Evening star., 1934-05-15
GETTLE SUSPECTS
CONFESS SNATCH
Three Arrested in Recovery
of Millionaire Tell of
Kidnap Plot.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
LOS ANGELES, May 15.-Three
men arrested in the kidnapping of
William F. Gettle, who was released
unransomed and unharmed last night,
were reported by authorities today to
have admitted participation in the
abduction of the Beverly Hills mil
lionaire.
Statements of the three, made to
police detectives, sheriff's deputies
and post Office inspectors named
Jimmy Kirk as the alleged brains"
of the plot; Larry Kerrigan as the
man who guarded Gettle, and Roy
Williams as the one who aided Kirk
in seizing the millionaire at his
Summer home last week.
Under questioning by Capt. Morris
G, Stensland of the sheriff's Office.
Kerrigan was quoted as saying he was
to have received $4,000 for acting as
Gettle's guard, and that Kirk had
ordered Gettle to write the letters re-
garding arrangements for delivery of
the 100000 ransom.
Kirk Says Idea Was His.
Kirk, in his statement officers as
serted, said the plot to kidnap Gettle
was his idea, but that Williams and
kerrigan helped him make the plans
Asked if any one else was involved
in the plot, Kirk said:
That is all"
He said he knew nothing about the
two women, Loretta Woody and Joan
Burke. now in custody.
Williams, in his statement, said he
and Kirk were the two men who kid
naped Gettle.
Lack of money, officers said, ap-
parently was a prime reason for the
kidnap plot directed against Gettle.
When the three men were booked
at the county Jail they had but SIS
between them
Here is the booking record:
James F. Kirk, 38, salesman, SIS in
possession.
Roy A. Williams, 80, mechanic, $40
In possession.
Larry Kerrigan, 30, painter, no
funds
officers found the retired broker
last night, bound to bed and with
his face covered with a courtplaster
mask, in little house in the foothills
town of La Crescenta, only a few
miles from here
They arrested five persons in con-
nection with the kidnapping, which
occurred five days ago.
Gettle, haggard but smiling, said
today that 1t all seemed like a bad
dream"
MY greatest worry while I lay
bound hand and foot on that bed
was for the anxiety my absence would
cause my wife and family"
Thank God" murmured Mrs Get
tie, an invalid. when word of the
rescue was given her.
Ransom Payment Fails.
Gettle's rescue came unexpectedly
following an unsuccessful attempt
early yesterday to pay 100000 ran
som in exchange for his safe return
to his wife and four small children.
The alleged kidnapers, even be-
fore the crime had been perpetrated
made the mistake, which led to last
nights arrests and the return of
Gettle
Five weeks ago they attracted at
tention of the police robbery detail
by their activities in an apartment
house at 600 North Harvard street
The officers were seeking a band of
bank robbers. They placed recording
devices in the apartment rented by
the suspects.
But results were lacking. Officers
were ready to give up last Saturday
when one of the records, rerun in
police quarters, scratched out this
conversation:
There's no need to be scared any
longer. Things are in pretty good
shape. The newspapers look favor
able. I understand no one can tap
pay telephone line"
1t wasn't much, but enough.
While police. sheriff's deputies and
district attorneys operatives buzzed
somberly over the ransom payment
failure, Capt Harry Seager and Lieut.
H, P. Gearhard bided their time at
the apartment.
At the proper moment when hopes
waned at the Gettle mansion. the law
struck. Kirk and two women, Loretta
Woody and Joan Burke, were arrested.
From Kirk they obtained the address
of the kidnap house where Gettle was
held.
Armed forces moved in on the