Access to this collection is generously supported by Arcadia funds. William F. Gettle, wealthy Beverly Hills businessman, was kidnapped from the grounds of his Arcadia ranch home during a housewarming party on the eve of May 9th. The kidnapping attracted a great deal of attention in the community, with Mrs. Gettle even addressing the kidnappers through the pages of the Los Angeles Times. The kidnappers demanded a $60,000 ransom for the return of Gettle, which Mrs. Gettle agreed to pay. However, before the ransom was paid, two detectives of the LAPD, Chester Burris and H.P. Gearhardt, broke the case after installing a dictaphone in the home of a bank robbery suspect. Information from the dictaphone led them to a La Crescenta home where Gettle was held. He was returned, unharmed, to his family on the eve of May 14th. The kidnappers of William F. Gettle plead guilty to his abduction. From left to right standing between their lawyers, they are Larry Kerrigan (real name Loren W. Feltus) and James F. Kirk. Text from original nitrate sleeve: Kirk, James F.; Kerrigan, Larry; Williams, Roy. Handwritten on edge of negative: .... Gettle kidnappers. 9300
Type
image
Format
b&w nitrate negative
Identifier
ark:/21198/zz0025fqfv
Language
No linguistic content
Subject
Judicial proceedings--California--Los Angeles Kidnappings--California Kerrigan, Larry Kirk, James F
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