“KIDNAPPING RACKET”

Greymouth Evening Star, 15 August 1933, Page 10

“KIDNAPPING RACKET”

THREATS TO PARENTS. LONDON, June 30. A “kidnapping racket” was counsel’s descripton of the offence of Albert Bert. Clarke. 27. a kitchen porter, who at. the Old Bailey yesterday pleaded guilty to sending a threatening letter and to demanding money with menaces.

Mr H. Samuel, prosecuting, said Alice Hillier, aged 16, disappeared from her home at Battersea. An advertisement relating to her disappearance was seen by Clarke, who proceeded to do “a. kidnapping racket” in an extremely crude form. From CharingCross Post Office he wrote to the girl’s parents: “I am able to inform you that your daughter is quite safe. We have kidnapped your daughter, and are holding her for a ransom of three guineas. “The money must be received by first post on Monday morning, otherwise you will never see her alive again. “Your house is being watched day and night, and it you inform the police that kidnappers have written to you we shall kill her at once. (Signed) A. B. Clarke (for the kidnappers).” Tho police were told, and Clarke was arrested when he went to collect a letter at the post office. Mrs Hillier said she had now discovered where her daughter was.

Passing sentence of twelve months’ imprisonment in the second division, the Recorder (Sir Ernest Wild, K.C.) said: “You tried to profit by the distress of this girl’s parents, and I am going to assist in the stamping out of this wicked method of extortion in this country.”