Evening star., 1933-06-17
|R|CH BREWER HELD
iBY KIDNAPPING GANG|
William Hamm, Jr., Abducted
and Held for Ransom.
Police Quit Search.
BY the Associated Press.

by the Associated FIeSS
ST PAUL, June 1.-THE millionaire
president of a brewing company-Wil-
ham Hamm-apparently was prisoner
today of kidnapers, who demanded pay
ment of 500 900 under threat OF death
The police. after making a prelimi-
nary investigation of the abduction,
withdrew from further efforts to find
the kidnapers at the urgent request OF
the missing mans family. The police
said they hoped their action would IA
cilitate negotiations for his release.
Hamm was seized some time Thurs
day afternoon, and the first word OF his
capture was telephoned by the abduc-
tors to William Dunn, a business asso-
ciate, at 5 pm. Dunn had last seen
Hamm at 1920 pm, when the latter
started home for lunch.
I'VE have kidnapped Mr.. Hamm; you
will hear from us later" said voice
over the phone to Dunn. Yesterday
morning Dunn received note asking
that the money be delivered in denomi-
nations of IS, $40 and $40. Efforts to
get in touch with the kidnaperS failed,
and efforts to trace Hamm's movements
after he left for home apparently were
futile.
Sought Verne Sankey.
Authorities had turned to a search
for Verne Sankey already wanted for
two other similar crimes, after his pic
ture had been identified by taxicab
driver as the man who sent note to
William Dunn, manager of the Theo-
dore Hamm Brewing Co., of which the
kidnapped man is president and treas
urer.
Dunn had received the first word of
the abduction in a phone call Thurs
day, when man said Hamm had been
seized and that instructions to gain his
release would come later.
The taxi driver brought these instruc-
tions yesterday in note which he said
had been handed him by q man who
gave him So to make the delivery. From
pictures the driver later identified this
man as Sankey, now wanted for kid
naping of Charles Boettcher, I'd, IN
Denver and for similar crime here a
year ago, in which Haskell Bohn was
the victim.
Would Use Beer Truck.
Payment of the ransom for the re-
lease of Hamm, the kidnapers directed,
was to be effected through use OF one
of the companys beer trucks, to be
driven by one man, and of an open
type so that the interior would be clear
ly visible. Police did not disclose the
time or place the payment was to be
made.
Hanm, who Is 80 years old, is men,
Der of one of st. Paul's oldest families.
His kidnapping was the fourth in st.
Paul In year and half. Besides the
one involving Bohn, son OF st. Paul
manufacturer. the other abductions were
- Dat nv,I q ~
The wife of Sankey, Mrs. Fern San
key, was acquitted of completely in the
Bohn kidnapping by jury In District
Court here Thursday. She is being held
for the United States marshaPs office
in connection with the Boettcher case
and has indicated she will waive extra
dition to South Dakota to face charges
of conspiracy in Boettcher's kidnapping
Sankey, said by authorities to be
wanted in Canada for bank robbery
was named by Ray Robinson, now serv-
ing prison sentence for the Bohn kid
naping, as participant in that crime.
1t was on Sankey's South Dakota ranch
that Boettcher Is believed to have been
held while negotiations for his release
were completed.
Also Bank Director.
Hamm Is the son OF the late Wullam
Hamm, who died June II, 1881. In
addition to his brewing interests he Is
a director of the First National Bank,
First Bank Stock Corporation and 9TH
er business enterprises.
The elder Hamm had been president
and treasurer of the brewing company,
which had been founded by his father
and which bears the latter's name
William Hanm Sr left An estate
valued at more than $4,000,OO0 to his
widow, William Hamm, jr.: three daugh-
ters and four grandchildren.