The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-08-27
'BOOKIE' CAR
FREE; CAPONE
TO FACE QUIZ
Ransom Is Reported Paid
for Publisher; Scarface
Arrest Ordered.
GANG RULER VANISHES
Police Believe AL Can Name
Abduction Gang Which
Received $4,000.
By United Press

By United Press
LAKE GENEVA. Wis, Aug. 81
John j. (Jack) Lynch, wealthy turf
figure, kidnapped Thursday by a
gang that first set his ransom at
$225, 900, today described his ex-
perience from his palatial home
here as "a fairly pleasant night
mare"
Lynch, who drove into his estate
at 4:30 a. m, after driving all night
from a point near Kankakee, ILL.,,
in his own automobile, showed little
Ill effects except for a heavy beard
and sleep-weary eyes.
Asked whether AL Capone had
anything to do with his release,
Lynch, owner of controlling interest
in the General News bureau, a serv-
ice, supplying horse racing news,
declined to comment.
Meanwhile, Patrick Roche, chief
investigator for States Attorney
Swanson, pushed search for the
gang chief whom he suspected of
acting as "go-between" in the pay
nent Of reported $4,000 ransom.
Silent About Ransom
Lynch had nothing to say regard
ing payment of ransom. He spoke
freely about his experience in the
hands of the kidnapers.
Il fought back when the six or
seven men in the gang rushed me
near White Pigeon, and they cuffed
me around" Lynch told his wife
and family friends.
after that they treated me roy
ally, giving me all I wanted to eat
and two-bit cigars to smoke. They
gave me newspapers with stories
about my kidnapping and paper-back
novels. Too many Of the stories
were about people getting bumped
off by gansters, though, and didn't
read much"
Lynch said he had no idea where
he was kept prisoner, nor how far it
was from Kankakee.
Bag Tossed Over Head
"a bag was thrown over my head
when I was first seized. The men
drove me around a long time until
was thoroughly lost.
"Then 1 was taken to a room
somewhere. When no one was in
the room was allowed to take the
blindfold off.
"Wednesday they put the bag on
and drove me around for what
seemed like several hours. Then
they sped away in another car.
When I got the blindfold off it was
1920 p. m. drove until I got to
town. 1t was Kankakee. I bought
gasoline and Oil and drove on
home"
Lynch went to bed after eating
a sizable breakfast. His wife, near
collapse from worry, got up from
bed to meet him when his motor
was heard purring in the drive.
Capone Takes to Heels
Capone, according to reports, had
acted in Lynchs behalf and was
not suspected of having any part
in the abduction, but was wanted
because it was thought he had
turned the ransom money over to
the kidnapers and probably knew
who they were.
Capone, meanwhile, had fled.
Squads of police raided his hotel
and other places, but failed to find
him. The order for his arrest was
issued by Pat Roche.
Roche said he feared several kill
ings might result and declared he
was going to stamp out this ter
rifying kidnapping business once
and for all"
Lynch disappeared last Thursday
while en- route from here to his
Wisconsin home. No report was
made of his kidnapping, but the
news spread.
Heavy Ransom Demands
His general news bureau furnishes
horse racing information to hand
book operators throughout the
country and he is nationally known
among gamblers.
1t became known then that Mar
TN GunToyle. handbook operator
and friend of Lynch, was negotiat-
ing with the kidnaperS, who de-
manded S250,000 for Lynch's re-
lease. Mrs. Lynch also received
several calls from the kidnapers.
On Saturday, the Daily Racing
Form, a turf publication, offered
$4,000 reward for arrest and con-
viction of the kidnapers, expressing
a desire to stamp out the gangs
which in recent months have levied
heavy tribute from men engaged
in one way or another in the rae