NATIONAL PLOT TO KIDNAP PEER.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 135, 10 June 1938, Page 7

NATIONAL PLOT TO KIDNAP PEER.

LORD NUFFIELD. i Dramatic Story Unfolded in Oxford Court. PISTOL-POINT ABDUCTION. I'nii'U Press Association.—Copyright. (Received 11 a.m.) LONDON, June 9. How John Bruce Thornton allegedly planned to kidnap Viscount Nuffield, motor him to a yacht, force liitm to sign letters of credit, and tlscii put him ashore with stickingplaster over his eyes, was outlined by Mi. Par-ham, appearing in the Ok ford Police Court to-day. Lord Nuffield was not present. The Prosecuror added that according to the principal witness. Lord Nuffield vw to be hold to ransom for £100,000. Mr. I'aiham said the plot to kidnap Loud Nuffield and hold him to ransom obviously could not be carried out single-handed. Thornton, who had originated the scheme, sought the asrfUtance of Major Arthur Geoffrey Rainsdeii. whom he met in 1930. The latter had then disclosed that he was baally off financially. Thornton said he knew a way to get money, having watched Lord Nuffield for a flong time. It would be easy to kidnap him. Only his private secretary. Mr. Hiobbs, would be in the way. Thornton bought Ramsden a new car, saying it' would be useful. Later Thornton unfolded his scheme to kidnap Lord Nuffield —if necessary Jit the point of a revolver—motor him to«a yacht, and force him to write three letJters—one to Mr. Hobbs saying he would be away for a week, another to his bank asking it to give a letter of credit to "Dr. Webb," and a third which worn Id be taken to the bank by Thornton, identifying him as Dr. Webb. Yacht Chartered. The plan was that Ramsden should kescp Lord Nuffield on board the yacht until Thornton had negotiated the letters of credit on the Continent. Ramsden would then bring him ashore and leave him in a field with stickingplaster over his eyes. The pair chartered the vacht Pierette.

Mr. Parham, continuing, said that Thornton told Ramsden to buy padlocks and chains to secure Lord Nuffield while in the car and on the yacht. Ramsden reported the matter to the police, who instructed him to agree to Thornton's scheme. Thereafter Ramsden assisted the police and remained in the confidence of Thornton, who intended to kidnap Lord Nuffield at the pistol point. Lord Nuffield and the police were privy to the plan. Thornton sought an interview with Lord Nuffield in the name of Wilson and later asked Ramsden to telephone Lord Nuffield for an appointment. He f;ave him a pencilled draft of a letter to type out. Thornton proposed to use this letter if there was anyone else in the room, and to hand it to Lord Nuffield saying: "Here is my' letter of introduction." It ran:— "Will Immediately Shoot." "Read this carefully before passing any remark. lam packing two automatics. I will immediately shoot you through the guts if you attempt to raise any alarm or suspicion. Any help will be too late to help you. Ask me to come to the children's hospital and accompany me to my car. My chauffeur will do the rest. "Do not attempt to make a run for it. That way out means instant death for you or anyone attempting to interfere. lam a quick and accurate shot, but you have nothing to fear if you do exactly what 3'ou are tohl. "Say the writer ol this letter is a personal friend of yours. Dismiss from the room anyone there and make sure you are not followed. It will be fatal for you to jump to it. I am in a hurry." Thornton and Ramsden met five minutes after midnight, Ramsden wearing a chauffeur's hat. Thornton said: "I can't do it to-dajr. I burned my wig." Diabolical 00-ercion Plan. Ramsden drove near the Morris works and telephoned the police for instructions, Thornton remaining in the car. The police arrived and took Thornton to the Morris works, where they sen relied him and found an automatic pistol strapped under his arm and another in the car. Mr. Parham added: "Clearly it was in Thornton's mind in the morning to endanger life, though by the evening he have abandoned the scheme." Ramsden, in evidence, said Thornton told him that, having got Lord Nuffield hboard the yacht, Ik intended to display surgical instruments and threaten to perform an operation upon Lord Nuffield without anaesthetic unless he wrote letters to Mr. HolJbs and the bank. Thornton told hfim to listen to the wireless on the day following the kidnap and if he heard that Thornton had been arrested at the bank he would know that •Lord Xufrielld had not played the panie arid was to«take hint to sea and dump him." The hearing tvasjadjourncd.