KIDNAPPINGS

Grey River Argus, 20 August 1934, Page 4

KIDNAPPINGS

TWO RELEASES. UNUSUAL CASE OF EVANGELIST. (Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assn.) LOS ANGELES, August 17. Mrs Aimee Semple AlacPherson, the evangelist. has receiA cd a. letter demanding that she pay twenty-five thousand dollars as ransom in retur n for the Rev. Askew, saving that, inasmuch as that young evangelist is a member of her sect, she should be responsible for him. Mrs McPherson gave the police the communication, but she declined to reveal if she intended to pav the ransom. NEW YORK, August 18. A message from Nashville, Tennessee, states that the kidnapping of Askew, cabled on August 16th, was solved when the young evangelist appeared at the police station, after being missing for several days. He said°he had been held by kidnappers, but, for some reason, had been released, although he was not aware that any ransom had been paid. HAMILTON (Ontario), August 18. A close friend of the Labatt family revealed to-day that the kidnapped brewer, for several hours on Wednesdav night, was forced to sit and hear his abductors, who were frightened by the police activities, discuss how to slay him and dispose of his body next day. His fears were allayed when a confederate reported that the police were working on false clues.