Access to this collection is generously supported by Haynes Foundation funds. Access to this collection is generously supported by Arcadia funds. William F. Gettle, Beverly Hills millionaire, 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. Gettle (wearing glasses) is pictured smiling and shaking hands with an unidentified man in a suit. Photo was likely taken the day that he was rescued, when he was taken to the Hall of Justice in downtown Los Angeles. Gettle was brought to the Hall of Justice in the company of one of his kidnappers, Roy Williams, and in order to see if he could identify two other suspects (Jimmy Kirk and June Ward). Text from negative sleeve: Text from negative sleeve: Gettle, William F. kidnap case.
Type
image
Format
b&w nitrate negative
Identifier
uclamss_1429_4887 ark:/21198/zz002ctt42
Language
No linguistic content
Subject
Kidnappings--California Gettle, William F., 1887-1941
Source
OpenUCLA Collections Los Angeles Times Photographic Collection
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