Evening star., 1933-08-09

! of this complete spirit of cooperation
| between the Federal and Safe law en-
| fOrcement agencies within period OF
| 60 days from the date of the kidnapping,
| Walter MCGEE was sentenced to be
| hanged. AS far as We are able to de-
| termine this was the first time in this
country that the death penalty was as
sessed against kidnaper where his
| victim was returned alive. Thus in this
campaign which is being carried on in
| deadly earnest there operated all three
! of the strong deterrent influences In
| suppression of certainty, speed
and severity of punishment.
This very day there has been pre-
sented to the grand jury of Madison
County, Ill, evidence seeking the indict-
! ment of seven people arising from the
kidnapping of August Luer. the 77-year-
/ old gentleman who was taken, at the
point of a gun. from his home at Alton,
Ill. less than 80 days ago and held for
ransom Through the efforts of the
| Department of Justice. through the
agents of the Bureau of Investigation.
Mr.. Luer was released from captivity
and returned unharmed to his home
without the payment of any ransom.
After apprehending the accused and
| having collected the necessary evidence,
we hope to bring about their indictment.
Z. S. Attorney Will Aid.
The prosecution. with the full con-
sent of the FEDERAL Government, will
| take place in the courts of the State
of Illinois at Madison County, with the
district attorney of the United States
| from Danville, Ill, participating from
! the day that the evidence is presented
to the grand jury until the close of
the case Although the Federal authori-
ties could have prosecuted these de-
| PENDANTS, since the law of the State
| of Illinois provides a death penalty for
| kidnapping and with the same deter
mination relentlessly to pursue kid
| napers throughout our country, the COM
! bined authorities of the State and Fed
eral Government will seek the maximum
| penalty Of death in each of these cases.
obviously, with these matters in
! litigation. We cannot inform the public
as fully as we might desire of the fur
I ther details concerned Herewith. Let
me hastily review a few of the latest
kidnapping cases referring to the names
! of the victim. the place and the result
| of the investigation with the aVowed
! purpose of serving notice on those who
are tempted to commit these crimes
and to let the people of this country
know that the law enforcement agencies
are functioning and have not broken
down.
James DeJute jr., was kidnapped at
| Niles, Ohio on the second of March
! last year. Two people we're sentenced
to life imprisonment and third from
l to 20 years.
| Haskell Bohn was kidnapped at St
Paul, Mimi, the 30th of June last
year; one of the participants was SEN
| fenced to 25 years and one is now q
| fugitive, but his identity is known an6
he is beng sought by the authorities.
George N. Davis was kidnapped al
Lewisburg. w. Va, August l, yeal
ago, and three individuals are serving
a sentence therefor totaling 48 years
Six Sentenced in Case.
Fred DeFillippi and Adhemar Hughes
were kidnapped the 9th day of De.
cember last from East Moline, ILL., SID
| individuals are now serving sentences
] totaling 152 years for this crime.
| Charles Boettcher, I'd. was kid
naped in Denver Colo, the 18th of last
February. Two people are now serving
sentences totaling ~ years for thi.
crime Others implicated are nov
fugitives, but their identity is known.
Margaret peggy McMath was kid.
rnaped at Harwichport, Mass, the &c
of May, 1888. Her kidnaper is nov
serving 25-year sentence.
Mary McElroy was kidnapped a
Kansas City Mo, on the 9th day o.
May of this year. One man has beer
sentenced to death; two of his con.
| spirators are in custody awaiting i'm.
mediate trial and a third conspiratol
is fugitive, but his identity is known
| William Hamm, jr., was KIDNAPPED
| at Saint Paul, Mimi. on the 18th day
| of June. 1888. Four notorious char.
acters of the Chicago area are nov
under arrest under 100000 bond await.
| ing removal proceedings.
John Factor claims to have bees
kidnapped on the first of July. 1888
One of the alleged kidnapers is nov
in custody and has been identified.
John K. Ottley was kidnapped OF
the 9th of last month. Two Of tht
kidnapers have been identified. botf
are now in custody.
| I'VE have given you the history
of the Luer case.
Charles F. Urschel was kidnapce
at Oklahoma City on the 23d of last
month. One kidnaper has been iden'
titled as a fugitive and another il
in custody with reference to one phase
of this case.
Inquiry Is Handicapped.
81. ]. O'Connell, jr., was kidnapet
on the 7th of last month at Albany
He is now released and the Fedora
Government, despite certain handicaps
is attempting to do its full part il
apprehending and bringing to justic'
his kidnapers.
THE foregoing constitute a complet
list of the kidnapping cases which hav'
occurred since the Federal Government
had power to punish the same and
think you will agree with me that i
those contemplating the commission o
these crimes gave any consideration tt
the matter of escaping the clutches o
the law after their commission, the,
: would be very reluctant to enter int
i, such enterprises.
In this respect we may well Civ
!,