The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-11-04
TRIED TO KIDNAP GOULD.
4 Plot TO Hold The Money Hing for
Ransom in the Mountains.

Plan Almost Succeeded.
New York, Nov. S-Not long ago Frank
N. Mitchell, the novelist, wrote an extra
VACANT romance in which he told the
story Of the supposed kidnapping of Jay
Gould. 1t had a large sale, probably be
cause it seemed so delightfully."- prepos-
ferrous. Few people who read it had any
idea that it was ever likely to approach
duplication in real life.
The following article drawn from the
experiences Of ex-Chief of the Secret Ser
vice Drummond, will show that fact
sometimes discounts even the imaginings
Of a brain as fertile as Mr.. Aitchens.
This has never been limited at in print
before, and its details are calculated to
create a sensation.
Norcross, the man who tried to remove
Russell Sage by dropping a bomb in the
huancier's Rector street Office because he
couldn't get a million dollars on demand,
was the means of making the men of mil
lions more cautious. They hired detec-
tives for a time were careful not to
place themselves in a position where they
would be at the mercy of cranks and
crooks. But the excitement attending
Norcross attempt on Mr. Sage's life wore
off and the fnanciers dispensed with their
guards until the next attempt on their
person or property is made.
The story of the narrow escape Of one
of their number Mr.. George Gould, had
from becoming the victim of a gang of
robbers was learned of in the office Of the
ex-Chief of the Uuited States Secret Ser
vice, A. L. DTummond in New York city.
The plot to kidnap Mr.. Gould and hold
him long enough to force him to sign
check for 100000 was all but carried out
some weeks previous TO the departure of
the millionaire to England to race the
Vigilant. 1t was carefully laid by a gang
of ex-counterfeiters and bank burglars,
and, according to one of the number, it
would have been a success if it were not
for the arrest of their leader on an old
charge. The most surprising fact brought
out by the tale told by member of the
gang is that such a plot has not been laid
before the circumstances surrounding
Mr.. Gould's visits to his English shooting
lodge in the Catskils favoring the efforts
of the robbers. The blowing open of the
express car on a Virginia railroad the
other day was an easy matter compared
with the Selling of the person of Mr..
Gould among the mountains surrounding
his Furlough lodge.
Ex-Chief Drummond has run to earth
more counterfeiters than any other man,
for he saw twenty years of service as
the agent of the government. A counter
feiter he caused to be arrested several
years ago reformed and settled down in
this city. His reformation was complete,
and he is now a boOkkeeper in a down
town business house.
Early last week he met Chief Drummond
on Broadway and told him how he was
getting along. 1t was the day the courts
decided to give Russell Sage another
chance in the suit brought against him
by Laidlay, who alleges that Mr.. Sage
used him as a shield when Norcross threw
the bomb. Chief Drummond was inuuir-
ing as to what had become of other men,
bers of the gang he sent to prison. The
ex-counterfeiter referred to the Norcross
bomb throwing on seeing the account in
paper he held of the suit against Rus
sell Sage.
Il heard" said he, that a couple of
the old fellows were mixed up in a case
somewhat similar to this affair of Nor
cross and Sage, only they were going to
get their money in a different way. They
intended kidnapping George Gould"
Kidnap George Could" repeated Chief
Drummond, interested at once.
Yes, so one of the gang told me. but
the plot fell through owing to the arrest
OF the leader who is now running a green
goods game over on Long Island"
Chlef Drummond had occasion to as,
sign couple of his detectives to do SER
wee for a millionaire, and he happened to
reIer to the eX-COunterfeiter's story Of
the attempt to kdnap George Gould and
hold MIN Tor a ransom. He put a reporter
IN communication with his informant
saying he did not wish to vouch for The
story although as told him it seemed like
1y enough
According to the ex-counterfefter who
was found at wholesale drug house ~
work on his books, counterfeitlne and
saIe-cracktng have deteriorated greatly, In
the past Few years. So the smart crooks
VINO used to follow those professions
nave turned TO other schemes for money
making In looking about for a desirable
victim the leader of the gang that planned
10 trap George Gould learned that GEORGE
Gould often visited his hunting lodge in
the Catskills unescorted.
This man." said the reporters infor-
mant' is past grand master In all kinds
OF crime. He started out in life as a
hehchman of Jim Fisk and was one of the
men VINO were present when ex-pugilist
Morrlssey called on Fisk at the Grand
opera house. where Fisk had an onice
There was debt Of $4,000 to he settled
ana Morrlssey, who was running n parnb-
ing mousse at the time wanted n settle.
ment. He forced Fisk to sign a check for
mo amount, although he was surrounded
by dozen men ike the man who got nm
THIS scheme to kidnap George Gould. Rut
Morrlsey was fearless and would have
made away with dozen men at that time
AFTER leaving Fisks service the principai
IN the Gould plot branChed out into break.
ing banks and had for partner the no.
torious Lyons of Manhattan bank fame
Next he became a counterfeiter and was
arrested along with myself and severa
others in Cincinnati and Louisville h,
Chief Drummond He is only out of prls
on about year. and is desperate enough
Tor any kind OF a scheme. one of his as
sociates told me how the plot TO kidnal
Gould was laid.
AS you perhaps know, Mr.. Could.
lodge IN the CatsNills is fully vine mile.
over the mountains from Arkville station
on the Western and Delaware railroad
The hunting retreat of the railway mag
nate is situated among the most inaccessi
bic highlands Of Delaware county. and IN,
ride TO his mountain home Is as dreary ,
journey as one could well imagine II m,
informant tells the truth. Well IL an
pears Mr.. Gould was not as careful a,
he might be on some Of his hurried visit,
70 Furlough lodge. lie would often run