The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-03-09
By BRUCE CATION

Kansas City police estimate that
kidnapers have collected fully half
million dollars in that city within re-
cent years.
AS has been the case elsewhere, the
bulk Of these cases are cases IN Wnlch
underworld characters have been the
victims. Almost everywhere, the
racketeers have started their opera
lions cautiously, victimizing men who
they knew would never complain to
the photographers, vice syndicate
chiefs. booze dealers. and so on.
SPREAD OUT
Recently, however. in Kansas Guy
as in Detroit and Chicago, they nave
broadened their activities to include
law-abiding citizens, people OF wealth
and prominence.
One of the most startling cases III
Kansas City was the kidnapping OF
Michael Katz, head OF the city's larg-
est drug firm.
Katz was driving alone to his office
one morning when large car over
took him and forced his roadster to
the curb. Four men jumped out ana
hustled him into their machine.
There they sealed his eyes shut with
adhesive tape, hurried him far out
into the country and imprisoned him
in q lonely house, while one OF the
gang telephoned to Louis Rose, we'll
known man about town." ordering
him to act as go-between and to get
from Katz's relatives. for the kidnap-
ers. the sum of 100000.
Rose got in touch with Isaac Katz.
the victims brother, who gave him
the money. Rose went to deSlgnat-
ed spot and paid it over; an hour
later Michael Katz. unharmed. was
released in a Kansas City park. With
a warning that he would be killed II
he ever helped prosecute his aoduc-
tors.
TRACE BILLS
Isaac Katz had had the FORE
thought to have the ransom bills
marked, and a little later some OF the
money was traced to Jack Nigro and
Google eyed" Leonard. OF the motor
ious Egan's Rats gang OF st. Louis.
They were arrested.
Michael KATE, however. at first re-
fused even to 60 to the police station
to try to identify them. When he
was finally persuaded to do so he salo
that he couldn't be sure they were
members of the gang, and they were
freed.
It was considered an open secret
that fear of reprisal kept Katz from
testifying
More recent was the kidnapping OF
Mrs. Nell Quinlan Donnelly, founder
and head of prosperous garment
manufacturing company. This case
has one or two unusual and instruc-
tive angles.
Mrs. Donnelly was kidnapped as she
drove home from her office one night.
and was locked up in a cabin Is miles
out of Kansas City for AZ hours, while
q note was sent to her husband and
her lawyers demanding $4,000 and
announcing that she would be killed
If payment were not made.
OUTSIDERS:
Now Mrs. Donnelly was prominent
in q political faction which was pow
erful in the Italian section OF the city.
And after a little while, Kansas City
underworld leaders - who protested
Indignantly to the police that some
rank outsiders pulled this job'-let
It be known that the underworld it
self would go after the kidnapers If
she were not returned unframed.
That night she was released on
country road near the city.
Three men and woman were ar
rested in this case One man was
tried and the jury disagreed: the 9TH
ers await trial.
Harry Rothman operated a profit
able booze running line in and about
Kansas City. KidnaperS took him and
tried to force him to pay tribute. He
refused. One day his bullet-riddled
body was found in the woods in a
Kansas City suburb.
The police said they believed his
death was meant chiefly as warn
ing to other underworld figures that
the kidnapping ring means business.
Freddie Strauss, former gambler,
made fortune by speculation in Ok
lahoma oil lands. He was seized as
he walked down Kansas City street
and taken to q house on the edge Of
town where the gangsters tortured
him by tearing Oft bits of his flesh
with pliers.
VICTIM PAYS
When he was unable to stand this
any longer, he consented to telephone
and arrange for the payment of $780,
600, after which he was released.
Guy Owens, an influential under
world figure, had to pay the Ndnap-
ers heavily. He was captured by q
gang that came down from Chicago,
and before he was turned loose he not
only had to turn over a good deal Of
money but also had to agree to let the
Chicagoans share In the profits Of
some Of his enterprises.
Those are samples Of the things that
haye happened In Kansas City.
In st. Louis there have been II
spectacular kidnapings lately. Those
kidnapped included q capitalist, an
extremely wealthy physician, q 13-
year-old boy who Is heir to millions,
four rich merchants and seven
wealthy gamblers.
RAnsoms totaling 1865, 900 were de-
mA,Aded In these II cases. How much,
q any. OF this actually was paid Is not
kuoWu.
Most spectacular of these cases was
that Of DR.. Isaac Kelley, who was en-
ticed from his home late at night By
= fake phone call and who was held
pgjDoner for eight days, while $4,000
W1S demanded as ransom. DR.. Kelley
1lna1ly was released to a newspaper
fopofter. The physician and members
u his family stoutly deny that any