Kidnapping of Howard Woolverton

Howard Woolverton
BornSeptember 26, 1880[1]
South Bend, Indiana
DiedJanuary 27, 1960
South Bend, Indiana
NationalityAmerican
Occupation(s)manufacturer, banker
Known forkidnap victim

The kidnapping of Howard Woolverton, which began in South Bend, Indiana, the evening of January 26, 1932, and concluded when Woolverton returned to his home unharmed about 24 hours later,[2] received extensive contemporary newspaper coverage,[3] impacted the way the press covered kidnapping in the following weeks, and played a leading role in passage of the Federal Kidnapping Act later that year.[4]

FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover attributed the crime to George "Machine Gun" Kelly, Kelly's wife Kathryn Kelly, and Edward Doll.[5]

At the time of the kidnapping, Woolverton was secretary and treasurer of the Malleable Steel Range Manufacturing Company, based in South Bend, Indiana.[6] The firm, founded by his father, Jacob Woolverton,[7] lives on as Southbend, a division of the Middleby Corporation.

  1. ^ "Howard Woolverton Business Leader, Dies" The South Bend Tribune, January 28, 1960, p. 1.
  2. ^ "Woolverton Freed, Denies Ransoming." The New York Times January 28, 1932, p. 44.
  3. ^ see for example "Manufacturer Kidnapped" Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, p.1
  4. ^ "Woolverton Case Revives Kidnaping Bill in Congress." South Bend Tribune, January 28, 1932, p. 1.
  5. ^ Persons in Hiding. J. Edgar Hoover. 1938. pp. 152-153; 292-293.
  6. ^ "Hunt Woolverton 'Spotter'". South Bend Tribune. January 27, 1932. p. 1.
  7. ^ "Stove Firm has 250 Employees." South Bend Tribune,. August 16, 1936. p. 8.