Police yesterday announced the arrest of one man and a continued search for a second who allegedly were involved in a Black Panther plot to extort $5,000 from Dr. Joachim Prinz, former president of the American Jewish Congress and a leading civil rights advocate. According to police, the money was being sought to pay for legal aid for “a brother” identified as “the enforcer.” His identity was not disclosed.
The alleged plotters did not reach Dr. Prinz, 67, who is rabbi of Temple B’nai Abraham here. Two men abducted Alfred Whiters, 32, custodian of the synagogue, in his car on Friday, at gunpoint. Police said they demanded Dr. Prinz’ address in Orange, N.J., a suburb, under threat to kill the custodian. But the custodian refused to give in and he was released unharmed an hour later some distance from the synagogue. Dr. Prinz called the custodian “a real hero” who gave the alleged abductors neither the rabbi’s address or telephone number.
The police said Ralph Cobb, 20, Jersey City, was arrested there yesterday on a Newark warrant charging him with threatening to kill and kidnapping. Police said Cobb’s car was full of Black Panther literature and posters. Dr. Prinz said he did not know the motives of the two men.
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