October Bonus Episode: The Kidnapping of Peggy McMath

On May 2, 1933, the Harwich Center School received a telephone call from the father of ten-year-old Peggy McMath, a student at the school. Mr. McMath informed them that he was sending a driver to pick up his daughter and he expected her to be ready. However, when the driver showed up, Peggy didn’t recognize the man and was hesitant to get into the car. In response, the driver of the car, Kenneth Buck, grabbed the girl, threw her in the car, and drove off before anyone could stop him.

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References

Associated Press. 1933. "Buck removed to hospital." Boston Globe, May 29: 1.

Boston Globe. 1933. "Kenneth Buck in prison to serve 24 to 25 years." Boston Globe, June 26: 4.

—. 1933. "Latest description of Peggy and man who kidnapped her." Boston Globe, May 4: 23.

—. 1934. "McMath family to leave Cape Cod." Boston Globe, March 29: 12.

Cox, Carolyn. 2021. The Snatch Racket. New York, NY: Potoman Books.

Haviland, Alexander. 1933. "Buck brothers gain two points." Boston Globe, June 15: 1.

—. 1933. "First ransom demand called for $250,000." Boston Globe, May 7: 1.

—. 1933. "General and boy star witnesses." Boston Globe, June 17: 1.

—. 1933. "Peggy and Cyril tell vivid stories to jury." Boston Globe, June 22: 1.

Kingsbury, Alex. 2016. "Kidnapped on old Cape Cod." Boston Globe, August 28: K6.

Sibley, Frank. 1933. "Kidnaper "in trouble" before but was not prosecuted." Boston Globe, May 8: 5.

—. 1933. "State police refuse to halt girl search." Boston Globe, May 5: 1.

Springfield Daily News. 1933. "Police called off while father of child pleads with her abductors." Springfield Daily News, May 3: 1.

Cowritten by Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley & Dave White (Since 10/2022)

Produced & Edited by Mikie Sirois (Since 2023)

Research by Dave White (Since 10/2022), Alaina Urquhart & Ash Kelley

Listener Correspondence & Collaboration by Debra Lally

Listener Tale Video Edited by Aidan McElman (Since 6/2025)

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