William F. Gettle, kidnapping victim, is reunited with his four children (twins Betty and Bobby, and sons Billy and Jimmy) upon his homecoming.Gettle, Beverly Hills millionaire and businessman, was kidnapped from the grounds of his Arcadia ranch home during a 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.
William F. Gettle, Beverly Hills businessman and millionaire, is reunited with his four children after his kidnapping. Gettle 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.
William F. Gettle, Beverly Hills millionaire and businessman, is reunited with his four children after his kidnapping. Gettle 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 Gettle children's activities during their father's kidnapping appear in a similar photograph captioned, “Gettle Children’s Playground Guarded Above is a picture of the playground at the home of William F. Gettle, kidnaped Beverly Hills millionaire, built for the use of the four Gettle children. A corps of guards is now on duty protecting them as they play. Below are the baby footprints of the four Gettle children made in the fresh cement of the Linden Drive home two years ago. Each set of prints is identified with its owner’s name,” Los Angeles Times, 13 May 1934: 2
This photograph is possibly related to the articles, “TENSE EXPECTANCY REIGNS AT HOME OF MILLIONAIRE,” Los Angeles Times, 12 May 1934: 2, and, “PATHOS REIGNS IN GETTLE HOME: Stricken Wife Awaiting Tensely for Tidings Children, Unaware of Crime, Guarded During Play Strangers in House, Actually Officers, Seem Guests,” Los Angeles Times, 13 May 1934: 2
The Gettle children (from left to right, Billy, Betty, Bobby and Jimmy) sit in a line, off-center to the left, on a neatly manicured lawn. Billy sits on a plush elephant toy and Betty holds Rags, their dog, in her lap. A tricycle stands in the yard behind and to the right of Jimmy. The beginnings of a small garden appear to grow in the distance at left. Two women mill about in the background at center.
