PLAN TO KIDNAP LORD NUFFIELD

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22424, 10 June 1938, Page 13

PLAN TO KIDNAP LORD NUFFIELD

STORY TOLD IN POLICE COURT ATTEMPT TO OBTAIN LETTERS OF CREDIT (TTSITRD PRESS ASSOCIATION —COPYRIGHT.! (Received June 10, 2 a.m.) LONDON, June 9. How John Bruce Thornton was alleged to have planned to kidnap Viscount Nuffield on May 24, motor him to a yacht, force him to sign letters of credit, and then put him ashore with sticking plaster over his eyes, was outlined by the prosecutor, Mr Parham, in the Oxford Police Court. Lord Nuffield was not present. Mr Parham said a plot to kidnap Lord Nuffield and hold him to ransom obviously could not be carried out single-handed. Thornton, who originated the scheme, sought the assistance of a Major Ramsden, whom he met in 1930. The latter disclosed that he was badly off financially, whereupon Thornton said he knew a way to get money. Having watched Lord Nuffield for a long time, he said it would be easy to kidnap him. Only his private secretary, Hobbs, would be in the way* Thornton bought Ramsden a new car, saying it would be useful He then unfolded a scheme to kidnap Lord Nuffield, if necessary at the point of a revolver, motor him to a yacht, and force him to write three letters. One letter would be to the secretary Hobbs, saying that Lord Nuffield would be away for a week, another would be to the bank askMS it to give a letter of credit to a Dr. Webb and the third would be taken to the bank by Thornton to identify him as Dr. Webb. The plan was that Major Ramsden should keep Lord Nuffield on the yacht until Thornton had negotiated the letters of credit on me Continent. Ramsden would _ then bring him ashore and leave him in a field with sticking-plaster over his eyes. ~ The pair chartered the yacht Pierette for the purpose.

While Lord Nuffield was working late at his private office m Oxford on May 24. a saloon car drove up and two men entered the officereported to have ordered Lord Nuffield to enter the car. . Mr Kennerley Rumford. the vocalist. a friend. of Lord Nuffield, who was in an adjoining room, hearing the voices, telephoned the police. ; John Bruce Thornton was later arrested and charged with bemg m possession of firearms with intent to endanger life.