New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-12-26
DOMAIN, THE POLE, CAUGHT.
ARRESTED BY DETECTIVES IN WASHINGTON
AND LOCKED UP.
THE NEWARK ANARCHIST ADMITS WRITING
THREATENING LETTERS TO PRESIDENT
CLEVELAND AND OTHER PROMINENT
MEN-H1s STORY OF TRAMPING.

MEN-Hs STORY OF TRAMrING.
Washington, Dec. 25.-Joseph Donjan. the
man who has been sending threatening letters
to Vice. President Stevenson. Secretary Lamont
Senator Mills and other prominent public men
in this city for several days. was arrested by
Detective McDevitt tonight. McDevitt recog-
nized Donian from a description sent out, ana
after his arrest he was also identified by Detec-
tives Weldon and Boyd. the two headquarters
men, who had been on the outlook for the TEL
low since President Stevenson received the
first of the five threatening letters which nave
been addressed to him. This afternoon they re-
ceiyed information that the man they wanted
had been seen hanging about several Seventh
ct stores and were on the lookout for him.
When first seen by Captain McDevitt, Donjan
was talking to a disreputable-ooking stranger
The officer approached and entered into conver-
sation with the man, who admitted that his
name was Joseph Donjan and that he mad
sent the letters not only to the V'ce-President.
Secretary Lamont and Senator Mills, but had
also sent similar to President Cleveland
Senators Gordon and Sherman. ana one 10
each of the New-Jersey Senators.
Captain McDevitt turned his important capture
over to the Hea eaduuarters detectives. who locked
him I'D in the First Precinct Police Station, where
he was soon afterward seen by a reporter. Dom
ian was lying upon bench smoking strong
clay pipe When his name was called he sprang
I'D and came eagerly to the bars. At first glance
the idea Of his being a crank does not suggest it
self. His forehead is high, retreatng far back
and ending in a sparse growth Of crisp black hair
tI;s .ves are dark blue or seemed to be in the
dim light of the station They are set wide
anart and II is only after closely watching his
facial movements that one recognizes crank
exnress,on. His upper lip is very short and he
wears short mustache and stubby black beard
~ fen davis growth. He is about five feet nine
irches In height Of average build. and wore
dark blue striped shirt and dark waistcoat ana
trousers He talks rapidly. In German ana ai'ei
a few moments conversation one cannot lsii u
recognize a typical crank Of considerable shrewd-
ness.
Whom interrogated by reporter he talked
freely until by a slip ne let drop the iac' ''"'
the letters had been written at the lnsugauoh
-. o,bor rArsons He was quick to recognize
tho mistake made and repeated questions lalieu
IN get him again to refer to that portion OF the
story except 10 say that the persons ne hao
| IN mind and powerful and influential and would
see to II that no harm came to MIN, no ha'tef
hn,,, strong q case the Government might make
| out against him. This slip ana MS SUBSEQUENT
| ao,,ons seemed to indicate that he belonged to
| members in this city. When asked whether
| this organization was anarchistic or soclalisuc
| in its tendencies. he burst into rage and swore
| hy all that he considered holy that such an in
| situation was a slander. He stamped his feet
| o,sncbed his fists and with wild-ooking eyes
| 6yed on his Questioner repeated over anu over
| again in his broken mixture OF German anu
| English: by birth am an Austrian, by euuca-
| tion a High German. and by religion Cathohc
| About Socialism or Anarchy know nothing ana
| don't want to know anything. -, o,
| Donian was asked If he didn't know that such
| letters as he had written would be sure TO get
| him into trouble. why should they he an
| swered 'Is 1t crime in this country TO ask
| rich man for money when am so poor and need
II was born in Troeppau. silesia, Austria;
to give q short sketch Of himself. "My parents,
| moor peasants raised money enough nearly
| eleven wears ago to come TO this country, bring
| ing the entire family which consists In additioh
| RI myself OF father mother. brother and sister
| We first settled in Newark. ~ j" and theh
| moved West locating on a small farm near
| salem Ohio At Newark / worked IN rubber
| goods factory as a laborer. and after the family
| moved TO salem went to Pittsburg and became
| an ironworker When the family came back TO
Newark I studied telegraphy and electricity, anu
| that "a now my business, but ! can't get any
! work to do either as an electrician or teleg-
| rapher A couple OF months ago my mother
| hp,har and aister were taken 10 Orange Lake,
| y,,o to work for a large orange grower. Ny
| father was TO follow them after the first OF the
| year. and concludeu u make my way gov"
| there the best couiu' -, ,
~ walked and begged along the road until |
came to baltimore and not knowing what TO DO
80 nrohahly being little angry wrote the
6rst ~ the five letters sent 10 Vice-President
Stevenson. Then came to Washington. feeling
more and more az II these rich and powerful
.r at the head OF the Government should
Give me a little OF their plenty ! could get
no work here. although ] looked for IT every
where Then wrote another letter 10 Mr. ste
o and one each to President Cleveland.
senretary ro Lamont. and to each of the New
Jersev senators. The next day ! sent 10
Senator sherman and Senator Mills. The next
Ssw I made my way back to Baltimore and sent
another letter to the vioe-President The follow
Ing dav I returned to Washington and sent him
another one. Altogether wrote fifteen letters.