The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1870-08-01
The sneak News Thief aud III. victim.

Van valkenburg. the manager of the Atlantic
and Pacific Telegraph Company in Sacramento, has
been arrested for stealing Associated Press des.
patches for an Association Of which John Russell
Yonng, the notorious sneak news thief Is President.
The following are the particulars from the Sacra.
mento Union:
Last night duly ss, 8. l.. Pisrson, one Of the
Western Union operators, while ca the balcony in
balcony adjoining, and, lsokisg .around, he saw the
figure OF man. which no thought he recognized rs
that OF r. s. Vac yaMenborgh, the manager Of The
Atlantic suS Pacific Telegraph Company. As Mr..
Pis'son turned, the man stepped back iuto the
was Van Nalkenburgh. and that bis intention was 10
catch their press dispatches as they came over. A
coming and mr.; Pierson went 10 the instrument to
receive them. lie WAS scarcely down, however, be
fore he heard noise on the balcony which con.
WINGED him that the man outside mad taken posi-
tion from which he could hear everything, aad ho
therefore signalled the operator sending the des.
patches to wait minute. and went out on the bal.
cony and caught sight OF Van Vakenburgh lying
concealed in a narrow space between the railing Of
tho balcony OF the telegraph building and that Of tas
builcpg adjoning.lt on the north. Drawing his pis.
lol he fred shot in the air to intimidato Van Val.
kenburgh and to call assistrnce which was quickly
forthcoming from the other side OF the street in the
person Of j. r. Allen the sgent OF the company, and
Onicer Moore, who took Van Nalkenburgh 10 GUS
tody.
Pierson not to hurt him or kill him, and holding up
a"clip," which was hlled with writing paper, on
which he lad evidently intended TO take down the
report, he said: "You see haven't taken a word
Of IT," lie was taken 10 the station house by 0feors
Moore and Chamberlain. and charge OF attempt
TO steal teegrhphc reports made against him. Mr..
PlerSon was also arrested for dscharging firearms
in the city Both men put up deposits for their Ap
pelrance In the police court
Van Valkenbnrgh, who is young man OF unus nal
ability In mis- profession and has been esteemed by
large number OF friends, would appear TO have
made misstop in his anxiety to further the inter.
esls Of the company by which he was employed that
will have very damaging effect upon him. We
have not heard his explanation Of the occurrence,
but II looks almost impossible for him to clear away
the cloud resting over him, owing TO the
peculiar position In Which he was caught,
fiOn the material with which to secure the
despa.ches belonging TO other people. Tho law
OF tie State, II We mst.ke not, makes IL q misde
meanor for any person to clandestlney obtain the
contents OF teleGraphic messages, fixing as the pen
atty therefor ne not exceeding 81 600 or imprlson
ment for not loagcr than one year, or both fine and
Imprisonment. In this case tho party did not gain
possession OF the contents Of the dispatches but he
made the attempt which, az IN other offences,
amounts 10 the sane rs the commission OF the deed,
In fact, the Western Union leUpe say that they have
evidence sure to cunyitt him Of having taken In a
similar manner a column OF news IN June last.
TUE SNEAK NEWS IniLP's VICTIM HELD TO BAIL.
SACRAMENTO, CAI., July 0O--1be case Of Van
Vakenburgl, the lnnUager of the once Of the Cen.
tral Pacific Railroad Div of tire Atlontlc aud
Pucidc Telegraph COMPANY, charged with attempt
Ing TO steal the A. 1cnied Pi'ss dispatches, which
being received over tho wires oi the Western
Union Telegraph Conpany, came IN Tor examination
to-day. Van VHlkcuhurPh waived AN examination,
and was held In one thousand dollars bonds to ap'
pear before the Grand Jury. The Sacramento
Union comments upon the cI-e a follows:
"We wish to call public attention 10 fact In con-
ncction with this new and curious tclegraphc opo.
ration. i Is that nearly every newspaper supplied
By 1t with dispatches IL the servie friend oi tho
Central Pacific Railroad Company, who own the
Telegraph line, and who are deeply Interested In
which viii holp them TO Oppress the public. With
oo. scrup!Ss y soPSe,Spe2 themselves these rail,
O sol Of newspaper and teiegrsphio working tools
who honor tbp kNs caaAe u xliiA ieeI Ea s0ld"