LIFE IMPRISONMENT

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 194, 14 May 1936, Page 9

LIFE IMPRISONMENT

American Kidnapper (Received May 13, 8.25 p.m.) Washington, May 12. Federal courts continued the rapid disposal of kidnapping cases recently solved by G men to-day, when, at StPaul, Harry Campbell, held jointly with Alvin Karpis for kidnapping Edward Bremer, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to life imprisonment. Meanwhile Thomas Robinson was transported by air to Louisville, the scene of the Stoll kidnapping. The prosecution will demand the death sentenced under the Lindbergh law, as accused admitted that he committed physical violence on his victim. After being Public Enemy No. 1. for only a few days, Alvin Karpis, with two companions, was arrested on May 1. Karpis was wanted chiefly on a charge of kidnapping Edward G. Bremer, bank president, at Minnesota on January 17, 1934. Bremer was released 22 days inter after the kidnappers had extorted 200,000 dollars. Since then Karpis has been hunted all over the country and has shot his way out of two ambuscades. His record includes sentences for burglary and two escapes from prison. Karpis is described as a slender man of 26, with brown hair and blue eyes. Public Enemies No. 2 and No. 3 when Karpis was No. 1 were William Mahan and Thomas Robinson. The former, who had 27 aliases, is 33 years old, of medium weight and height, with black hair and brown eyes. He was sentenced in 1027 to 20 years’ imprisonment for robbery, but was pardoned in 1933. On May 24, 1935, Mahan kidnapped the nine-year-old George Weyerhausen, heir to a lumber fortune, the boy being released eight days later after 200,000 dollars had been paid. For this offence Mahan was last week sentenced to 60 years’ imprisonment. A cable published yesterday recorded the capture of Robinson, describing him ns the last notorious kidnapper. Robinson, a tall, slender man of 29, with black hair nnd grey eyes, was wanted for the kidnapping of Mrs. Alice Speed Stoll, member of a prominent Louisville (Kentucky) family, on October 10, 1934. She was released after her family paid a ransom of 50,000 dollars. Because of Robinson’s eccentricities the police expected ills early capture, but he eluded them for two nnd a half years.