The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1933-06-17
THREATEN DEATHTO
WILLIAM HAMM IF
RANSOM is UNPAID.
100000 Asked for Release of
Brewing Magnate in Myste.
rious Affair
POLICE ARE CALLED OFF
Officials Abandon Case so as
Not to Hamper Negotiations
For Return
POLICE ARE CALLED OFF

st. Paul, June 17.-P)-William
Hanm, millionaire president Of a.
brewing company, Saturday was the
prisoner OF kidnapers, who demanded
payment Of 100000 under threat Of
death.
Police, after making q preliminary
investigation of the abduction, with
drew from further efforts to find the
kidnapers at the urgent request of the
missing mans family. They hoped
their action would facilitate negotia-
stions for his release.
Harnm was seized some time
Thursday afternoon and the first
word of his capture was telephoned
ty the abductors to William Dunn. a
business associate at p. m. Dunn
had last seen Hamm at 1920 p. m.
when the latter started home for
lunch.
I'VE have kidnapped Mr.. Hamm, you
will hear from us later said a voice
over the phone to Dunn. Friday
morning Dunn received note asking
that the money be delivered in de-
nominations of IS, SO and $40. Ell
forts to get In touch with the kid
napers failed and efforts to trace
Hamm's movements after he left
home apparently were futile.
Authorities had turned to a search
for Verne Sankey, already wanted for
two other similar crimes. after his
picture had been identified by taxi
cab driver as the man who sent q
note to william Dunn, manager of the
Thee. Hamm Brewing Co., Of which
the kidnapped man is president and
treasurer.
Dunn had received the first word Of
the abduction in phone call Thurs
day when man said Hamm had been
seized and instructions to gain his re-
lease would come later.
Driver Identifies Picture
The taxi driver brought these in
structions Friday in a note he said
had been handed him by man who
give him 50 to make the delivery
From pictures, the driver later identi-
fled this man as Sankey, now wanted
for KIDNAPPING of Charles Boettcher II
In Denver and for similar crime here
q year ago in which Haskell Bohn was
the victim.
Payment of the ransom for the re-
lease of Hanm. the kidnapers direct
ed, was to be effected through use Of
one Of the company's beer trucks, to
be driven by one man, and of an open
type so the interior would be clearly
visible. Police did not disclose the
time or place the payment was to be
made
Hamm, who is 80 gears old, is a
member of one of St. Paul's Oldest
families.
His kidnapping was the fourth in st.
Paul in a year and a half. Besides
the one involving Bohn, son Of a st.
Paul manufacturer, the other abduc-
lions were of Morris Rutman and
Leon Gleckman.
The wife OF Sankey, Mrs. Fern San
key. was acquitted of completely in
the Botn Kidnapping by jury in dis
trict court here Thursday. She Is be-
ing held in connection with the Boett-
cher case.
Wanted i'm Born Case
Sankey, said by authorities to be
wanted in Canada tor bank robbery,
was named by Ray Robinson, now
serving a prison sentence for the Bohn
KIDNAPPING. as participant In that
crime.
Hamm is the son OF the late Will
fam Hamm, who died June IL. 1881.
In addition to his brewing interests,
William Hamm, Jr., Is q director OF
the First National Bank, First Bank
Stock Corporation and other business
enterprises.
The elder Hanlm had been president
and treasurer of the Brewing COM
pany, which had been founded by his
father and which bears the latter's
name.
William Hamm, ST., left an estate
valued at more than $4,000 900, to his
widow, William Hanm, Jr., three
daughters and four grandchildren.
Mrs. Sankey told Sheriff George
Moeller in the county Jail Saturday
she believed her husband had no con-
nection with the Hanam kidnapping.
mo, 1t can't be-" she replied when
asked if she thought he might be I'M
plicated.