Evening star., 1933-03-02
$4,000 GIVEN GANG
/. FOR HEIRS RETURN
Boettcher Freed Soon After
Money Is Dropped on
Denver Road.
BY the Associated Press.

DENVER, March "A ransom Of
$4,000 was paid shortly before Charles
Boettcher, I'd, 31-year-old heir to
riches, was freed here last night. ending
nearly II days and nights Of black
ness. discomfort and threats" In the
hands of kidnapers.
It was revealed today that DR.. John
M. Foster, young physician and friend
of the kidnapped broker, kept rem
devious with the abductors in behalf
of Claude K. Boettcher, the multi
millionaire father, and paid the de-
manded 100000.
Thank God, it's all over" young
Boettcher said in his first utterance
since the kidnapers released him from
an automobile in the stockyards district
unharmed
The climax to the Vests most amaZ-
ing kidnapping came with startling sud-
denness. Shortly after 6 pm. last
night, DR. Foster drove to a designated
spot near 'the municipal airport. In
his automobile he had the $4,000.
Kidnapers Waiting.
There the kidnapers were waiting.
Although they remainded out of sight
themselves, they allowed the physician
glimpse of their blindfolded victim
Foster dropped the bag containing the
money and raced for Denver to inform
young Boettchers family.
Soon after young Boettcher tele-
phoned his mother. Mrs. Millson Nc
Cormick. from a drug store In the
vicinity where he had been released.
Foster and Norman Barwise sped to
the spot and picked him up.
where was held and by whom I
do not know" young Boettcher said.
TT appeared to be in a basement Of
some house 18 hours by fast automo-
bile from Denver. Neither do know
two of them-poSsibly three"
He said a stop was made some place
along the way returning to Denver,
"and I got the impression another man
joined us. That's what makes me think
there were three in the gang"
Thankful for Release.
Finally" he related, 1.-The men said
they were going to let me out They
said that after had been let out
should count to $50. Then go around
the corner where you will find tele-
phone Be sure and call your parents
as they are worried about you
called them and here I am. Sixteen
daySit seems more like 16 years-of
blackness, discomfort and threats
thank God, it's all over"
II am thankful that they treated me
as gentlemanly as possible under the
circumstances. They even shaved me
when I complained that my beard was
growing so long"
"Desperadoes? - Undoubtedly. But
that's all over now. Unless I dream
about it.
About II pm. on February IL, my
wife and had just returned home and
I started to drive into the garage when
two men in small sedan drove up.
Both men were armed. They put
me in their car and started to drive.
One man was in the back seat with me.
He Immediately put a strip Of ad-
hesive tape over my eyes and another
piece over my head to hold the first
strip on. They also roped my wrists
see the marks?
"'We're going on long trip and will
get along all right if you behave they
told me.
They meant what they said A long
trip-we drove all that night, all the
next day and into the next night.
occasionally the man sitting with
me would poke me with his gun and
remind me to be good or else.
Three Stops Made.
eve stopped for gasoline three times.
Where I do not know. Each time we
stopped, the man made me lie down in
the back of the car so I couldn't be
seen. I couldn't tell what direction we
were gcing Some times we seemed to
be going in circles.
During my stay heard no ev-
dence of any women in the place
only the two men who brought me. ]
believe they were Americans. They
talked fairly well.
81 was fed principally on sandwiches
and soup. I hope I never eat either
again. The reason I believe 1t was a
basement room was that the only light
seemed to be artificial There was a
bed in the room and slept remark
ably well considering the circumstances
The days were the worst part-they
seemed interminable.
Twice I was made to write letters
to my father. Both times the band
ages were taken from my eyes and
the ropes from my wrists for only a
few minutes and my captors stayed be-
hind me SO I couldn't get good look
at them.
Frequent warnings regarding what