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Minnesota millionaire’s kidnapping ends in tragedy for captor

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Minnesota millionaire’s kidnapping ends in tragedy for captor


Editor’s notice: That is half 3 in a three-part sequence on the kidnapping of Haskell Bohn in 1932. Earlier articles on this sequence:

half 1

and

half 2.

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After six days of blindfolded isolation in a basement with minimal daylight, Haskell Bohn realized that his launch had been efficiently negotiated.

Lastly, freedom was close to.

Twenty-year-old Bohn, son of a Minnesota millionaire, had been kidnapped by gunpoint the morning of July 30, 1932, from his St. Paul residence. His captors tossed the household’s chauffeur a ransom notice as they drove off, revealing their demand of $35,000 (about $756,641in 2022 {dollars}) in trade for his launch.

Six days later, Bohn was launched from his captors’ custody, in trade for a negotiated $12,000 ($259,420 in 2022 {dollars}) – a far cry from the unique demand, however sufficient to purchase again his freedom.

His captors, whose identities have been nonetheless unknown to Bohn, drove for almost an hour down bumpy, winding roads — a deliberate transfer meant to confuse the sufferer, rendering him unable to identification to authorities the place he had been held.

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Because the car got here to a cease, the abductors gave him very particular directions.

“That’s after they instructed me to not say or do something for 10 minutes, after which they instructed me to stroll to the suitable for a half hour and after I known as up to not name up the police however to name my residence and ask for my father,” Bohn instructed legislation enforcement, based on the police transcript completely obtained not too long ago by Discussion board Information Service.

Earlier than setting him free, his captor handed him $10, fulfilling a promise made to pay him again for $7 that had been taken from his billfold on the day of his kidnapping.

Bohn lay face down on the bottom as the abductors drove away into the darkish evening. He adopted orders, for probably the most half, ready nearly 5 minutes earlier than getting up and trekking by way of a discipline, which led him to a close-by farmhouse.

Arriving on the farmhouse

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Bohn was technically free, however he nonetheless had a big process forward of him: making his manner residence. That was a tough one contemplating he was completely uncertain of his whereabouts.

Verne Sankey is thought to be the mastermind behind the kidnapping of Haskell Bohn of St. Paul in 1932.

Photograph courtesy of Newspapers.com

“As I crossed the corn discipline, and crossed the highway, I seen an indication, ‘For Sale.’ The home had fairly a number of lights on the aspect, and canine have been barking. And as I walked, I consider it was the girl that mentioned, ‘What would you like?’ She mentioned, ‘What would you like?’ And I mentioned, ‘I’m Haskell Bohn that was kidnapped,’” he mentioned within the transcript.

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After displaying his identification, he was welcomed into the house. Regulation enforcement was known as. He was reunited together with his household, and the hunt for his captors started.

Unbeknownst to legislation enforcement, they have been headed to Colorado to proceed their kidnapping spree. However they would not escape the legislation for lengthy.

Greater than two years after Bohn’s kidnapping, two males named Verne Sankey and Gordon Alcorn have been arrested in Chicago on costs associated to the 1933 kidnapping of rich Colorado businessman Charles Boettcher.

Similarly to the Bohn kidnapping, Boettcher was approached at gunpoint, blindfolded with tape and thrown behind a car. His spouse, current on the time of the kidnapping, was given a ransom notice demanding $60,000 (about $1.37 million in 2022 {dollars}), a value they finally obtained.

Boettcher’s spouse’s capacity to determine the 2 males was vital to their seize, and useful to the Bohn case.

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Bohn recognized Sankey and Alcorn as the 2 males who kidnapped him from his residence in the summertime of 1932, based on a March 1993 Minneapolis Star Tribune article.

As Bohn acknowledged within the 40-page police transcript, he interacted with two important captors. Nevertheless, he had instructed legislation enforcement the ring chief did allude to the truth that a gang of individuals have been concerned within the crime. At one level, when discussing what to do with Bohn, the ringleader claimed he’d talk about their plans with the remainder of the gang.

Because it seems, Sankey did run with a number of Canadians that he had recruited from his time on the railroad to assist him in his felony enterprises. Along with Alcorn, Sankey requested Ray Robinson to assist him out.

There are competing theories on Alcorn’s involvement within the Bohn kidnapping. Whereas Bohn did partially determine him as one of many captors, one other member of Sankey’s gang later confessed that he performed a vital function in Bohn’s abduction.

After being arrested in Canada and extradited to Minnesota in 1933, Robinson confessed to taking part in a key function within the Bohn kidnapping, based on an April 3, 1933 New York Occasions article.

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Along with his confession, he instructed authorities that Sankey was the felony thoughts behind the operation. He additionally instructed legislation enforcement that Sankey’s spouse, Fern Sankey, was an confederate, having cooked meals for Bohn whereas he was held in her basement.

Whereas Fern Sankey was arrested and tried for the Bohn kidnapping, she was finally discovered not responsible by a jury who seen her as a sufferer of her husband’s crimes.

Verne_Sankey_Widow__Montana_Standard_.jpg

Fern Sankey, spouse of Verne Sankey, was acquitted by a jury for her alleged function within the Haskell Bohn kidnapping.

Fern Sankey, spouse of Verne Sankey, was acquitted by a jury for her alleged function within the Haskell Bohn kidnapping.

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Robinson obtained a 25-year sentence, served at Minnesota’s Stillwater Penitentiary. It was a far cry from the life sentence different kidnappers – together with Sankey – have been dealing with beneath the newly minted Lindbergh Regulation.

Within the aftermath of the notorious 1932 kidnapping of the 20-month-old baby of well-known aviator Charles Lindbergh, Congress handed laws to crack down on the rising variety of kidnappings being carried out by gangs all through the nation.

The transfer made crossing state borders with a sufferer a federal offense, with a punishment of life in jail.

The Lindbergh Regulation included a provision that acknowledged a captive held for seven days or extra would robotically be assumed to have crossed state traces, opening up the door for federal prosecution and life in jail.

On the time of Robinson’s confession, Sankey and Alcorn have been being held for the kidnapping of Boettcher.

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As a result of Boettcher was held captive on Sankey’s farm in Buffalo County, South Dakota, Sankey was transported to Sioux Falls, the place he was to face trial for the kidnapping of Boettcher. It’s additionally alleged that he was going to plead responsible to the kidnapping of Bohn.

Nevertheless, on his first evening at South Dakota State Penitentiary in Sioux Falls, Sankey’s physique was discovered unresponsive – he had hung himself in his cell.

Verne Sankey ranch South_Dakota_ranch_.jpg

Verne Sankey’s Kimball, South Dakota residence was used to carry Colorado businessman Charles Boettcher. Sankey kidnapped Boettcher in trade for $60,000.

Picture courtesy of Newspapers.com.

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The next day, Alcorn was sentenced in Sioux Falls to life in jail for the Boettcher kidnapping, a time period he carried out in Colorado’s Leavenworth penitentiary.

Bohn went on to stay an in any other case regular life. Whereas his household’s enterprise did not outlast the Nice Melancholy, he carried out a profession within the energy sector, retiring from Illinois Energy Firm as its district supervisor. He was married, had youngsters and settled in a rural Illinois space.

Whereas his life took an in any other case regular flip, his youngsters grew up listening to tales from a really completely different period of his life — one which included his time in captivity by the hands of the FBI’s most needed felony.





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Minnesota

Some of the new laws taking effect Jan. 1 in Minnesota

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Some of the new laws taking effect Jan. 1 in Minnesota


Some of the new laws taking effect Jan. 1 in Minnesota – CBS Minnesota

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The new year signals the start of new laws taking effect in Minnesota, which will impact Minnesotans’ health, wallets and safety.

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Goalie Nicole Hensley stars as league-leading Minnesota Frost top New York Sirens in shootout | CBC Sports

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Goalie Nicole Hensley stars as league-leading Minnesota Frost top New York Sirens in shootout | CBC Sports


Nicole Hensley made back-to-back saves in the shootout and the Minnesota Frost earned their fourth straight victory with a 4-3 win over the New York Sirens on Sunday in Newark, N.J.

It was the fourth time in seven all-time meetings that a game between the teams was decided in OT and the second this season. New York won the season opener in St. Paul, Minn.

Kendall Coyne Schofield scored two first-period goals to stake the Frost to the early lead and Taylor Heise beat Kayle Osborne, who relieved starter Abigail Levy in the New York net to start the second period, two minutes in to make it a 3-0 lead.

WATCH l Heise scores shootout winner:

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Minnesota captures shootout win over New York to remain on top of PWHL standings

Taylor Heise’s fourth round shootout goal turned out to be the difference as the Minnesota Frost defeated New York Sirens 4-3 Sunday in New Jersey.

But Osborne did not allow another goal in regulation and wasn’t seriously challenged in overtime while the Sirens staged a comeback. Brooke Hobson and Elizabeth Giguere each scored in the second period and Alex Carpenter pounced on a loose puck and lifted a shot over Hensley’s shoulder from deep in the face-off circle to tie the game midway through the third period.

Hensley was brilliant in overtime, turning away four close-in, open shots by the Sirens (2-1-1-1), two of them on breakaway chances.

Minnesota (4-0-1-0) got goals from Denisa Křížová, Grace Zumwinkle and Heise in the shootout. Noora Tulus and Carpenter each converted in the shootout for New York, but Hensley came up with a save on Sarah Fillier before stopping the final two shooters for the Sirens.

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Hensley finished with 33 saves on 36 shots to earn the win. Osborne made 18 saves on 19 shots over her 45 minutes in goal for New York. Carpenter’s two-goal effort lifted her past Coyne Schofield and into the league lead with four goals in her first five games and she now has a league-leading seven points.

WATCH l Sirens’ Fillier, Carpenter test their off-ice chemistry:

New York Sirens’ Sarah Fillier, Alex Carpenter test their off-ice chemistry

Host Anastasia Bucsis puts newest teammates and linemates to the test to determine if their chemistry on the ice, translates off it.



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Unique northern Minnesota border airport closing after 70 years

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Unique northern Minnesota border airport closing after 70 years


A northern Minnesota airport with an unusual claim to fame is closing after 70 years of operation.

The Piney-Pinecreek Border Airport near Roseau is the only airport with a paved runway crossing the U.S.-Canada border.

The border airport opened in 1953 to expedite customs processing for air travelers and was regularly used by hunters and anglers flying to Canada.

The Piney Pinecreek airport has the only paved runway crossing the US Canada border.

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Initially, the airport had a grass runway that ended at the border, but in 1978 a runway expansion added a paved runway that extended into Canada.

Customs agents would meet travelers on either side of the border.

But declining usage and significant impending repair costs led to the decision to close the one of a kind operation, said Ryan Gaug, director of the Minnesota Department of Transportation aeronautics office.

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“We know that the pavement condition has declined significantly over the years and will need a reconstruct most likely in the next one to three years,” said Gaug.

Short-term costs to bring the facility up to safety standards is estimated at $3.8 million.

Piney-Pinecreek is the only airport owned by MnDOT, and it is operated in collaboration with the Rural Municipality of Piney, Manitoba.

A Canadian official said the local government could not raise the money to pay its share of the planned improvement costs and Piney officials ended the joint operations agreement.

Gaug said an estimated 200 airplanes a year use the facility, far lower than traffic at similar sized facilities.

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There are six airports on the U.S.-Canada border, but Piney-Pinecreek is the only one with a paved runway.

“It’s always been the No. 1 fun fact that I’ve shared with friends, family, coworkers, colleagues here at MnDOT,” said Gaug.

“It’s a tough decision to close an airport ever, but the evidence was all there that now was the time,” he said.

concrete with black stripes

MnDOT officials said the runway at Piney Pinecreek border airport needs a costly reconstruction.

Courtesy MnDOT

There are no local airplanes based at the airport.

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“It’s very sad for the community to lose its airport,” said Marlin Elton, a local resident who served on the airport commission and helped maintain the facility for 30 years.

Elton said the closure hasn’t raised concerns in the community because “if you don’t fly, it won’t affect you. The ones who will be affected are the pilots who use it.”

Gaug said MnDOT reached out to pilots and aviation groups to gauge support for keeping the airport open but found “there just isn’t a strong user base for this airport and that also led to not a strong local support fighting to keep this airport.”

The final day of operations for the Piney-Pinecreek airport is Dec. 26.



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