The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-12-26
DOMAIN THE CRANK IN JAIL
he Disclosed His Identity to a De-
teCtiVe.

he Is an Anarchist or SOCIALIST and
Says His Letters Contained no
Threats-He Merely Wanted the Re-
cipients to Aid Him in Getting
Work.
Washington, Dec. 25.-Joseph Donjan,
the man who has been writing threat
ening letters to a number of prom
nent public men in the last two
weeks, is in Jail tonight. He walked
into a private detective bureau this
afternoon asking for money. The de-
tective took him into coffee house and
had something prepared for him to eat.
Meantime he questioned him and learned
enough to fix his identity. He started to-
ward the stationhouse with him and on
the way met Officers Weldon and Boyd,
in whose hands he placed him
1t will be remembered that a letter
from this man to Senator Mills, few
days ago, caused the senator's son,
Charles H. Mills, to secure leave from
the authorities togo armed for the pro-
lection of his father This was the cause
of bringing the mans acts before thepub-
lie.
WRITING FOR SEVERAL MONTHS.
1t has since developed that for several
months past he has been writing similar
letters to a number of prominent public
men, among them Vice President Steven
son, Senator German, Senator Mills,
Senator Sherman, and, as the man him.
self claims, President Cleveland, Secre-
tary of War Lamont, the New York
World and other newspapers. AS long
ago as during the fight over
the silver question in the House
and Senate, Vice President Steven
son received letters almost daily
from this man, who was then in Newark.
No attention was paid to them and they
were consigned to the waste basket as
fast as they arrived. He received one to-
day which was dated from 304 Tenth
street, this city.
A number of reporters were at the
first precinct police station tonight to
see the man, and he talked very freely to
all of them.
WHAT RE LOOKS LIKE.
He is a man % years old, about feet 10
inches in hight. and weighs $50 or 100
pounds. He is dark and sallow, has a
greasy complexion and small dark mus
tache, with rather slouchy look about
him. He has the dropping eyelids which
usually accompany brooding and melan-
choly disposition. The mans manner of
relating his story gives ample evidence
that he does not belle his appearance in
this respect. He talks very nationally
and with rather studied effort, to avoid
any appearance of bitterness or of the
expression of any anarchistic views.
He says he is an Austrian by birth and
lays stress upon the assertion that he is
Catholic and processes degree of piety.
He says he came to this country when he
was Is years old and had been a tele-
graph operator in the old country. He
manifested considerable pride in his ma
,ols NNVt 1a,, fo-
published statement that he is "pol-
ack."
WHY HE GAVE UP TELEGRAPHING
He gave.up telegraphing when he came
to this country because there was some
slight difference in the instruments and
in the alphabet. He says that under those
circumstances if he had secured a job
they would have sent him to some remote
Office in the far west where there were CO.
votes and cougars and other dangerous
creatures. showing a fantastic apprehen-
sion that was characteristic of the tone
of his whole recital. He became bench
moulder after he came to this country
and claims to have worked for a time at
Salem, o.
He says also that he was employed in
the wire mills at Johnstown at the time
of the great food there, but that he was
IN Pittsburg on that particular occa-
sion.
A PROSPECTOR FOR GOLD.
Later, with his father, and mother and
brother, he went to Newark, n. j., and
last May, having been long out of employ
ment, went west TO Washington and
Idaho and prospected for gold there. He
says he lived there until he came back to
Newark, and claims to have been en-
deavoring to secure work there ever
since. He says he lived at Newark with
his father and mother and brother at
l2S Barnett street. This agrees
with the address of the ear
her letters received from him
here. He claims that his father and
brother went TO Florida to take up lands,
but that he did not think it was worth
while to go, as he could get nothing to do
anywhere. He denies with emphasis that
he is an anarchist or socialist, or ever at
tended any meetings of those bodies. He
expresses grievance against the Knights
of Labor aud labor unions and says that
he was prevented from securing employ
ment by not being member of any of
those organizations.
WHY HE WROTE THE LETTERS.
AS to the letters that he has been writ
ing, he claims that he was melted to
write them by other persons. He said he
received 500 for doing it. Asked as to
the character of persons who did this, he
disclaimed that they were anarchists, or
bhdb tuey lOFuSu any dSSOClhJluu. I1G
says they were merely private persons.
He also totally denied that
there were any threats in the
letters he had written, or any
references whatever to dynamite. He
says he never saw dynamite and wouldn't
know it if he saw it. When asked what
right he had to write such letters at the
bidding of other people, he simply in
quired: "What right have you to write
down what l am telling you. 1t was
simply business l went into TO make a
1vinR-.iust as you write news for news
papers,
HE HAS A SCHEME.
He claimed that all that was contained
In a letter was a proposition to each Of
the men addressed TO forward him the
cost of transportation to Washington, and
an offer to come on and make a business
proposition to them. This, he says, was
after he found that there was no work to
De had, and he intimates that he had a
plan to better affairs. As to what this plan
Is, he declines to say anything, but
says he will probably make statement
OF 1t at his trial. The man says he. came
10 Washington three days ago from Bal
lmore Night before last he applied at
the police station for lodging, and the
officer in charge directed him to the mu-
LODI 10 ha