Evening star., 1933-02-13

K|DNAP WEALTHY
/. L|NDBERGH FRIEND
Two Men Seize Boettcher,
Heir to Denver Riches,
for $50, 900 Ransom.
By the Associated Press,

By the Associated Press.
DENVER, Colo, February ia
scion Of wealthy, pioneer Colorado
family, Charles Boettcher, I'd, today
was held by kidnapers for a purported
$685. ransom,
Two masked men, accosting the 81
year-old heir to fortune and his wife
at the garage as they returned from a
party at midnight, herded them into an
upstairs room OF their home, remained
several minutes, handed the wife ram
som note and departed with Boettcher
in motor car.
Detectives and police who swarmed
to the home and then started q search
for Boettcher, a friend Of Col. Charles
A. Lindbergh. announced they we're told
watchman on the grounds had been
informed Of the kidnapping shortly after
1t happened, but that after an investi-
CATION, he decided nothing was amiss.
Police said the watchman, who they
1oenttned only as Stephens, received
his information from cook in q neigh
boring home, who related to detectives
she and man friend were stopped by
motorist who said he feared o rob-
berry or kidnapping was taking place.
Investigators said the men, both
armed, said to Mrs. Boettcher when
she was handed the ransom demand
Give this to Claude and don't read it.
He'll know what to do" Claude" is
Boettcher's father, Claude K. Boettcher.
Baby Case Cited.
The note, typewriter on a piece OF
white paper, read In part:
Don't notify the police. Tell Claude
Boettcher he better get 100000 ransom.
ne better DO business. Follow tnstruc-
tions. Notify us through q personal
come home, Mabel, when you're ready.
Don't forget the Lindbergh baby would
still be alive II the ransom had been
paid"
Mrs. Boettcher told police the men
appeared out Of the darkness as
Boettcher alighted from the car.
Come here, Charlie-and stick up
your hands" one Of the men ordered.
do what you're told and everything
will be all right"
Police announced q description OF
one OF the men was obtained from
Mrs. Boettcher She said the man was
apparently an American, about AZ years
old and about feet z inches tall. He
between $50 and 16O pounds.
He was stout. Of sandy complexion
and was smooth shaven. Mrs. Boettcher
said she noticed his peculiar round
eyes. The man wore q sand-colored
tweed overcoat and q cap. Both men
Wore handkerchief masks.
Mrs. Boettcher, who friend said is
about to become q mother for q second
time, was guarded at the home by po-
lice,- who refused to allow any one to
see her. The Boettchers have one child,
Anna Lou. 5 years old.
Boettcher. an aviation enthusiast, was
host to Col. Lindbergh on his last visit
to Denver. He Is grandson of
Charles Boettcher, who founded the
sugar and cement industries in Colo
rado and who built the first stockyards
In Denver
The kidnapping victim returned yes
terday by air from Kansas City and
had attended a party with Mrs.
Boettcher at a downtown hotel They
had returned home when the abductors
accosted them.
Boettcher is president of Boettcher-
Newton, investment brokers here, and
has other widely varied interests. He
was graduated from Yale University in
1923. He returned at once to Denver
and entered business. He was married
seven years ago to Miss Anna Lou
Piggott Of Helena, Mont.
The Boettcher family has played a
major part in Colorado finance for so
years. Charles Boettcher, 1st, now 78,
came here as an migrant boy from
Germany and first discovered the States
possibilities as a sugar. beet growing
region and cement-manufacturing CEN
ter. He and his son Claude are actively
associated with dozens of Colorado cor
porations.
READY tn pAv pANcnM