cases. Existence of the kidnaping ring has been discovered by operatives working for Colonel Robert Isham Randolph, founder and head of the Chicago As- sociation of Commerce's “Secret Six,” and Alexander G. Jamte, who directs this crime-fighting organization’s ac- tivities. “The syndicate,” says Jamie, “is made up of a small army of desper- adoes, and, from glimpses we've got, its makeup sounds like an Edgar Wal- Jace thriller. The man at the head of it, whose identity we haven't yet discovered, is evidently a highly cap- able business executive. “The syndicate members seem ori- ginally to have been bank robbers. ‘They also have dabbled in booze run- ning, hi-jacking and in gambling. But kidnaping is their main business, now that they've found out how pro- fitable it is. “Our investigations have shown that most of Chicago's borderline charac- ters with the exception of the Al Ca- pone gang—with which the syndicate has a definite working agreement— have beep victimized. “Gambler after gambler in Chicago and downstate has been vict . Now, however, it seems that the ring has taken about every possible vic- tim from the rackets and is branch- ing out to seize reputable citizens. ‘The seizure of Woolverton, the bank- er, is evidence of this.” Indeed, Colenel Randolph himself has been threatened with kidnaping, and he admits that he takes the threats seriously enough to refuse to ride in his auto without having the doors locked and a loaded pistol on the seat beside him. It also has been reported that the gang once laid plans to kidnap General Charles Gates Dawes, recent ambassador.to Great Britain. a GUARD! Prominent Chicago gamblers, such as Bill Johnson, Billy Skidmore, and others, never go anywhere without armed guards, because of their fear of kidnaping. But it isn’t the under- world alone that is afraid. Homes on Chicago's exclusive “north sh¢ district are thoroughly guarded by private watchmen, for fear that the gang will seize the children of wealthy business men. ‘ Pat Roche, famous investigator for the state's attorney's office here, managed to round up one group of kidnapers a short time ago—though they weren't the big shots of the gang. This was after Dr. and Mrs. Gecht had been kidnaped. Dr. Gecht was released to’ go for the ransom money, $5000, and Mrs, Gecht was held as hostage. Two days later Dr. Gecht paid $2000 and his wife was freed. It happened that one of the - naper, Gus Sanger, fell for Mrs. it in a big way, and after the couple had been released Sanger called her up and asked her'for a date. She went to Roche about it, and he ad- vised her to make a date and let him know the time and place. She did. The kidnaper arrived to keep it, and was promptly arrested by two of Roche's officers. Sanger named his associates, and shortly afterward former Assistant State's Attorney Ward Salwell, ‘Thomas, John J. Pingera, Edward Alteri were ar- 3 H g E i a putable citizens who had money and Whose movements could be easily earned. So he soon had his hoodlums As a result, Hallisey and his eight leading confederates were rounded up, convicted, and sent to prison for tenms of approximately 50 years apiece. Michigan does not have cap- ital punishment, but it does have ex- ceedingly long prison terms for kid- nay pers. Before Hallisey’s arrest the ring maintained half a dozen “prisons,” as they might be called, for keeping its victims while the ransom money was being collected. One house they owned, for instance, contained an at- tic room especially fitted for the pris- oners; in another house, a special cell ‘was built in the basement. In most of the operations conduct- ed by these mid-western kidnapers, the method of seizing the victim is the same. The gangsters find out when he is apt to be driving alone along a certain street and wait for him there in their own car. When his car appears their car speeds up and forces his to the curb. There he is bound, gagged, blindfolded, put in the big car under the feet of the gangsters and carried off to one of the “prisons,” to be held there until his friends or family can Taise’ money for his release, —— ! At the Movies CAPITOL Far be it from Roland West, the United Artists producer, to make a ladies man out of Chester Morris. Having discovered Chester, he is the apple of his producer's eye. But the pride of discovery cannot explain away the fact that in “Corsair”, which comes to the Capitol theatre tomor- row, the producer has surrounded his star with four women. Pretty women—yes, beautiful wo- men—tall ones, short ones; slender and plump ones—red heads, brunettes and blondes—but all of them beauti- ful enough to make all but a mis- pail ov home. ere is that mysterious beaut; Alison Loyd, whom the Hollywood id cret service has disclosed to be none other than Thelma Todd, a comed- ienne whom Roland West is convert- ing into a dramatic actress. Then there is the vivacious Gay Seabrook. Those who read Walton Green's magazine serial or published book “Corsair” from which West sae tnsaed cake ease will recall r as the man-c! society girl, Susie Grenoble. a And there are Addie McPhail and Mayo Dethot. Producer West agrees that four women against one man is a situation which needs explaining. And his alibi he believes will be as convincing as his film production “Alibi” in which o—- he made Chester Morris a screen star. PARAMOUNT THEATRE ‘Yellow is a color that has not many friends, but it has seen better days. In our time and place the unfortunate shade associates itself with the dis- reputable yellow streaks, yellow jour- nalism, but once on a time it was wor- shipped as almost divine. It now lends itself to the title of Raoul Walsh's Fox dramatic production, “The Yellow Ticket,” which opens its local engagement tomorrow at the Paramount Theatre. In the ancient world, Assyria, Judea, Egypt, Greece, and Rome yellow was @ favorite color of the gods and men. It still holds favor in the East, but amene Christian nations most dislike cor fe Havelock Ellis has written one of his most interesting essays on this psychology of yellow. He goes on to show how the tide toward yellow changed with the arrival of Chris- tlanity. From being paid divine hon- ors it became the badge of envy and treachery. In pictures Judas was dressed in it, in France the doors of felons and traitors were painted with. it, Jews were forced to wear yellow clothes and in Spain, recanting here- tics wore yellow crosses and carried @ yellow candle. ENGINEER PLEADS GUILTY Sioux Falls, 8. D., March 8.—(P)— Arthur Marcheldon, 31, a civil engi- neer, pleaded guilty to grand larceny ‘and received a suspended two years Jail sentence here Monday. Marchel- don was accused of stealing $140 from @& woman here last month. He was arrested at Huron. Judge Ray E. Dougherty suspended the sentence after an investigation of Marcheldon’s the Jamestown, N. D., March 8—(?)}— Walter Willard, 72, itinerant Pringer in North Dakota the last 40 yedrs, died Saturday. A veteran of the American war, Willard was women’s relief corps in charge. ATTENTION: — Elks’ ing Card postponed until Fri- day night, March 11. Fight- ers unable to reach Bismarck ‘due to weather. cCcQQQQQjqjqQqr == Cost 85 Cents to Put Rheumatic Cripple Back to Work Again Now Joyously Happy While all his family looked on in een ee tle mee Mea ee THE NATIONAL BOARD OF FIRE UNDERWRITERS iin 4 hours pot pala Daren al |. s edly Set MAE YORE. erie fe or ee pane SM CHICAGO 223. West Adams Stret e SAN FRANCISCO, Merchants Exchonge Bldg, ritis, Selatica, Lumbago and Neural- A National Organization of Stock Fira lntmrance Companies Established be 1865 gla.—Advertisement. e 2 808 £ “RICHARDTON ABBEY _ ‘THE BISMARCK TRIBUNE. TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 1932 | ouT oUR WAY By Williams | I DONT KNOW WHAT IT 1S, BoT SOMETHING ASOUT THiS REMINDS ME so TOHAVENEW RULER Rt. Rev. Cuthbert Goeb to Be- come Abbott at Ceremon- ies on April 13 Richardton, N. Dak. March 8— Preparations to install the Rt. Rev. Cuthbert Goeb, O. 8S. B., as abbot of Assumption Abbey, located here, are going forward rapidly and the instal- jation ceremonies are expected to be the most impressive held here in years, Abbot Goeb will be installed by Rt. Rev. Vincent Wehrle, O. 8. B., Bishop of Bismarck, on Wednesday, April 13. Bishop Wehrle will be assisted by the Rt. Rev. Alcuin Deutsch, abbot of St. John’s Abbey, Collegeville, Minn., and by Rr. Rev. Philip Ruggle, abbot of Conception Abbey, Conception, Mis- souri. Many bishops, abbots and oth- er church dignitaries are expected to be present and all priests in the Far- go and Bismarck dioceses of the Ro- man Catholic church have been in- vited. Governor George F. Shafer and other state officials also have ac- cepted invitations to attend. Preparations for the event are in the hands of a committee of five priests of which Rev. Peter Fahren- bach, O. 8. B., is chairman. The tent- ative schedule is for the formal pro- cession preceding the installation to leave the monastery quarters at 9:30 @. m., for a banquet at noon and for ® public reception in the Kilzer show rooms at 7:30 p. m. Since he has been in North Dakota, Abbott Cuthbert has been instru- mental in reviving the high school and college departments at the abbey and has advanced the standard so that it now conforms to all require- ments of the state educational sys- tem. A competent staff of teachers. has been placed in charge of this work, The committee 'in charge has is- sued a special invitation to all fromer students at the abbey. They ,will be guests of the present students at the installation ceremonies. The new ab- bott has expressed a particular desire to meet those who have received their education here. WARNS ABOUT SILAGE Fessenden, N. D., March 8.—(?)— Farmers who feed silage to livestock are warned by the Wells county agent to be careful with moldy silage as this spoiled feed causes a form of pto- maine poisoning when consumed by the animals. The county agent said moldy silage has developed in many silos because of warm weather, and although cattle may eat a small quan- tity of the spoiled silage without seri- ous effect, it is safer not to feed it at all. DUNN HAS FARM EXCHANGE Killdeer, N. D., March 7—(?)—A farm exchange bureau to aid farm- ers in the sale or exchange of feed and seed as well as machinery, live- stock, poultry has been established by the Dunn county board of com- missioners. Maurice Wasem, chair- man of the board, said he believed the bureau would assist in getting the seller and buyer together and as much money as possible will be saved to the producer. BOTTLERS WILL MEET Devils Lake, N. D., March 8.—(?)— The twenty-third annual two-day convention of the North Dakota Bot- tlers association will open here Wed- nesday. Speakers will include Virgil Browne, Oklahoma City; J. P. Sell, J. V. Breitweiser, the University of North Dakota; F. T. Cuthbert, Devils Lake and Professor J. H. Buchanan, Towa State college, Ames. Present of- KNOW | THE TRUE VALUE OF TIME--- ANEVER ‘PROCRASTINATE” RNS Lord Onesterfield. protection with sound stock Investors Mortgage Security: Co. F. A. Lahr E. V. Lahr First Floor Dakota Nationat Bank Building BISMARCK, N. DAK. MANY ¥ HOLO-UPS, Bismarck; O. O. Troyer, Rugby; Dean feeding—commonly known eral malnutrition”—while they may'Children because of the demand of jin the dead man’s effects. ficers include H. H. Williams, Man- ‘dan, secretary-treasurer, Rent the Spare Room tng —<—<<——— ____ Daily at 2:30-7-9 Reduced Prices: Mat. 10c, 25c; Eve. 10c, 35¢ “LAST TIME TONIGHT SIDNEY Fox BELA LUGOS! 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