Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-11-11
RUSE FREES BERG
FROM ABDUCTORS
Reporter Tricks KidnaperS
Without $50, 900 Ransom.
: Agent Is Arrested.
BY the Associated Press.

ST. LOUIS, November 1.-THE kid
napers Of Alexander Berg. wealthy fur
dealer, who was released last night
after being held captive for 102 hours
were tricked into releasing him, the St
Louis Post-Dispatch said today in a
copyrighted story.
No ransom was paid for the release
of the furrier, and it was related by
John T. Rogers, veteran reporter for
the newspaper, who is credited by
Berg's attorney with effecting Berg'S
release, how an agreement was made
with Paul A. Richards, attorney acting
for the kidnapers, to pay $4,000 ran
som today If Berg was released last
night. No payment was made, but in
stead. Richards was arrested today by
police as the agent of the kidnapers.
Kidnapers' Agent Arrested.
Richards arrest came after he ne
gotiated with Adrian Levinson. attor-
ney for the Berg family, to collect
$4,000 today in exchange for $50. 900
promiSsory note obtained by the Kid
napers from Berg and given to Rich
ards
The negotiations were completed yes
terday, Richards telling Levinson that
Berg could be released within two hours
after he had given the word. Levin
son. at the final meeting late yesterday,
asked what assurance he would have
Berg would get back safely If ne agreed
to pay a ransom, and Richards assured
him Berg would be released last night
Whereupon LevinSon told Richards ne
.-would pay the $50 1000 in exchange for
) the promissory note today, contingent
upon Berg's return.
With Richards arrested before the
payment was due, however, the Kid
napers' agent mao been trapped by po-
lice so that if the agreement had oeen
followed the money could have been
paid to Richards only in his cell at po-
lice headquarters.
Ex-Convict Held in Probe.
Mike Cutter, a. former professional
bondsman and ex-convict, his wife ana
Richards wife also were arrested IN
connection with the case. together with
a colored cook and an l8-year-old girl
employed in a restaurant operated by
Cutter.
pale and worn, but unframed, Berg
returned to his apartment at the Park
Plaza Hotel in taXicab about midnighV
last night after being released by his
kidnapers from a small car on Union
Boulevard, in West St. Louis. He had
been held in a fat somewhere IN ST
: Louis, over a store, he said ne DeheVeo
although he did not know the locatlon
Tho FIRST intimation to the Berg fam
ilv that the kidnapers had retained
Richards came in a letter to Lev1nson,
at his Office downtown. last MONDAY
morning. It directed Levinson employ
Richards and give him fee OF $l,ooo
Reporter Goes to See Agent.
Rogers calling at Levinson's office in
connection with the story, was told py
Ieyinson of the letter, and the attor-
new asked the reporter If he would
visit Richards, whose Office was across
the street Rogers went, told Richards
of the letter received by Levinson ana
said the Berg attorney was anxious 10
see him at once.
Richards then said he had letter
also, and exhibited $50, 0oo promisory
note signed by Berg, which had been
delivered to Richards by the kidnapers;
He freely told Rogers he represented
the skidnapers and that the money was
to be SPLIT four ways, RichardS 10 get
Sfl 600, and the man who tipped the
gang of 10 the desirability OF kidnapping,
Berg was to get $4,000.
; AT Richards suggestion, Rogers ten
morning, preparatory to an appointment
: between Levinson and Richards. Rogers
acted on his own initiative, as he
had been instructed by his Office not
> to enter into any negotiations,
Police Wait for Release.
Rogers, however. Immediately hurried
to Levinsons office, summarized what
he had learned and told Levinson ne
was going to make full report at
once to his superiors on the Post-Dis-
patch and to police. Levinson concur
red and accompanied Rogers. From
then on police knew every move In the
case but because of threats to Berg
life, it was agreed nothing would be
done to roundup the abductors until
Berg was freed.
Because Rogers was unwilling to par
ticipate further in what appeared 10
be direct negotiations with the KID
napers he took room at the PARK
Plaza Hotel near the Berg apartment
carrying on his work for his paper on
the story from there.
SEVEN HELD IN BERG KIDNAPPING.