PUTNAM EXTORTION CASE
PRISONER COMMITTED TO ASYLUM (Received October 15, 6.30 p.m.) NEW YORK, October 14. Accepting the recommendation in the Lunacy Commission’s report, the Court committed Rothar to the Hospital for the Criminal Insane. On August 5, Wilbur Rothar, a janitor, with his wife and eight children, was arrested on a charge of attempted extortion from Mr Putnam. Rothar, while viewing Miss Earhart land in the local air field, picked up the aviatrix’s scarf, which was blown off by the wind. Mothar used- the scarf in an effort to convince Mr Putnam that his wife was still alive, having been rescued by an arms-running ship from an island near New Guinea, and demanded 2000 dollars for her safe return.
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Southland Times, Issue 23332, 16 October 1937, Page 7
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120PUTNAM EXTORTION CASE Southland Times, Issue 23332, 16 October 1937, Page 7
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