AUDACIOUS PLAN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23060, 10 June 1938, Page 11

AUDACIOUS PLAN

KIDNAP LORD NUFFIELD STORY TOLD IN COURT CASE FOR PROSECUTION ALLEGED RANSOM SCHEME By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received June 10, 1.15 a.m.) LONDON, June 0 How John Bruce Thornton allegedly planned to kidnap Viscount Nuffield, motor him to a yacht, force him to sign letters of credit, and then put him ashore with stickingplaster over his eyes, was outlined by Mr. Parham, appearing in the Oxford Police Court to-day. Lord Nuffield was not present. Mr. Parham said the plot to kidnap Lord Nuffield and hold him to ransom obviously could not be carried out single-handed. Thornton, who had originated the scheme, sought the assistance of Major Arthur Geoffrey Ramsden, whom he met in 1930. The latter had then disclosed that ho was badly off financially. Thornton, said he knew a way to get money, having watched Lord Nuffield for a long time. It would be easy to kidnap him. Only his private secretary, Mr. Hobbs, would be in the way. Thornton bought Ramsden a new car, saying it would bo useful. Later Thornton unfolded his 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 to Mr. Hobbs saying he would bo away for a week, another to his bank asking it to give a letter of credit to "Dr. Webb," and a third which would be taken to the bank by Thornton, identifying him as Dr. Webb. The plan was that Ramsden should keep Lord Nuffield on board the yacht until Thornton had negotiated the letters of credit on the Continent. Ramsden would then bring him ashore and leave him in a field with stickingplaster over his eyes. The pair chartered the pacht Pierette.

Thornton was charged on June 3 with inciting Arthur Geoffrey Ramsden to conspire with him to kidnap Viscount Nuffield. Thornton had been previously charged with being in possession of firearms with intent to endanger life. The charge followed an incident on May 25, when Lord Nuffield was working late in his private office at Oxford. A saloon car drove up and two men entered the office. Mr. It. Kennerly Rumford, who was husband of the late Dame Clara Butt, and who is a friend of Lord Nuffield, was in nn adjoining room. He heard voices and telephoned for the police, who surrounded the building and later took the two men to the police station.