The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-01-27
WEALTHY SOUTH BEND
MANUFACTURER Is HELD
FOR RANSOM OF $4,000
Howard A. WooIVerton,
Head of Steel Range Co.,
Menaced With Death.
WIFE FORCED FROM CAR
Ordered to Raise Money by
Night to Save Life
of Husband.
By United Press

By United Press
SOUTH BEND, Ind, Jan.
27.-Kidnapers held Howard
A. Woolverton, 50, well-to-do
and socially prominent man.
ufacturer, for $4,000 ransom
today, after releasing his wife
with warnings to raise the
money by 8 p. m.
The alternative facing members
of the Woolverton family, as they
conferred on their course, was given
as the murder of the husband.
The Woolverton family this after
noon pleaded inability to raise the
$4,000 ransom, and urged police
and other agencies to broadcast the
information, in the hope that some
word might come from the kid
napers.
Woolverton and his wife we're
seized as they drove up to their
home and threatened with death
if they made an cutlery. Taking
the automobile the kidnapers drove
to an isolated spot two miles east
of the city. There they thrust
Mrs. Woolverton from the car,
warning her that her husband
would be held until she paid
$4,000 ransom.
Wife Is Hysterical
Mrs. W~oolverton hailed a pass
ing motorist and was driven to the
police station, where she told her
story. She was in a highly hyster-
ical condition and police were able
to obtain only bare details of the
abduction.
Squads Immediately were dis
patched to hunt the automobile, in
hope the kidnapers could be found
before they had reached their
destination.
W~oolverton is president Of the
Malleable Steel Range Company.
He is a prominent leader in civic
and business affairs. He is the son
of Jacob Woolverton, wealthy bank
er and vice-president of the st.
Joseph Loan and Trust Company.
Wife Tells Story
It was some time before Mrs.
Woolverton was sufficiently Gained
to give a coherent story of what had
happened.
"We had eaten dinner and spent
the early part of the evening at the
country club" Mrs. W%oolverton, 40,
and a leader in local society, told
officers tearfully. after dinner, we
drove into toWr- and went to a
movie. 1t was late when the show
was over and we stopped at a little
lunchroom for a bite to eat and
then started to drive home.
we had driven almost to our
house when the kidnapers' machine
pulled alongside ours and forced my
husband to stop by the curb. Two
young men jumped out. They had
revolvers in their hands.
zone got into our car. He sat in
the front seat with my husband and
pressed the revolver against him.
Then he ordered him to drive out
into the country.
Threatened Her Life
THE other a followed us slight
ly in the rear. The man threatened
to shoot Mr.. Woolverton if he tried
to get away. A few miles out he
told my husband to stop the cal.
The other machine pulled up and
the men forced Mr.. Woolverton to
get in their auto.
They told me to drive back to
town and warned me they would
kill my husband if I told police
about the kidnapping"
The men left Mrs. Woolverton a
note which said:
ION Wednesday at 8 p. m. take
your four-passenger Packard auto
with license No. 20 and trunk on
the rear. Go to Chicago Heights.
Before leaving, take $4,000 and
wrap it into a strong bundle.
ION your way we will signal you
by flashing Dur headlights ten
times. We will then be behind you
and drive on to Danville and re-
turn home from there. Say moth
ing to police. If there is any slip
up in this plan, your husband may
be killed"
Police believed the kidnapping was
conducted by the ring which has
t~errorized midwest business men in
recent months. No trace of the
kidnapers' automobile was found.
Mrs. Woolverton was so nervous she