Alfred Christopher Read Jr.: Kiddnapping His Wife

Alfred Christopher Read Jr. was born 4 Feb 1906 in Oakland, CA to Alfred Christopher Read Sr. & Ada Bibby.

Inmate: #13817 Oakland, CA Jail
Arrested: 28 May 1932
Crime: Kidnapping His Wife

Alfred was having an affair with Claire Windsor, a famous actress of silent movies, His wife was so upset by it she claimed he kidnapped her by gun point. She then proceeded to sue Claire for alienation of her husband's affections. Here are some newspaper clippings.

Claire Winsor

Claire Windsor

Alienation of affections is a common law tort, abolished in many jurisdictions. Where it still exists, an action is brought by a spouse against a third party alleged to be responsible for damaging the marriage, most often resulting in divorce. The defendant in an alienation of affections suit is typically an adulterous spouse's lover, although family members, counselors and therapists or clergy members who have advised a spouse to seek divorce have also been sued for alienation of affections.

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40818777/alfred_read/

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40818672/alfred_read/

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40818180/alfred_read/

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40818198/alfred_read/

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40818355/alfred_read/

Alfred's Wife Marian Young

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40818714/alfred_read/

Allred married Marian Valentine Young 7 Feb 1928 in Oakland, CA. They had two children.


Alfred J Read
1930–1987
Mary Constance Read

1931–

Alfred was also married to Barbara Kierulff
(1909–1972. They had 2 children together.

Richard Read
Patricia Read

Then he was lastly married to Norma Lou Allen (1924–2012)
They divorced 
Jun 1974 • Los Angeles, California, USA

Actress Claire Windsor was born Clara Viola Cronk 14 Apr 1892 in KS and died at age 80 24 Oct 1972 of a heart attack. She was married twice first to David Willis Bowes, they had a son, David Willis Bowes Jr. 

Claire and her son David

She then married another actor named Bert Mortimer Lyell stage name Charles "Buddy" Rogers (1885-1954).

Bert Mortimer Lytell

Claire claimed to be madly in love with Alfred and wanted to marry him.

Alfred's son Richard Read was well known as Richard Willis Evans, Detroit Tigers Baseball pitcher.

The last article written said Alfred was in Hollywood to be in a motion picture, I didn't find anything when I googled it. Maybe it was flop or he just didn't get a part. 

This story reminds of this quote:

Share. “O, what a tangled web we weave when first we practise to deceive!” -Sir Walter Scott


Whenever we deceive others, in order to make things better for ourselves in the moment, we deceive ourselves most of all.

Seems fitting under the circumstances.