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Show PUTNAM TARGET OF EXTORTIONIST Man Claims 'Custody' of Amelia WASHINGTON, Aug. 4 11 J. Edgar Hoover disclosed today that federal ag-rnts had arrested Wilbur Rot her of New York in connection with an attempt to extort $2000 from George Palmer Putnam for the safe return of hia missing avia-trix avia-trix wife. Amelia Earhart. Amelia Earhart was lost with her navigator, Fred Noonan, in midpacific on a flight around the world. Hoover, director of the federal bureau of investigation, aaid Putnam Put-nam received a letter last Sunday advising him his wife was on a ship and that the writer would contact him ths following day. The man who subsequently talked with Putnam aaid he was a seaman on a ship out of New Guinea en- While at sea, the man told Putnam, Put-nam, the ship sighted a wrecked plan and took off an injured woman, wo-man, whom members of the crew later Identified as Miss Earhart. The man demanded $2000 for her safe return. Putnam immediately conferred with federal agents, who later laid a trap in New York and arrested Rothar when. Hoover said, hs called to collect the $2000 yesterday. Hoover said Rothar admitted he Had not been away from New York "for soma years" and that ths entire en-tire story was false. The director' said all evidence in the case would I be laid before the stste prosecuting attorney in New York. 1 |