The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1926-03-09
TAMPA RESIDENT
SEVERELY BEATEN
BY GANG OF Men
DUDLEY READ, OFFICIAL
PHOTOGRAPHERS FOR BOARD
OF TRADE, TAKEN FROM
HOME

fBy Associated Pressp
TAMPA, Fla, March 9.-Dud-
ley Read, official photographer for
the Tampa Board of Trade, was
taken from his home here and Sc
yerely beaten by band of un-
masked men last night. Read
returned home late this morning,
suffering from numerous wounds
on the body.
The victim told detectives that
his abductors took him to a lonely
spot about 15 miles from Tampa
and near Lake Thonotosassa. They
tied a handkerchief over his
mouth to stife his cries, he said,
and whipped him with a wide lea
Their strap.
Reads hips and back were swol-
len and bleeding. Detectives said
he had been struck probably so
times.
Read said his abductors came to
his home about 9 o'clock last
night in two automobiles. Mrs.
Margaret Read, mother Of the
photographer, answered the door
bell. She was confronted by three
men, one Of whom wore badge
and said he was a deputy sheriff
with a warrant for Reads arrest.
Mrs. Read called her son. He
asked to see the warrant, and,
with q brusque remark to tell it
10 the sheriff." the men whisked
him into the first of the waiting
automobiles.
As they sped away, Mrs. Read
rushed to a telephone and called
up ice Carter, chief Of detectives.
The latter detailed half a dozen
plainclothes men on the case at
once.
In the meantime the two ma
chimes proceeded toward Lake
Tbonotasassa. Arriving at their
destination, the abductors forced
their victim from the car and,
after lashing him, left him by the
roadside with the remark that if he
did not abandon a divorce action
which he had recently started they
would take him out again and
nearly kin him.
Read started back home. After
walking eight miles, he caught a
ride into town and reached his
residence about four o'clock this
morning. He notified Chief Carter
Of bis arrival and the latter has
tened to the Read home.
The photographer was barely
able TO walk after his long trip
afoot on the road back to Tampa.
He bad not told his mother or sis
ter that he had been thrashed, but
explained to them that the men
had threatened him with punish
ment unless he withdrew wit
nesses in his divorce suit. The
women were excluded from the
room while he told the chief Of de-
tectives details Of his experience.
Immediately afterward Chief
Carter ordered the arrest of
Reads wife, her mother, father
and brother and detained them at
police headquarters pending an
investigation. They expressed
surprise at their arrest and de-
elared they knew nothing about
the attack on Read. Mrs. Dudley
Read was feature writer for the
Tampa Tribune.
About two months ago Read in
stituted divorce proceedings, NAM
ing John Kelly, a friend of his, as
correspondent. Kelly and Read
continued to be friends, Kelly liv-
ing ak Reads home and helping
him Ia his work for the Tampa
Board of Trade.
Chief Carter would make no
charges against Reads wife nor
her people, pending an inquiry
later today, but expressed the be-
lief that the whipping was "domes-
tic trouble"
Read was reported to have told
the chief that he had been forced
into the marriage"
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