Imperial Valley press., 1933-07-11

BLAMED FOR
KIDNAPINGS
Continued From Page II

a ransom note and in three tele-
phone messages t he kidnapeTs
threatened to kill their captive if
either police or the newspapers were
told. They feared, too, that Young
O'Connell might attempt to escape
and be killed in the attempt. He is
trained athlete, a national guard
lieutenant, and according to his
associates, very courageous.
O'Connell was kidnapped Thurs
day night but not until last night
when newspaper extras blazed the
news through this town, was it gen.
orally known. A mysteriously cod
ed message that appeared in an
Albany newspaper Sunday morning
naming the Intermediates served to
verify persistent rumors. NeWspa
pers agreed, however. to withhold
the story temporarily. Last night,
when it seemed ransom negotiations
had failed, the story was published
O'Connell was taken from his
automobile about 40 minutes after
midnight Friday morning. II s
mother, returned home after visit
car standing in front of the house
with the door open. Some of his
belongings were on the running
board. Mrs O'Connell thought her
son had retired and not until Fri
day morning was any alarm felt.
ALTON, ILL.,, July Il. U.P)-An
appeal to the kidnaperS of August
Luer, II. wealthy banker and meat
packer. either to return him or make
known their ransom demands, was
made today by Carl Luer, his son
The elderly Luer, president of the
Alton Bank and Trust company
and retired owner of meat pack
ing company bearing his name, was
/ dragged from his home last night
by two men and woman, all vel
dressed.
Police said Luer received a threat
ening letter demanding $1,000 about
Is months ago, but none recently.
A witness to the abduction furn-
ished police the only clue. He deS-
cribed the kidnaperS' automobile a:
a black sedan bearing 1888 Hi
nois license plates, the first mum.
bers of which were 288. He faileC
to get the last three numbers.
Luer and his wife were spending
a quiet evening at home. Shortly
after p. m. a man and a young
woman, both we'll dressed, ranl
the doorbell.
Mrs. Luer answered and thC
woman inquired if Henry Busse, {
neighbor, lived here. She ther
asked if she might use the tele
phone and was invited inside.
The young woman immediatel,
went to the telephone and cut tn,
wires. Her companion seized th'
banker by the shoulders and drag
ged him out of his chair. Mrs
Luer screamed and came to he
husband s aid. A second man thel
appeared and grabbed the age
woman. He flung her across tn
room with such force that a gasl
was cut in her head when Sh
struck the mantlepiece.
Wife Fights Bravely
With blood flowing from tn
wound she again attacked the me
, and was knocked down. She fol
lowed as the men dragged Luer b
his arms across the lawn to an au
tomobile parked in the driveway.
Crying "Carl, they We stolel
papa!p' she ran across the stree
to the home of their son, Carl LueI
Young Luer ran from the house il
time to see the automobile bacl
from the driveway and speed dowl
the street.
Mrs. Luer and Luer's physician
said today they feared he nigh
ole if held any considerable length
of time. He suffered from a hear
disease which necessitated his TAX
ing medicine prescribed by the
physician when seized with an at
tack.
Police expected the kidnaper'
would communicate with Mrs. Luel
or Luer S son today. Mrs. Luel
said she was sure her husband hac
not received any threatening let
ters recently. He ignored the threat
received in 1882, except to hire
guards for a while, she said.