The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-05-02
CHICAGO COPS
CHECK PLOT TO
KIDNAP YOUTH
Heir to Great Fortune Wa,
Intended Victim of Million
Dollar Scheme
DETAILS ARE SECRET
Authorities Claim Plan Wa
Conceived BY Man Once
Convicted of Murder

chicago. May 2-R-A million
dollar kidnapping piot conceived BY a
convicted murderer, planned for ex-
ecution by one Of Chicago's most
feared criminal bands. and directed
at nine-year-old heir to great
fortune has been checkmated BY the
police.
Henry J. (Midgct) rernekes. now
serving a prison term for robbery
while awaiting a new trial for mur-
der for which he once was sentenced
to be hanged, was the man, the po.
lice say. who plotted the kidnapping.
The intended victim, now as closely
guarded as president or a king, was
John Shedd Schweppe, son Of Charles
H. Schweppe. a broker, and II grand
SON of the late John G. Shedd, who
was one Of the city's wealtkiest men.
Police refrained from revealing de-
tails of the plot nor would they name
all the conspirators. The million dol
lars which police believe was to have
been demanded for the boys release
was to have gone in part into a
great defense fund for Fernekes, who
once tried to blast his way out Of the
Cook county Jail with dynamite.
Woman Identified By Picture
Mrs. Jessie Mulhall Saunders, more
recently known as "Mrs. Fernekes," ;"
according to information in the pos
session Of Chief of Detectives will
liam O'Connor, was one of the won-
en- active in the plot. Mr.. Schweppe
Identified a photograph Of Mrs.
Saunders as that Of woman he had
seen prowling about the grounds Of
his Lake Forest estate.
Seven well known gunmen" were
involved in the plot, the police said,
all members Of the band which kid
naped two cabaret owners recently
and finally released them for a re-
ported ransom Of 500, 900.
First reports Of the plot said that
/ the boys sister, Jean, II years old
was to have been the object Of the
kidnapers, but Chief O'ConnOr said
that police information was plain that
the boy was the one to have been
taken.
Police Learn All Details
i. We knew from conversations over
! heard by our telephone squad all de.
tails Of the scheme he said.
Word Of the intended kidnapping
by the police. The talk was between
wv PNtSVhS apparently uUL Ill JuS
| plot, one reciting to the other what
he had heard from a third person.
Seven men and two women were
involved. All are known, the police
added, but because Of the manner in
| which the information was obtained
they have been unable to make any
| arrests. Plans were laid instead te
trap the band in an attempt ut kid.
+, naping.
A special guard also has been plac.
ed over two other grandchildren OF
the late Mr.. Shedd-Mary Shedd Reed
l3 and John Shedd Reed, 12, who
live near the Schweppe estate. Mr.
Schweppe also has been given a DO.
lice guard.
Other Homes Guarded
Fear Of kidnapers has led to pre-.
| cautiOnary measures in other Lake
Forest homes Of wealth. One indica.
ton Of the apprehension was seen al
Ferry Hall, an exclusive school fol-
girls not far from the Schweppe home
New evening hours have been posted
and no girl may 60 out alone. The
student body Of 500 girls marched to
church In . body yesterday.
Fernekes, the midget bandit" was
convicted and sentenced to hang fol
the murder of loan company cash.
ier. He was taken to Joliet peniten-
tiary to start serving . 10-year term
for robbery while awaiting action Of
the state supreme court on his appeal
from the murder conviction. The
supreme court granted q new trial
and it was to finance this, police be-
lieve, that the kidnapping was plan.
ned.