A Midnight Mystery.

Levin Daily Chronicle, 5 December 1918, Page 4

A Midnight Mystery.

ATTEMPT TO KIDNAP MINISTER FOR HTCAT/TH. A report was current in Wellington on Tuesday that .'in attempt to kidnap the Minister for Public Health had been made when the House rose on tho previous evening. Visions of despera- I does from Auckland anxious to avengo j the Minister's recent strictures on tlio Northern city were raised in some quarters but enquiries revealed that there was really some foundation in fact for the reports. It appears that late on Mondiay night the Mayor of Wellington, Mr Luke, who was in hia place in the House, reoeived a message th!at his wife and daughter were seriously ill, and he was to return home at once in a motor that was waiting for him, but that on arrival at home he was not to answer any telephone call. Mr Luke did, not' believe the story of his wife's illness, and did not go home till some time later. After lie had left the House a note came to Mr Russell, stating that Mr Luke had had a heart seizure and wished to see tihe Minister who was to go to him in a taxicab that was waiting near Parliamentary Buildings. Mr Russell suspected a hoax or trick, but wiith several other members he went to the taxi, the police having been first informed of tihe circumstances, and it having been ascertained by telephone message that Mr Luke was quite well. It was discovered that the taxiicab driver had received £1 to stand by, but he cliid not know the purpose of the hirers. One 01* two persons escaped from the car but two remained —a man and a woman disguised in man's clothes. She stated at the police station that she alone was responsible for the scheme, by whicih. she hoped to take Mr Russell to certain "hell-holes" (her oiwn words) in a part of Wellington. ■Mr Luke states that the woman had been a very strenuous voluntary helper during tihe epidemic and he had appointed. her an inspector. On occasions she had worked up to 22 horn's a day. It is understood (says the Post) that site is to be placed under observation so that- her mental condition may be ascertained.