New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1896-04-08
STEAL CORN Us
Sensational Story Telegraphed
From San Francisco About
Vanderbilt.
Alleged There Was a Conspiracy
to Kidnap and Hold Him
For Ransom.
One of the Alleged Conspirators
Was in Communication With
Detectives.

Detectives.
SAN FRANCISCO, April George E.
Gard, late chief of the Southern Pa
cific railway detective service, has just
given publicity to one of the most re-
markable stories of an anarchist plot
that was ever heard in San Francisco.
The plot, according to Mr.. Gard, was
nothing less than a conspiracy to hold
up the Vanderbilt special train and alb
duct Cornelius Vanderbilt, and it has
has transpired that the officials Of the
Southern Pacific company who were
informed by Mr.. Gard, before the Van
derbilt party reached Ell Paso, have
been taking all possible precautions to
prevent the carrying out Of the plot.
"Shortly before the Vanderbilt party
reached Ell Paso," said Mr.: Gard, Il
received a letter which detailed, in
some degree, the plans of a gang Of ex-
tremists for making money out Of the
Kidnapping of Cornelius Vanderbilt.
GAS to my informant, do not think
it necessary to say anything more than
that he is in San Francisco The letter
was written from here, and the men
who are working out the plot as it was
given to US, were making San Francisco
their base of operations. The letter
went on to say that the men had been
conspiring for some time, but were un.
able to make any Roadway until it ap-
peared in the papers that Vanderbilt
and Depew were on their way to Cali
fornia. They Immediately picked out
Vanderbilt as shining mark, and in2-
mediately laid plans for holdup. My
informant was one of the conspirators,
and in his letter to me said he would
Continue t" Act as Conspirator
and keep me informed as to any further
developments in their plans. The let
ter was the most startling epistle ever
read, but was convinced Immediately
of its genuineness, for knew the per-
son that wrote it as well as his history
and associations. lost no time in 60
ing to J. A. Muir, superintendent Of
the Southern Pacific company at Los
Angeles and laying the whole case be-
fore him. We deemed the commune
cation Of such startling Importance we
Immediately entered into telegraphic
communication with the officials of the
general office of the Southern Pacific in
this city. Mr.. Muir telegraphed the
facts contained in the letter so that the
officials in the general office should
have plenty Of time to take such pre-
cautionary measures as the occasion
demanded.
Evidently u Desperate Gang,
From what could judge of the let
ter, the conspirators had at that time
perfected no plans further than to
agree among themselves to hold up the
Vanderbilt special at some point in the
San Joaquin valley, and make the best
haul that was possible. If no money
was to be had any other way, Cornelius
Vanderbilt was to be kidnapped and
everyone else in the party was to be
killed, il necessary, in the accomplish
ment Of the end in view.
''Just what steps were taken by the
railroad company to prevent the hold
up after being warned by telegraph
from Los Angeles, I have not been
fully advised. It was suggested that a
pilot engine be sent out ahead of the
special train, but as far as know this
was not done. The anarchists, if they
may be called such, had laid their plans
to hold up the train at some convenient
point in the San Joaquin valley, and
therefore I did not expect any violence
below Bakersfield
Made tho Run in Daylight.
This side Of Bakersfield the special
train was run only during the day time,
and it is possible this precaution upset
the plans Of the conspirators. AS every
one who kept track Of the Vanderbilt
party will remember, the visitors re-
manned over night in their train at
Bakersfield, after visiting Santa Bar.
bara, and came up through the San
Joaquin valley by daylight on Tuesday
last. This or some other cause
upset the plans of the robbers.
The train was not held up and
Cornelius Vanderbilt was not abducted
I am rather included to think that the
uSA w III COACOCGSG UuS EtCdWS
frightened into an abandonment of
their plans
Detective Gard enjoys the dlstinc-
ton Of being probably as well &C.
quainted with train robbers, stage rob-
bers and crooks of other stripes as any
other man in California, and the state.
ment that he knows the person who as
sisted in the conspiracy and then d.
vulged the plans of the conspirators to
him can hardly be doubted.
Neither Mr.. Vanderbilt, Mr.. Depe:T,
or any of the members Of the visiting
party were informed of the anticipated
hold up and left the city on their way
east, without learning that they had
been made the objects Of conspiracy
by gang of desperadoes
Killed His Employer, Es
Fox LAKE, Wis, April Edward
Davids, a prominent farmer, was shot
and instantly killed BY Julius like, a
farm hand working for Dasids. The
latter had interfered to preient Zilke
striking q young man in d darrel. The