The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1933-06-19
SAYS GANG Of MEN
TREATED Him WELL
During CAPTIVITY
Amount Paid to Daring Abduc.
tors Not Disclosed; Was
Less Than Asked
FORCED TO WRITE NOTES
Four Missives Were Signed BY
Victim During Negotia-
tons For Money
FORCED TO WRITE NOTES

st. Paul, June 19.-(P,-Fiye or six
men, one OF them resembling Verne
Eankey. wanted for questioning in
connection with two other abduc-
tons, kidnapped William Hamm. mil
lionaire president Of the Thee. Hamm
Brewing company. he said Monday
upon his return home soon after be-
ing released about Is miles from
home.
How much ransom was paid Halnm
did not know. H. ]. Charles. attor-
ney for the brewing company. said
he would not reveal the amount paid
the abductors. who originally de-
manded 100000. unless Hamm Or
dered him to- He said he would adj
wise against it, however.
Unframed and in the best OF
health, Hamm related his experiences
to city, county, and federal officials.
He said though he at first believed
he had been imprisoned in house in
northern Wisconsin. he finally de-
cided It must have been northern
Minnesota.
Three Of four ransom notes he was
compelled to sign lying down in the
bottom of the kidnapers' automobile,
were used, he said. During the ride
out of st. Paul last Thursday, shortly
after being compelled to accompany
two men and driver In an automo-
bile parked near the brewery, he was
forced to wear white hood and
later goggles blanketed inside with
cotton
Dunn Delivered Money
The ransom was delivered either
by w. w. Dunn, city sales manager
Of the brewing company and close
friend of Hamm, or another undis-
closed person. Contact was affected
during ride made by the person
carrying the money in a company au-
tomobile. Acting under instructions
from the kidnapers, the doors and a
section of the back had been re-
moved 50 no one could be concealed
In the machine.
Near Duluth, where Dunn had
gone on orders from the kidnapers
Saturday. two automobiles repeatedly
passed the brewing company's car.
The kidnapers apparently took this
means of assuring themselves that
the driver was alone.
Between Pine City and Rush City
the driver received the signal agreed
upon-the passing of one car and a
signal-and kicked the money bag
from the car with his foot without
stopping He drove on for several
miles without stopping, then returned
to Duluth.
One Of the cars that Swallowed the
ransom automobile was red road
ster without license plates and con-
tanned two men. The other was a
larger car with several men in it.
Felt Gun Against Body
At no time did Hamm see any
guns displayed, although he felt one
pressed against him during the ride
out of ST. Paul which was interrupt
ed about 30 miles outside the city
where contact was made with COL
leagues of his abductors. It was there
that he was forced to sign the four
notes.
Hamm said that early Monday
morning he was told that contact had
been made with Dunn and that he
would be released.
Hamm said he was driven by three
men, who "resembled the same men
who drove him in the first car, to a
point near wyoming.
WAS anything said to you when
you were released?"
NO." he answered.
Hamm said he then walked to q
nearby farm home and called the
Hamm residence and notified them
of his freedom.
Turned loose As miles north Of here,
Hamm came home with Police Chief
Thomas E. Dahill and Detective
Thomas Brown Monday morning.
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