The New York herald., 1921-04-08
$4,000 DEMANDED
FOR MRS. RANKlNE
Trap Set When Offer Is Tel
ephoned by Fake kidnap-
per: Suspect Taken.
WORK OF AN AMATEUR
Price Is Dropped to $4,000
anu as Man iaiks His
Call Is Traced.
DETECTIVES SOON ON JOB
All Details Given of How Miss
ing Woman Is Being Treated
in New Jersey House.
DETECTIVES SOON on JOB

MIS-. Annette Kingsley ltanktne Is Goa
Quoting search for the missing
woman, trapped yesterday with neat
ness and despatch man who tried to
eXtort $4,000 as ransom for the return
OF the widow. The strangers story,
told craftily in four telephone install
rsents transmitted from different
booths, was that he and his partners"
had kidnapped Mrs. Rankine and were
holding her for ransom in northern
New Jersey at place within forty
nve minutes OF New York city.
The prisoner. who was taken from
a telephone booth late in the afternoon
by two Of Mr. Nyes operatives who
had been formerly in Government
service, was taken to the East Fifty
FIRST street police station. There Mr..
Nye preferred against him a charge
Of attempted grand larceny and Lieut..
Joseph Ryan held him for a hearing
this morning in the Yorkville Court.
He described himself as Albert Kraft.
street, brakeman on q railroad. He
made a general denial and said he had
not been in conversation with Mr.. Nye
over the phone.
Search of his clothing revealed three
pawn tickets, some small change and a
slip OF paper containing written lists
of figures beneath the captions Lib
erty bonds and Victory bonds"
only Deception Can Re Seen.
Mr.. Nye has not believed for a mo-
nlent that the unknown man who first
called him on the telephone at his office.
50 Liberty street, half an hour after
noon. had any actual knowledge OF the
whereabouts of Mrs. Rankine. But he
felt bound TO trap the would be extor-
toner II possible By quick police work
and with the help OF Thomas f. Finch
and Bob Durell he succeeded in OBJ
tanning an arrest.
The first call came In from an un-
known quarter Mr.. Nye was summoned
and a voice said: IT know where Mrs.
Rankine is /; we've got her"
Instantly Mr.. Nye interrupted to say
Wait; hold the wire just moment
until can close the door OF my room"
Have this call traced back to its
sou-ce~ he flashed to his secretary
Miss Crump, as he held his hand over
the rnouthpiece Then he started TO re-
0urue Ile lclepDOIlt COllNttEdtioH pGb
the stranger already had taken alarm.
Think you're damn smart. don't
your" came u sneering voice over the
wire. You can't trick me that way,
but I'll call you up later from another
place."
Then a second call came at 30
r. N. 1t was the same voice and the
man said ne and his pals had the widow
safe and sound in New Jersey. They
had kidnapped her for ransome and
were ready 10 talk business.
The proposition was that $4,000.
preferably in 500 and $50 bills. should
ne delivered at lunch room ION the
north eide OF Forty-second street, about
two doors east OF Tenth avenue" The
bearer OF the ransom money was 10
leave the package with the cashier OF
the restaurant saying it was FOR Mr..
Jackson. who would call for it.
Fake Easily Appears.
Mr.. Nye. pretending to be much in
terested. asked many questions. Mr..
jackson" gave so accurate description
OF Mrs. Rankine ss to suggest that he
had a newspaper in hand at the time.
There was only one inaccuracy. The
ostensible kidnapper said their victim
wore eyeglasses with "tortoscshell
rims" Mrs. Ranksne did not, but
picture OF ner puoleNea ytstSFuhy Insluc
her appear as though she did.
Mr.. Jackson assured Mr.. Nye that
Were feedin' her good and she's all
right" But II you don't come across"
nc said omlnously, they'll never see
her again"
saving he would have 10 think the
matter over. Mr.. Nye arranged for an
other call at . 40. He learned that the
1890 summons had come from coin
box telephone on the upper level OF the
Grand Central Station. Promptly at
40 came another call, but Mr. Nyo
was now prepared to hold his man IN
converse until central could report
lust where ne was calling from. Mean
time Fitch and Durell had been sta
toned ia Forty-sccoud street where
they were holding telephone booths until
they should learn from their chief over
the wire just where their prey lurkcd.
This tlmo Mr.. Nye actually stalled"
Mr. Jackson for thirty-eight minutes
Unfortunately in tracing back this call
an error was made by telephone em-
ployee
TOO Late TO Trap Nan.
By the time Fitch and Durell arrived
At the United Cigar Company's store. 15'
sixth avenue. which was the real lurk-
ing place Of their prey this time. he had
hung up inpatiently. Arriving two MIN
utes too late, they learned that while lie
lad talked In the booth two men. who
appeared to be accompllces. had re-
NAMED on watch outside
Another call came al :I5. This time
tie trap worked without a nsw. Word
from central said that this call was
from "sryant 54Tg." another United
Cigar store, at i54s Broadway. which
ia at the corner OF West Forty.slxth
street Fitch and Durcli were waiting
orders AZ Bryant sT55." which Is at
Forty second street and Ninth avenue.
Nyo succeeded IN interesting "dr. jack
son" for fifteen minutes. telling him he
had already raised $1,000 cash. "Mr.
jackson" finally agreed that would be
enough.
Mr.. Nye was telling the man how hc
was about 70 start UP town 70 deliver
the wealth diycreetly wrapped IN shoe
box when the door Of "Atr. Jackson's"
booth was opened and hc fell Into the
arms Of Fitch snd Durei. They had
raced from Ninth avenue In q taxicab.
when It was held up IN traffic Jam
they finished the race afoot. despite tire
fact that purcll lost shoe IN tho ef-
fort.
Kraft insists that Mr. Jackson" must
be somebody else. Nye says he has
complete prcof