Wife’s Kidnapers Demand Cash for 12 Sued by Husband : $1-Million Ransom for Alleged Wrongs

A millionaire businessman whose ailing wife was kidnaped a month ago paid a total of nearly $1 million to 12 people listed in the ransom note as having been wronged by him, the FBI said.

Robert Hearin paid the ransom a day after receiving a second note, in his wife’s handwriting, indicating for the first time since the abduction July 26 that Annie Laurie Hearin is alive, said Wayne Taylor, FBI agent in charge in Mississippi.

At least one of the 12 returned the money, an attorney said.

Intestinal Disorder

Annie Laurie Hearin, 72, has an intestinal disorder that could be fatal without daily medication.

Taylor, who released the second letter Tuesday, said he wanted to assure the woman’s abductors that her husband “has done everything conceivably possible to meet their demands, considering the vagueness of them.”

Robert Hearin had conferred with the FBI before deciding to pay the $1 million, Taylor said.

Investigators have no leads in their search for the woman, Taylor said.

FBI analysis confirmed that Annie Laurie Hearin wrote the letter dated Aug. 10; it was postmarked Aug. 12 and received at the Hearins’ Jackson home Aug. 15, Taylor said.

Taylor would not disclose the city from which the letter was mailed or discuss its contents other than to say “it urged him (Robert Hearin) to comply with the demands of the kidnapers.”

A vague note left at the Hearins’ home the day of the kidnaping demanded that Robert Hearin right alleged wrongs to 12 people. The 12 had been sued by Hearin’s company, School Pictures of Mississippi, for money they allegedly owed.

Check Returned

An attorney for N. Alfred Winn of St. Petersburg, Fla., said Tuesday that Winn returned his check and wrote a letter saying he hoped Hearin’s wife would be returned safely.

Hiram Johnson Stutts Jr. told the Clarion-Ledger that he received a check for $17,800 and “a nice letter” from Robert Hearin. Stutts refused to say what he had done with his check.

“Mr. Hearin didn’t owe me that much money. I settled mine out of court for half of the amount. I was happy with the settlement,” he said.