Strange Case Of Man Who Was Kidnapped

Chronicle (Levin), 30 September 1949, Page 5

Strange Case Of Man Who Was Kidnapped

CN.Z.P.A. —

Reuter.

Copyright)

MELBOURXh, Sept. 29. Three armed and masked men kid napped Mr Solomon Ravdell, aged 7!i, from his home in South Yarra last night and struck down his wife with a pistol. The kidnapping is the clamax to a campaign of terrorisin to which Air Solomon Ravdell and his son, Air Mauriee Ravdell, have been subjected ■for 12 months. During the campaign shots were fired at Air Solomon Ravdell while Ue Was sitting in his home. Air Mauriee Ravdell was attacked, his life threatened, and demands made "on him for sums up to £30.000. Alrs Ravdell said that when her husband opened the door of their hoiue in rosponse to a knock last night two men sei/.ed him by the aruvs and legs while a third intruder covered her With a pistol. When she began to protest she was struck down with the pistol and the men left her lying on the floor and took her husband away. A largo squad of deteetives is now searching for the missing man. The police believe the kidnapping is linked with earlier attempts to terrorisq the Ravdells, which included shots fired at Ravdell, senr., the burning of Alaurice Ravdell 's car, an attempt to rain Alauriee Ravdell 's car while he was accompanied by an armed detectivo and a private bodyguard, and anonytnous telephone calls threatening. his life and demanding money. Last August Alauiice Ravdell was awarded £2103 and costs amounting to about £9000 by an independent arbitrator as the result of a claiiu against a man. After the writ had been issued this iuau 'a brother filed a , writ against Ravdell claiming £20.000, less the money that had been paid. The arbitrator found that the first man owed Ravdell £2000; plus interest, and that his brother could recover nothing. By order of the arbitrator eopies of the evidence were burnt-d. Alaurice, Ravdell hlred an armed squad last December after he had ijeported threats on his life.