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. Photograph of Jack and Ellen Morich, house servants for the Gettle family, serving drinks and sandwiches to members of the press in the backyard of the Geddle mansion. This photograph appears with the article, "Gettle Case Telephone Message Jails Man on Suspicion of Attempted Extortion," Los Angeles Times, 13 May 1934: 3. Text from negative sleeve: Gettle, William F., Kidnap Case Text from newspaper caption, in part: Victim's Family Shows Gratitude to Press for Co-Operation. Below is a picture attesting the gratitude of the Gettle family for the co-operation of the press. It shows Jack Morich and Mrs. Ellen Morich from the Gettle home serving lunch to press representative, who have been given headquarters in the patio of the beautiful Linden Drive mansion.
Type
image
Format
b&w nitrate negative
Identifier
uclamss_1429_10364 ark:/21198/zz002hb9wk
Subject
Kidnappings--California--Beverly Hills Servants--California--Beverly Hills Journalists--American--California--Los Angeles Gettle, William F., 1887-1941 Morich, Jack J., 1889 Morich, Ellen, 1895-1966
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