Kidnap Bid On Tyre Magnate Foiled

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30959, 15 January 1966, Page 13

Kidnap Bid On Tyre Magnate Foiled

IN.Z P A Reuter —Copyright) BEVERLY HILLS (California), January 13. Police tonight killed one man and wounded an accomplice during an attempt to kidnap a tyre magnate, Leonard K. Firestone, for a two-million-dollar ransom.

Police were expecting the kidnap bid and were waiting when two masked gunmen arrived at the Firestone mansion. The family was not at home.

The dead man was named as Hal Bailey, aged 40, and the wounded man as George Scalia, aged 28. Mr Firestone, aged 58, son of Harvey S. Firestone, founder of the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company, left his home secretly more than a week ago, police said, the Associated Press reported. Three policemen and a policewoman were waiting inside the home when the two gunmen approached the door. The three policemen said they opened fire when the two men forced their way through the door with guns drawn. Police said they received a t 'P on the kidnapping attempt three weeks ago. but did not know when the attempt would be made.

Police had been on a stakeout at the home for the last week.

Police said that when the gunmen annroached the door and rang the bell, the policewoman asked who was there and the suspects replied: “We have a package to deliver.”

The door was opened and the men burst in with guns drawn. Police said they opened fire as soon as the men entered. Scalia was taken to the prison ward at Los Angeles County General Hospital.