The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1891-03-25
A Wealthy Miller Is Held
Captive for Ransom.
His AbductOrs Demand Thirty =
Thousand Dollars
But Finally Release Him With
out Getting It.
A Story Which Reads Like an Italian
Cablegram.

DETROIT, March 21.-Joseph Parrien,
proprietor of the largest Touring mill in
Detroit. and half millionaire, was called
to his door by a stranger last night, with a
message purporting to come from an inti-
mate friend who was reported i'll and de-
string Mr.. Perrien's assistance. Mr.. Per-
rein left his home with the stranger about
10 o'clock, enteringa coupe withhim. At
l o'clock this morning the Perrien homo
doorbell was rung and an envelope thrust
in by ayoung man who Immediately disap-
peared. The envelope contained a check
for $4,000 on the Peninsular bank, Of
which Mr.. Perrien is vice-president and a
large stockholder; a promissory note for
$4,000, payable in five days, ard letter
to Mr.. Perrien's nephew, Mr.. Hessel-
bacher, advising him to cash the check,
negotiate the note, or, failing in either, TO
raise 5000 on his own property, to be
paid as ransom for Mr.. Perrien, who was
being held by some parties whom the let
ter did not disclose.
The letter appointed a rendezvous al
which the money might be paid this even
ing. The police were Immediately put at
work upon the case. but up to IL o'clock
this morning they have no clue either to
the persons who kidnapped Perrien or to
his present whereabouts. Mr.. Perrien is
a bachelor fifty-eight years old. and ex-
tensively interested in Detroit industries
and financial institutions. The letter to
Mr. Hesselbacher stated that Mr.. Perrien
had gotten into trouble with a woman
and had TO pay the money over without q
word; but this statement is secuted. Both
note and check bore Mr.. Perrien's genuine
signature.
Mr.. Perrien returned home about $50
this evening safe and well. but somewhat
unnerved by his experience. Hesays that
upon entering the coupe last night his
suspicions were not aroused until he
noticed the vehicle turn in the op-
posite direction 10 his friends house.
lie then threw open the door and
ATTEMPTED to jump out he was met by
two masked men who had revolvers to his
head and forced him back into the cab,
they following. They then bound and
gagged and bliudfolded him, the cab keep
ing on what seemed its interminable
course the while. under which cir
cumstances Mr.. Perrien was unable to
keep any idea of location in his mind.
Finally he was removed from the cab to q
room where his captOrs released him from
his bonds, and, covering him with a re-
vover, forced him to write the check,
promissory note and letters. The latter
were dictated from typewriter copies in
the hands of his captors, who remained
masked and disguised.
Mr.. Perrien was not further disturbed
till late this afternoon, when his captors
informed him that ''their game was up,"
but ''they would get him next time" He
was then rebound, gagged and
blindfolded and conducted from
the room. Their course seemed to lay
over a plowed field, after passing which
they entered a cab, and another long,
roundabout curve was commenced. At
last Mr.. Perrien was unloosed and thrust
from the cab in a dazed condition, and
before he recovered himsel, the cab
had disappeared. He finally located him.
self as being at the corner OF Myrtle
and Thirteenth-sts. He boarded a street
car and was shortly home, where he re-
cited the above story. His person was not
harmed in any wav. the valuables he had
with him not being touched. He was
furnished with good food and treated with
consideration during his captivity. His
story is accepted as absolutely reliable and
the police are making every effort to To-
cate the perpetrators of the outrage.