The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-08-16

| liSe were Investigating activities of a man who is well known in slprting circles at Windsor, Ont, aid at Detroit. It has been sug- g&ted that Michigan racketeers selking to levy protection" tax on the legitimate trade of the brlwer had kidnapped him.
 !. Activity at the hotel room wfere Hugh Labatt has received thhe telephone calls purporting to be from the abductors or their emssary. He also was twice vis- ited by mysterious, swarthy man said to be an emissary.
 3l Investigation by police of the purported proposals by the kid napsrs. Police suspect that some of tie calls might have come from racleteers attempting to get their harts on the $150,000 ransom moRy, although they have no know vledge of the Kidnapping.
 4. A growing conviction that the lidnap gang is we'll organized and Experienced in racketeering. One report was that the gang originated in New York city rather than Detroit and had been in the vicinity of London, Ont, for some weeks presumably planning the abdudion.
 5. At London, Ont, the home of LabatI the family was reported secretly seeking new avenue of approch to the kidnapers, fearing that te gang would not contact Hugh Labatt in Toronto because of polte activity.
 &eking After Suspects In pe Windsor investigation, police were proceeding on the theory that the man-known to have pnnections with Detroit rum ruiners-was involved in the kidnaphg of Labatt or at least had sohe role in the telephonic conversl ltions with Hugh Labatt during hst night.
 Police were aware of the mans identity put declined to disclose his name.
 Tlfee Telephone Calls Toronp, Aug 16.-UP)- Frenziedl activities in the Royal York hotl room occupied by Hugh Labatt irdicated to-day that a break wal near in the $150,000 ab- duction ol his brother, John s. La bait, wealthy brewer. Labatt re. ceiyed atlleast three telephone calls purprting to be either from the kidna,ers or their emissary.
 The cals sent police cars rac- ing to twt of the three bridges across the Timber river mentioned by the maa who telephoned the victims br,ther in an attempt to arrange a meeting. Both Labatt and police refused to talk, but it was apparat they believed the calls had ben authentic.
 There wasa possibility, however, that the call, came from gangsters unconnected with the crime, and wishing to lre Labatt into quiet spot with $H0,000 he has in his room to pay his brothers ran som.
 After each c,ll Labatt was known to have consulted police and fin- ally gave in t0 their advice not to make a contat with anyone un- less he was positive he was dealing with anauthorized agent.
 Labatt obviotly was impressed and over-wrousE with new hope. It was believed that at one time during the night,he determined to respond to the tesphoned instruc- tions, but changedhis mind. He was understood to lave left the ho- tel secretly. only N return a few minutes later. Ht room was so placed that with tM aid of police he could leave and Aeturn without any of score of 1ewspapermen in the building knowing of his ab- sence.
 
 Newspapermen in the corridor out side could hear only sSatches of Labatt's end of the conversation. He mentioned the Humb\rt bridges and the hour, 2:30. Son after 2:3O a. m., came another eall. This time, more of the conversation was overheard. I.abatt said:
 T can't get there befGre an hour. Can I see my brAther?" Twill s5,000 be enough ?" "You don't know how hard it is with all these reporters around"
 It was soon after this callNthat Labatt was believed to have Aleft the hotel briefly.
 Later there was another call, Se- heved to have been iron, Inspec- tor c. D. Draper, head of Toronio police.
 "I can't get out with this bunchl around,' Labatt was heard to say.'
 A few minutes before, Inspector Miller had talked by telephone to Inspector Draper. He said:
 This looks fishy."
 Soon after the mysterious caller mentioned the Humber bridges in his first call, police cars ractd to f,nx, k4 L,,tI questioned the owner of a gaiage nearby. Reporters atteMp pted to question him later, but he would say nothing giving the impress, on he had been pledged to silence by nnlica .