Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-04-29
PRIVATE DETECTIVES.
How the Vanderbilts, Astors. and jay Gould.
Are Protected Against Cranks


How the Yanderbilts, Astors. and JAY Gould.
Are Protected Against Cranks.
The arrest of Japanese young man
who imagined that the daughter of the
late William II. Vanderbilt was his sweet
heart, and wildly sought her throughout
his boarding house, leads to the discovery
writes a New York correspondent, that
the residences of the Vanderbilts, the
Astors, and Jay Gould are constantly
guarded against cranks by private detect
ives. Mobotes Goto, the japanese in the
present case, has been student here for
two years. Gentleman of Japan are und-
er no ban in New York, and he had met
some of the Vanderbilt's socially, though
his acquaintance with them was slight.
He was an attendant on religious services
and lectures of the Young Mems Chris
tian association, and in that way knew
Cornelius Vanderbilt, who is actively in
terested in that field of pnilanthropy
There Is no unmarried daughter of the
late millionaire, and the lady whom he
insanely regarded as his sweetheart is the
wife of Seward Webb, who has not so
much as nodding knowledge of him. Be-
fore his mania rendered him a nuisance
elected from the reception room of Mrs.
William FL. Vanderbilt's mansion, where
he went to seek the object of his passion.
On each occasion he brought tokens of
affection in the shape of rare Japanese
ceramics. Twice he sent up his card.
and was seen by Webb, who promptly
turned him out. On the second cali he
departed at the bidding of a servant, who
had been ordered to eject him if he came
again. His third effort was frustrated
by detective, who intercepted HIM at
the doorstep and drove him off.
The private service for the production
of the Vanderbilts, Astors and Gould was
organized three years ago, and is osten-
sibly separate for each family, though the
men who defend the Vanderbilts and
Astors are provided by the same establish
ment, and practically work together. Reg
ular patrol duty is done, night and day,
and twenty detectives are exclusively en-
ployed for the purpose. There are four
Astor residences and five belonging to the
Vanderbilts, all in or close to Fifth ave-
nue., between Thirty-third and Fifty-sec-
ond streets. The spies are on the watch
eight hours each per day, and the beats
are SO arranged that the nine houses can
not be approached unseen by one or more
OF the guardsmen.
William II. Vanderbilt was the origi-
natOr of this system, and he was melted
to 1t by the large number of cranky let
tiers which he received. He professed to
haze no fear of rational evil-doers, but
was apprehensive that maniacs might at
tack him or some member of his family.
Since his death the mails have been laden
with all sorts of appeals, demands, and
threats directed to his sons.
Jay GOuld's self-protectiOn is more sec
ret and characteristic. He does not in
trust it to a detective agency, but hires
his own bodyguard. For years he has al
ways been accompanied by a stalwart
young fellow. But that is "a safeguard
against Wall street enemies. Cranks who
might cut up caperS in or around his
home are under the view of spies whose
quarters are in room of the Windsor
hotel across the way. That is additional
to patrol duty done by a separate set of
men. These employees of the millionaire
families, whose names are poor peoples
synonyms for wealth, are kept infOrmen
as to every new demonstration by a crank.
and they are alert to descry and drive off
the mOnOmaniacs who attempt any eX
plO1ts. During the western strikes Jay
Gould has made the trips between his
home and office in a cab, instead of
elevated car, as formerly, and it is OBJ
served that ring at his bell brings a
sauntering Waterman to the foot of the
steps about as quickly as it does the SER
want to the top. One of the defenses in
Gould's case is against those who would
write antagOniStic sentiments with chalk
on his sidewalk and steps. Men and boys
are frequently caught at it and compelled
to desist. A specimen of that class of rev.
olutionist seemed to be poet, and
wild one, Judging by the description of
him. His chalk was bright red, and he
rapidly wrote
The rich may shTk.
The poor must work.
before he was cOllared; and then, as
though determined that at least the ter
minal rhymes of his verse should be en-
blazoned, he added at what would have
been the end of the third line, labor"
and right underneath ''neighbor." The
rest remains unknown.