Vanessa Richardson

Now that they knew they were dealing with the real kidnappers, the authorities could finally make a move of their own. Of course, this first meant following the Kellys' instructions. A second letter came through demanding the largest ransom in U.S. history, a whopping $200,000, or the equivalent of $4 million today. Also included was a script for a fake classified ad.

Now that they knew they were dealing with the real kidnappers, the authorities could finally make a move of their own. Of course, this first meant following the Kellys' instructions. A second letter came through demanding the largest ransom in U.S. history, a whopping $200,000, or the equivalent of $4 million today. Also included was a script for a fake classified ad.

If their terms were accepted, the ad was to be placed in the Daily Oklahoman. When veteran FBI investigator Gus Jones took one look at the letters, he knew they were dealing with professionals. So Bernice did as she was told, getting the money and placing the ad that same day. Meanwhile, Catherine sent another letter from an address in Joplin, Missouri, to throw investigators off their scent.

If their terms were accepted, the ad was to be placed in the Daily Oklahoman. When veteran FBI investigator Gus Jones took one look at the letters, he knew they were dealing with professionals. So Bernice did as she was told, getting the money and placing the ad that same day. Meanwhile, Catherine sent another letter from an address in Joplin, Missouri, to throw investigators off their scent.

This time, the directives were for Kirkpatrick. He was to take the bag of cash on the 10 p.m. train to Kansas City and choose a seat in the observation car. Once the kidnappers were sure there was no funny business, Kirkpatrick would see two signal fires at various points along the track. After the second fire, he was to throw the loot from the train.

This time, the directives were for Kirkpatrick. He was to take the bag of cash on the 10 p.m. train to Kansas City and choose a seat in the observation car. Once the kidnappers were sure there was no funny business, Kirkpatrick would see two signal fires at various points along the track. After the second fire, he was to throw the loot from the train.

If anything went wrong, he'd receive further instructions at the Muehlbach Hotel in the city. Brushing aside his terror, Kirkpatrick agreed to the mission. As a precaution, he wrote a goodbye letter to his wife, asking Bernice to get it to her if he didn't come back. John Catlett decided to go with him for moral support.

If anything went wrong, he'd receive further instructions at the Muehlbach Hotel in the city. Brushing aside his terror, Kirkpatrick agreed to the mission. As a precaution, he wrote a goodbye letter to his wife, asking Bernice to get it to her if he didn't come back. John Catlett decided to go with him for moral support.

On July 29th, the men boarded the train according to the plan, but then everything started going awry. The observation car was usually the very last on the train, but thanks to the World's Fair happening in Chicago, two extra passenger cars were tacked on to accommodate more travelers.

On July 29th, the men boarded the train according to the plan, but then everything started going awry. The observation car was usually the very last on the train, but thanks to the World's Fair happening in Chicago, two extra passenger cars were tacked on to accommodate more travelers.

Not sure how this might affect the kidnappers' plan, Kirkpatrick and Catlett paid an attendant to allow them to stand on the tiny platform off the back of the train. They spent the entire night there and never saw a single fire. When they got to the designated hotel, a message was already waiting for them. A telegram reading, "'Unavoidable incident kept me from seeing you last night.

Not sure how this might affect the kidnappers' plan, Kirkpatrick and Catlett paid an attendant to allow them to stand on the tiny platform off the back of the train. They spent the entire night there and never saw a single fire. When they got to the designated hotel, a message was already waiting for them. A telegram reading, "'Unavoidable incident kept me from seeing you last night.

We'll communicate about six o'clock.'" As promised, Kirkpatrick and Catlett received a call to their room just before 6 p.m. A man identified himself as Moore and told Kirkpatrick to take a walk in the direction of the nearby LaSalle Hotel. He was to bring the package alone. Out on the street, George watched Kirkpatrick coming toward him.

We'll communicate about six o'clock.'" As promised, Kirkpatrick and Catlett received a call to their room just before 6 p.m. A man identified himself as Moore and told Kirkpatrick to take a walk in the direction of the nearby LaSalle Hotel. He was to bring the package alone. Out on the street, George watched Kirkpatrick coming toward him.

The man was twitchy, practically jumping out of his skin at every bump and jostle. When they were finally shoulder to shoulder, George reached for the bag and murmured, "'I'll take that grip.'" In that moment, it seems Kirkpatrick felt a burst of confidence. He demanded some assurance he could pass along to Bernice. George told him that Charles would be home in around 12 hours.

The man was twitchy, practically jumping out of his skin at every bump and jostle. When they were finally shoulder to shoulder, George reached for the bag and murmured, "'I'll take that grip.'" In that moment, it seems Kirkpatrick felt a burst of confidence. He demanded some assurance he could pass along to Bernice. George told him that Charles would be home in around 12 hours.

Then he yanked the handle from Kirkpatrick's hand and disappeared into traffic. Meanwhile, Catherine was back in paradise, watching over Charles. George and Al had been gone two days, and she was starting to worry. To calm her nerves, she sat chain-smoking on the porch with her eyes trained on the driveway, until, finally, she saw the car in the distance and breathed a sigh of relief.

Then he yanked the handle from Kirkpatrick's hand and disappeared into traffic. Meanwhile, Catherine was back in paradise, watching over Charles. George and Al had been gone two days, and she was starting to worry. To calm her nerves, she sat chain-smoking on the porch with her eyes trained on the driveway, until, finally, she saw the car in the distance and breathed a sigh of relief.

When the car stopped in front of the farmhouse, George jumped out and sprinted towards Catherine, wrapping her in his enormous arms and spinning her around. They'd pulled it off. Al followed the happy couple to Catherine's room, where they dumped their prize out on the bed and stopped to admire the largest pile of cash any of them had ever seen. But the moment was short-lived.

When the car stopped in front of the farmhouse, George jumped out and sprinted towards Catherine, wrapping her in his enormous arms and spinning her around. They'd pulled it off. Al followed the happy couple to Catherine's room, where they dumped their prize out on the bed and stopped to admire the largest pile of cash any of them had ever seen. But the moment was short-lived.