Sought Ransom For Baby

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30861, 21 September 1965, Page 17

Sought Ransom For Baby

(N.Z. Press Assn. —Copyright)

SYDNEY, Sept. 20.

Detectives had been asked by a labourer for £5OOO for the safe return of the kidnapped baby, Glenda James, the Central Court was told today. One police witness said the man had telephoned him and claimed he had the baby. Before the Court was Allen Robert Baxter, aged 21, a labourer, of Foster street. Sydney. He was charged before Mr P. C. Cooney, Stipendiary Magistrate with mischievously using a telephone for the purpose of conveying a fictitious message and pleaded guilty. Detective Sergeant Clugs ton said he was at the C 1.8 about 9.30 last night, when a person he now knew as Bax ter rang and told him. "I an> ringing about the James kid napping. 1 have the baby and it is in perfectly good health. "Before the baby is returned to Mrs James 1 want £5OOO. I want Mrs James to meet me at the Lidcombe railway station between 11 and 12 noon tomorrow. “If she doesn’t meet me, or if police are about, something will happen to the baby.” He rang off. Baxter rang again about 9.45 p.m. and said: “I am ringing again about the baby. “I took the baby because of something Mrs James did about two years ago. You ask her about it and she will know me.”

Detective Sergeant Ciugston said he told Baxter £5OOO was a lot of money and Mrs James

would not have that amount, after which Baxter said he would take £5OO. “1 made arrangements for him to ring the C. 1.8. at 8.30 next morning,” Detective Sergeant Ciugston said. He was there when the telephone rang and he spoke again to Baxter. Arrested at Booth

About 8.40 a.m. a policeman went to a public telephone booth at the intersection of Albion and Commonwealth streets and arrested Baxter. At the C. 1.8. Baxter allegedly admitted having made the calls and the demands for the £5OOO. Sergeant R. Crook, prose

cuting, said Baxter was a ward of the State and followed no permanent employment.

“Objected to Treatment”

When arrested he had said he objected to treatment he had received from the department and was attempting to get back at it Baxter was not known for any acts of dishonesty but had been arrested twice previously for vagrancy. Sergeant Crook said. Mr Cooney, in fining Baxter £25, in default 50 days’ gaol, said he had paid due regard to the fact that apparently Baxter had had an unfortunate life but the matter could not be dismissed lightly.