CHILD KIDNAPPED.

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20264, 5 August 1937, Page 9

CHILD KIDNAPPED.

SNATCHED UP BY WOMAN GANG OF DARING CRIMINALS. PUZZLING FEATURES OF CASE. United Press As-n—FV'r. Tpl Copyright CHICAGO, August 3. A gang of criminals in broad daylight daringly kidnapped Donald Horst, aged two and a-half years, son of a wealthy son? publisher and hotel owner. A man accompanied by a woman entered the yard of Mr Horst’s home where Donald was playing a few feet away from his mother. They snatched lip the child and ran toward a motorcar, in which a confederate was waiting. Mrs Horst screamed and sprang at the man. He and the woman beat her to the ground. A negro maid then ran up and she also was beaten down. Mrs Horst staggered to* her feet, whereupon the man savagely knocked her down again, entered the car and drove away. The kidnappers later telephoned a demand for a ransom of 5000 dollars. Owner of Car Traced. The oxvnep of the car used by the kidnappers was traced He said he had lent It to Fred Ewert, who was a chauffeur to Dr. John Rose, a physician, who attended Mrs Horst at the time of Donald's birth. Ewert and his wife are missing from their home. Detectives are confronted by puzzling features in the case. Mrs Horst said the woman kidnapper screme.d as she drove off: “This is my baby, not yours.” The telephone bell rang while the police were in Mr Horst’s home and a man’s voice said: “The right lather and mother have got the baby now.” A STRANGE BTORY. IDENTITY OF THE CHILD. CLAIMED BY TWO WOMEN. United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright. (Received August 5, 11.55 a.m.) NEW YORK, August 4. The police, after a night’s investigation, claimed that the baby was not that of Mrs Horst, the Woman’s sister confirming the police. The hospital where the baby allegedly was born has no records of Mrs Horst. Mrs Horst is held In “ technical custody,” although she has been permitted to return to hqr home, which is guarded by the police. A couple, John and Lydia Regan, who surrendered the baby to the police, said the baby was born to Mrs Regan out of wedlock, and a doctor gave him to Mrs Horst without their consent. They searched for two years for him and seized the baby when Mrs Horst refused to give it up. DRAMATIC MEETING. ADMISSION BY MR AND MRS HORST. DONALD NOT THEIR CHILD. United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright. (Received Aug. 5, 1.45 p.m.) CHICAGO, Aug. 4. Mr and Mrs Horst and Mr and Mrs Regan met dramatically in the State Attorney’s office. They said they bore no malice. Mr and Mrs Horst admitted that Donald was not their child. The authorities have decided not to prosecute Mr and Mrs Regan. It was announced that the court would decide the custody of Donald, who in the meantime is in an orphanage.