The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-05-11
$4,000 RANSOM IS
ASKEDFOR RETURN
OF COAST OIL MAN
Telephone Message Says VIC
tim Alive and Well; In.
structions Are Given
WOMAN IS HELD IN CASE
sheriff's Assistant Says He
Hopes to Clear Up Kid
nap Mystery Soon

Los Angeles, May 1l.-(R-A ram
some Of $75,000 has been demanded
for the release Of William r. Gettle,
kidnapped Beverly Hills millionaire,
the district attorneys office an
nounced Friday.
Ernest E. Noon, attorney for Mrs.
Gettle, informed district attorney
Buron Fits he had received q tele-
phone call from party who in
formed him he had Gettle alive
and wanted SIS, 900 ransom"
Now you follow the instructions,
and everything. and you will be all
right" Noon said his identified caller
said.
Then, said Noon, there was some
reference to an automobile and the
line was cut off.
The sheriff's office previously had
announced detention Of a woman In
connection with the case.
The woman, described as a brunette
about 80 years old and fairly we'll
dressed, fell into a police dragnet
early Friday morning along with six
other persons, who also were ques-
toned.
After apparently examining the
woman at some length. Capt. Norris
Stensland, sheriffs office extortion
expert, and figure behind the solu-
ton Of number Of other kidnapping
cases here, said:
1T looks hot, boys! I think we
have something. It is possible that
we will have this solved within five
hours"
To Stensland's declaration, Blayney
Matthews, chief Of the district attor-
ney's investigators, added that their
inquiries gave promise that we might
have something important
Significantly it came several hours
after Ernest E. Noon, lawyer for the
kidnapped oil millionaire, upon re-
turning from 35-minute trip, said
at his office he had obtained very
important information which may
lead to the identification Of the kip
napers." Whether there was a con-
nection between the woman and his
statement remained unanswered.
Wife Issues Appeal
As the hours passed without direct
word, a grief-stricken family of a
mother and four children appealed to
the abductors to spare the husband
and father from any harm and ex-
pressed willingness to pay any sum
for his freedom.
Il beg you not to harm my husband
and father Of my four children" said
the appeal issued by Mrs. Gettle.
Southern California peace officers
nlassed in q gigantic manhunt, COM
bining every agency Of the law from
the federal government down to town.
ship constables.
The second day Of the kidnapping
dawned with variety Of clues in the
possession Of officers. Among these
were:
A mysterious telephone call received
at the Gettle estate about Is minutes
after the two kidnapers scaled q
seven-foot wall and advanced upon
Gettle and James p. Wolf as they
stood In q summer house Of the estate
taking = drink after swimming par
ty. Both men were bound and gagged,
Wolf being strapped to a tree and
Gettle dropped over the wall, placed
In an automobile and driven away.
Breaking his bonds, Wolf ran to the
main house and spread the alarm.
A typewriter note, written upon
the stationery Of San Francisco
hotel and bearing the signature bill
-6l1-Colonial Style" was delivered
to metropolitan newspapers Friday.
It asked the ktdnapers to get in touch
with the writer who said Gettle
would know who he was.