Evening star., 1933-09-24
TWO ARE TRAPPED
= IN K|DNAP PLOT
Niece of Morgan's Partner
Safely Wed as Nurse and
! Man Are Seized.
eythe Associated Press.

By the Associated PreSS
NEW YORK, September 23.-A bold
plot to kionap the niece OF a Morgan
partner even while she prepared her
wedding trousseau was revealed today
by authorities, who held nurse and
filing station manager for the crime
sThey were arrested in Yonke-S py
ofbcers who used the old dummy pack
age lure to trap them at rendezvous
and charge them with attempted eXtor-
ton against Mrs. John K. Dougherty,
society leader, bride and helress TO MIL
lions.
She is the niece of Russell c. Letting
we'll. partner of j. P. Morgan & Co.,
and the daughter of Franklin A.
Ratcheller, wealthy Yonkers resident
and stock broker.
The kidnap scheme upset plans for
her wedding, brought Federal agents 70
the Batchcllc- mansion as house guests
and cc---crted an elaborate church cere-
rv-y into a comparatively simple mouse
Wedding
De Palma, %. The filling station man
.ger is James Medley of Yonkers.
Thcmas S. Cullen, in charge Of De-
partment of Justice agents in New York,
said TIE pair had admitted the crime
and told him they sought money so
they could be married.
Warrant Against Both.
A Federal Judge here issued war
rant against both, charging them with
conspiracy to violate the "Lndoergn
act
sThe dramatic events that brought the
plot to light began early last month,
when Mrs. Dougherty, then Miss Helen
Batcheller, was preparing to wed.
"A woman's soft voice telepnoned Mrs.
Batcheller and told the wealthy society
niatron she needed $1,000.
The voice said: And if we don't
ee. it, we are going to kidnap your
daughter Helen and blow up you:
home"
Mrs. Batcheller was terrS:ed: 1nvi.
tations for her daughters wedding had
been mailed and ali was ready for the
event. A few days later, the threat
was repeated and letters began to ar
rive The Batchellers notified Police
Chief Edward Quirk of Yonkers, VINO
urged that Department of Justice agents
be called.
The demure. 1e-year-old Batcheller
girl accepted the events without excite
ment while agents of State and Natlon
worked increasingly to protect her.
"A brunette of medium height and
With a wistful smile, she was dlsap-
pointed that her plans for a brilliant
wedding were upset, but she did not
complain and willingly followed orders
of officers who watched her footsteps:
Letters came every few days. each
written in an obviously disguised hand
and each containing the same threat:
We'll blow up your house and kid
nap your daughter unless you place
$4,000 where we tell you to-"
Every telephone call was traced and
after a few weeks authorities began
to weave their clues together. They
told the Batchellers to negotiate with
the letter writer.
Wedding Plans Changed.
"A sudden change was made IN the
wedding plans. The first set OF invita-
tions was recalled and a second set
went out On September IA the couple
was married in quiet home ceremony
with Federal agents as witnesses.
The letters kept coming and flnally
one gave definite instructions that a
package with $4,000 should be left near
a light pole in Yonkers.
"A package was left. Nobody ap-
peared.
Then came letter directing Batchel-
ler to go to a certain billboard IN
Yonkers and get a note he would find:
Detectives followed the instructions and
got the message, which told the family
it. was to leave the cash at billboard
last night.
Detectives and Federal men took up
their guard near the spot at dusk.
After dark, man strolled by, paused
and locked back Then without further
ado he retraced his steps. Detectives
shadowed him and made the arrest.
Meanwhile, officers noticed woman
sitting alone in a car not far from the
scene They questioned her She ap-
peared frightened and answered the
description officers said, of a person
who had called the Batcheller home.
AT Yonkers headquarters, Police Chief
Quirk said she admitted her guilt and
identified herself. The man followed
suit, Quirk said.
Federal men who took charge Of the
prosecution of the couple said an in
dictment probably would be filed against
them Monday.
Amazon 70 Miles Wide.