Evening star., 1934-08-17
LABATT RELEASED;
RANSOM PAYMENT
REPORTS DISAGREE
Denial That Kidnapers Got
Money Met With Story
of $4,000 Exchange.
NO CLUES DISCOVERED
TO LEAD TO ABDUCT0RS
Gangsters Believed to Have Got
ten "Cold Feet" After Holding
Victim Several Days.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
TORONTO, August l7.-John S.
Labatt, wealthy brewer, returned to
his home in London, Ontario, today
after 65 hours in the hands of kid
napers.
The $150,000 ransom the kidnapers
demanded was not paid, for the alb
ductors released their victim as the
Canadian police, including the royal
mounted, moved to get their men.
Despite information that no ransom
was paid, it was authoritatively stated
in Hamilton today that less than
$4,000 was paid"
Gold feet" commented an au-
thority, who disclosed that officials
were determined to make an example
of these first snatch" gangsters in
Canada'S history.
Labatt was unharmed, but in a
highly nervous state, which sent him
to bed. Police surrounded his home,
where he was reunited with his wife
and children, and visitors were not
admitted, but friend said he had
not been physically injured.
The brewer suffers from heart
ailment. His family had suffered
anguish in his absence, for they
feared the strain Of his experience
would kill him.
Brother Had Ransom Money.
His brother Hugh, who drew $780,
900 from bank in an effort to meet
the abductors' demands, had pleaded
with police to be given the oppor-
tunity to pay and see his brother
alive again.
But the Canadian police. ringing
his hotel in Toronto in a Gordon of
watchful men, had stood between the
frantic family and the criminals.
Labatt was taken from his auto
mobile Tuesday morning as he drove
from Sarnia to London.
Hugh was named as intermediary
and came here to hotel Immediately.
The kidnapers had said they would
kill Labatt in "a hours unless the
ransom was paid.
But police arrived at the hotel
as soon as Hugh. Hour after hour
the brother kept to his hotel room
under the eyes of authorities. He
was believed to have established three
telephone contacts with the gang
sters and yesterday he was reported
to have gone to Windsor, across the
border from Detroit, for a few hours.
His trip gave rise to a report that
the ransom had been paid.
But Hugh did not know where his
brother was. 1t was regarded as un-
likely that John. himself, knew, for
his eyes were blindfolded, it was said,
throughout his Imprisonment.
Returns in Taxicab.
Shortly before dawn the abductors
released him on the outskirts of
Toronto. He hailed a passing taxicab
and went at once to his brothers
hotel. This was accepted as an in
dication that the kidnapers had told
him where Hugh might be found.
No money was paid for this infor-
nation, according to the best au-
thority. The first kidnapers in Canada
failed to get a cent for their efforts.
In Hugh's hotel suite, the brothers
met again. 1t was the first intima-
ton Hugh had that his brother had
escaped Only pauSing few minutes,
they entered an automobile and
rushed to the Labatt home in Lon
don. ITO miles away.
1t was not until the trip was COM
pleted that R. G. Ivey. a spokesman
for the family. announced the So
year-old man returned.
His release ended terrible hours for
Mrs. Labatt and their three children.
Mrs. Labatt had been calm through
out the ordeal, taking care of John,
6; Mary. 4, and Arthur, who only
Is months old
Mrs. Labatt had not been we'll since
the youngest child's birth and her
physical condition added to the anx-
iety which the other members of the
family felt.
Inspector John Miller of the On
tario provincial force went to London
at once to join Inspector T. w Cou-
sans Neither one gave out informa-
tion other than to indicate that police
efforts were being redoubled.
Indications were apparent that po-
lice efforts would be directed toward
the following angles:
Discovery of the exact point at
which Labatt was removed from his
black sedan as he drove toward Lon
don from his Sarina Beach Summer
cottage.
identification of Three Fingered
Abe" the gangster who signed the
ransom note found in the car, and his
partners in crime.
Location of the hideaway at which
Labatt was kept captive.
Identification of strangers who
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