The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-04-07
KIDNAPERS FOILED
FAILURE OF 4 SCHEME TO ABDUCT
CORNELIUS VANDERBILT.
Detective Cards story of n Conspiracy
Hatched In San Francisco to Hold
Up q Special Train.

SAN FRANCISCO. April 6.-Georse L.
Gard. late chief of the Southern Pacific
Company's detective service. came up from
Los Angeles last night. and gave publicity
TO one Of the most remarkable stories OF an
Anarchist plot that was ever heard in San
Francisco. The plot, according to Mr.. Gard.
was nothing less than a conspiracy 10 hold
up the Vanderbilt special train and abduct
Cornelius Vanderbilt, and il has transpired
that the officials OF the Southern Pacific
company. who were informed by Mr.. Gard
before the Vanderbilt party reached FL
Paso. have been taking all possible pre-
caution to prevent the carrying out OF the
plot.
Shortly before the Vanderbilt party
reached FL Paso," said Mr.. Gard, II re-
ceived a letter which detailed in some de-
gree the plans of a gang of conspirators
for making money out Of the KIDNAPPING
of Cornelius Vanderbilt. AS to my inform
ant, 1 do not think 1t is necessary TO say
any more than that re is in San Francisco.
The letter was written from here and the
men who were working out the plot. so it
was given to US. were making San Francisco
their base of operations. The letter went
on to say that the men had been conspir:ng
for some time. but had not been abe. TO
agree on any plan for making a haul until
the announcement appeared in the papers
that Vanderbilt and Depew were on their
way to California. They Immediately picked
out Vanderbilt for a shining and proceeded
to lay plans for a holdup. Ny informant
was one of the gang and in his letter to me
he said that he would continue TO act in
the role of conspirator and keep me informed
OF their movements and any further develop
ments in their plans.
1.-THE letter was the most startling epiStle
l ever received, but / was convinced i'm
mediateiy of its genuineness for / knew the
person that wrote IL, as well as his history
and associations. 1 lost no time in going
to j. A. Muir, superintendent of the South
ern Pacific company al Los Angeles. and
laying the whole case before him.. We
deemed the communication of such startling
Importance that We Immediately entered into
teegraphic communication with the officials
of the general office of the southern Pacific
in this city. Mr.. Muir telesraphed the facts
contained in the letter so that the officials
in the general office might have plenty of
time to take such precautionary measures
as the occasion demanded. From what L
could judge by the letter, the conspirators
had at that time perfected no plans further
than to agree among themselves to hold up
the Vanderbilt special train 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
one else in the party was to be killed IL
necessary, in the accomplishment of the
end in view. Just what steps were taken
by the railroad company to prevent the
from Los Angeles / have not been fully
advised. 1t was suggested that a pilot en-
CINE be sent out ahead of the special train,
but as far as l know this was not done.
1.-The Anarchists, If they may be called
such, had laid their plans 10 hold up the
train at some convenient point in the San
Joaquin valley, and it. therefore. was un-
necessary to fear any violence below Bakers
field. This side of Bakersfield the special
train was run only during the daytime and
it is barely possible that this precaution
upset the plans of the conspirators. AS
bilt party will remember. the visitors re-
manned over night in their train at Bakers
field after visiting Santa Barbara and came
up through the San Joaquin valley by
daylight on Tuesday last. This or some
other cause upset the plans o the robbers.
Vanderbilt was not abducted. l am rather
inclined to think that the men who con-
cccted the plot became frightened into an
abandonment of their plans"
Detective Gard enjoys the distinction of
being probably as well acquainted with train
stripes as any other man In California. and
the statement that he knows the person
who assisted in the conspiracy and then
divulged the plans Of the conspirators to
him can hardly be doubted Neither Mr..
Vanderbilt, Mr.. Depew nor any of the MEM
the anticipated hold-up and left the city last
evening on their way East without learning
that they had been made the objects of a
conspiracy by a gang of desperadoes.
The officials of the Southern Pacific rail-
way say they know nothing of the alleged
pew and Mr.. Vanderbilt were riding last
week and abduct Mr.. Vanderbilt.