John Sackville Labatt
Encyclopedia
John Sackville Labatt was president of the Labatt brewing company and a prominent kidnapping
victim.
He was one of nine children of John Labatt
, and was educated at Trinity College School
and McGill University
. It was he and his brother, Hugh Francis Labatt, who took up management of the firm upon their father's death in 1915. John Sackville became president of the company, and would hold that position for several decades. In 1926 he married Elizabeth Anne Lynch. With her he had three children, John Pridham, Arthur, and Mary.
On August 14, 1934 Labatt was returning to his office in London, Ontario
from his cottage on Lake Rosseau near Bracebridge, Ontario
, . Soon after leaving his cottage, his car was forced to stop by another vehicle, and Labatt was abducted at gunpoint. He was forced to write a letter to his brother Hugh, telling him to go to the Royal York Hotel
to wait further instructions. Labatt was then taken to a cottage on Lake Muskoka
where he was blindfolded and chained to a bed.
The kidnappers were Michael Francis McCardell, known as Three Fingered Abe, Jack Bannon, Albert Pegram, and Russell Knowles. Knowles drove Labatt's car to London, and after placing the note inside it sent word to Hugh Labatt about its location. Hugh did proceed to the Royal York and began gathering money to pay the ransom
, but word got out and generated a media furor. Reporters massed at the Royal York and in London.
This caused the kidnappers to panic, and they decided to release Labatt, and he was unchained from the bed after three days of captivity. They drove him to Toronto and released him on St. Clair Avenue
in the Forest Hill
neighbourhood. They gave him cab fare and then fled. Labatt travelled to the Royal York, to meet his brother. It took some moments for the gathered crowd of reporters to realize who had just walked in the door, but when it was revealed pandemonium erupted.
Three of the kidnappers were later arrested and sentenced to fifteen years in jail. The fourth was killed in the United States soon after. While unharmed, the experience deeply affected Labatt and he became a near recluse for the rest of his life.
Kidnapping
In criminal law, kidnapping is the taking away or transportation of a person against that person's will, usually to hold the person in false imprisonment, a confinement without legal authority...
victim.
He was one of nine children of John Labatt
John Labatt
John Labatt was an Irish-Canadian businessman and brewer.Labatt was born in Westminster Township, near London, Ontario, Upper Canada, and was the third son of John Kinder Labatt who came from Ireland and was the founder of the Labatt Brewing Company...
, and was educated at Trinity College School
Trinity College School
Trinity College School is a coeducational, independent boarding/day school located in Port Hope, Ontario, Canada. TCS was founded on May 1, 1865, more than 2 years prior to Canadian Confederation. It includes a Senior School for grades 9 to 12 and a Junior School for grades 5 to 8.Among its...
and McGill University
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
. It was he and his brother, Hugh Francis Labatt, who took up management of the firm upon their father's death in 1915. John Sackville became president of the company, and would hold that position for several decades. In 1926 he married Elizabeth Anne Lynch. With her he had three children, John Pridham, Arthur, and Mary.
On August 14, 1934 Labatt was returning to his office in London, Ontario
London, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
from his cottage on Lake Rosseau near Bracebridge, Ontario
Bracebridge, Ontario
Bracebridge is a town and the seat of the Muskoka District Municipality of Ontario, Canada.The town was built around a waterfall on the Muskoka River in the centre of town, and is known for its other nearby waterfalls . It was first incorporated in 1875...
, . Soon after leaving his cottage, his car was forced to stop by another vehicle, and Labatt was abducted at gunpoint. He was forced to write a letter to his brother Hugh, telling him to go to the Royal York Hotel
Fairmont Royal York
The Fairmont Royal York Hotel, formerly the Royal York Hotel and still often so called, is a large and historic hotel in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada, at 100 Front Street West. Opened on June 11, 1929, the Royal York was designed by Ross and Macdonald and built by the Canadian Pacific Railway...
to wait further instructions. Labatt was then taken to a cottage on Lake Muskoka
Lake Muskoka
Lake Muskoka is located between Port Carling and Gravenhurst, Ontario, Canada. The lake is surrounded by many cottages. The lake is primarily in the Township of Muskoka Lakes, with the southeast corner in the Town of Gravenhurst. The Town of Bala, Ontario is located on the southwest shores of the...
where he was blindfolded and chained to a bed.
The kidnappers were Michael Francis McCardell, known as Three Fingered Abe, Jack Bannon, Albert Pegram, and Russell Knowles. Knowles drove Labatt's car to London, and after placing the note inside it sent word to Hugh Labatt about its location. Hugh did proceed to the Royal York and began gathering money to pay the ransom
Ransom
Ransom is the practice of holding a prisoner or item to extort money or property to secure their release, or it can refer to the sum of money involved.In an early German law, a similar concept was called bad influence...
, but word got out and generated a media furor. Reporters massed at the Royal York and in London.
This caused the kidnappers to panic, and they decided to release Labatt, and he was unchained from the bed after three days of captivity. They drove him to Toronto and released him on St. Clair Avenue
St. Clair Avenue
St. Clair Avenue is a major east-west street in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was laid out in the late 18th century by the British as a concession road , north of Bloor Street and north of Queen Street....
in the Forest Hill
Forest Hill, Toronto
Forest Hill is an affluent neighbourhood in central Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Along with Lawrence Park, Rosedale, and The Bridle Path, it is one of Toronto’s wealthiest neighbourhoods.-History:...
neighbourhood. They gave him cab fare and then fled. Labatt travelled to the Royal York, to meet his brother. It took some moments for the gathered crowd of reporters to realize who had just walked in the door, but when it was revealed pandemonium erupted.
Three of the kidnappers were later arrested and sentenced to fifteen years in jail. The fourth was killed in the United States soon after. While unharmed, the experience deeply affected Labatt and he became a near recluse for the rest of his life.
Further reading
- Susan Goldenberg Snatched! : The Peculiar Kidnapping of Beer Tycoon John Labatt Dundurn Press, September 2004