GANGSTERS THWARTED

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 146, 23 June 1931, Page 10

GANGSTERS THWARTED

DEATH IN GLASS OF BEER. VICTIM TAKES ONLY A SIP. “CORPSE” THAT PROVED ALIVE. Tn a letter written to his son in London, Mr William Webster a former member of the London Stock Exchange relates an amazing escape from death at the hands of gangsters in Montreal. He describes how he was decoyed to an hotel room, drugged, and leD for dead. His “body” was placed in a taxicab and <1 riven to a lonely spot, where the driver was astonished to find the “corpse” alive. M r Webster had taken only a sip from a glass containing a powerful narcotic, and recovered consciousness in the cab. He managed to prevent, the driver from throwing him out of the taxicab and ultimately was driven back to his hotel, where a doctor found he had been doped with morphine. Had he consumed all the liquor offered him by his “friend,” he would have died. Mr Webster, who has been living in New York since 1915, was asked to reorganise the business of a Canadian distillery company, who were being pressed by their bankers for repayment of loans to a total of £140,000. To do this it was necessary to dispose of hundreds of gallons of whisky. Various bootleggers wcut to Montreal from New York to inspect this liquor, and quarrels broke out among the rival gangs. Mr Webster was only concerned with the reorganisation of the business, and took no part in the selling of the liquor. Unexpectedly a mysterious telephone message camo to one ol Mr Webster’s associates. “Lay off this business,” said an unknown voice. “Never mind who is speaking.” This call was later traced to a well-known gunman, who was ordered to leave Canada immediately. Mr Webster was one day preparing to go for a walk when, in the lounge of his hotel, he was accosted by a n.an, who was evidently well-informed as to his business. Nof wishing to prolong the conversation. Air Webster made an excuse to leave the hotel. The other man said that he would like a stroll also, and asked Mr Webster to go with him to his room to fetch his coat. Here there were several men drinking. A refusal of some beer by Mr Webster was ignored and his unsought friend handed him a full glass. Feeling that to refuse the drink might bring trouble, Air Webster took a sip. He then knew nothing until ho awoke in the taxicab on the outskirts of the city to find the driver trying to pull him out of the cab. Barely conscious, he managed to wedge his feet so that the driver could not move him. Finding that his fare was alive and could uot bo dislodged, th ,j man yielded to his insistence and drove him back to the hotel.