The Washington times., 1901-12-30
PLOT TO KIDNAP
GOULD CHILD F0ILED.
PLAN OVERHEARD In A SALOON.
Conspirators Intended TO Seize
Young JAY From Mother mt
opera aud Fly in an
Automobile.

NEW YORK, Dec. 29.-while Mrs. Geo
J. Gould and three of her children we're
attending the matinee at the Metropolitan
Opera House Saturday. two men in a
nearby saloon discussed plan to kidnap
her second son. Jay. as the Could party
left the building The police were in
formed Of the plot within ten minutes
after the men had been overheard.
When Mrs Gould left The opera house
with her children 10 enter the automobile
which was wait ng for her. a central
Office detective was a. her side. His vigi-
liant watch WIS not relaxed until the We
hicle had rolled away from the entrance,
homeward bound.
Mrs. Gould was not informed OF the
precaution taken, and both she and Mr.
Gould said last night that they knew moth
ing OF the stir among the police.
Heard Her Mention Time.
Mrs. Could went to the opera in public
automobile, and ordered the man to re-
turn for her at o'clock, which had been
overheard by two men lettering near the
entrance.
The three children, jay. Marjorie
Gwynne and Helen Vivian, attracted much
attention as they went in. because Of their
charming appearance. the two little girls
dressed all in white. the little boy in blue.
The chauffeur was pleased 10 tell ques-
TONERS who his distinguished passengers
were
Shortly after the curtain was raised on
the first act of Romeo and Juliet" two
men crossed the street from the Fortieth
Street entrance and went into a saloon al
the northeast corner OF Seventh Avenue.
They stood for scme time at a compare
lively secluded corner Of the bar. and a
part OF their conversation was overheard
by a chance tl!at was aided slightly by
the unconsciou., raising of one voice in
the irritation Of argument.
Description Known.
From his description the principal in
the affair was about thirty-thrc years
old, a stocky, medium built, smooth
shaven man, with brown hair and eyes,
and covered to his heels in a pepper and
salt raglan coat He can be positively
identified II picked up by Captain Titus
men.
His companion was lighter in hair and
features, and not so clearly described by
the man who told the police or the plot
Both looked iuconspicuously respectable
the less determined resolution Of his
partner by saying:
They are in a hired vehicle today, and
II has been called for o'clock. when
thercll be nothing doing in front and a
clear street Our machine has twice the
speed. and there viii be 10 catching US
with a good start
There was a coincidence in the re-
marks and The facts already known as
fH-
opera but the probability became a GER
taiuty when the confident exhorter became
more earnest in his purpose TO rouse his
companion, who favored postponemcnt
until another time.
she Is alone today" he exclaim,1.
except for maid, and you know she
usually takes a footman or two along
with her. It's ten chances to one for us
today. with public automobile instead Of
closed carriage and couple of fiunkies.
We don't want 20 bother with the two
little girls, but grab the boy"
Police Act Quickly.
There was no other party at the opera
whose plans and personnel SO perfectly
corresponded with the Gould family. spe-
clal Policeman Frank Mallon was imme-
diatcIy told this conversation, and he re-
ported it TO Detective Sergeant Arnett in
the foyer Detective Sergeant Frank J.
Hyde was also posted aud report made
TO police headquarters.
As a present precaution TO have the
Gould box in the psrterre carefully
watched through the performance and af-
ter, Detective Sergeant Arnett and officer
Mallon we're on guard, and looked for tie
men ms described after Mrs. Gould and her
children had been safely started home
ward.
But the execution OF the plot had been
postponed. or gone wrong because Of the
police protection.
OmcIaIs silent.
Although the matter was reported TO
Max Kirsch treasurer Of the opera house.
he professed ignorance when seen last
Saturday night Later he made a state
ment that the case was in the hands o.
Captain Titus, as it seemed OF sufficient
Importance. but that he himself knew
nothing more than the facts reported by
the policemen who guarded the Gould
family.
Captain Titus would give no informa-
ton regarding the plot and declined to say
whether his men were looking for the
men. II was stated positively at the op-
era house that the case had been Il rned
over 10 the police. Mr. George Jay Gould
made the following statement:
II have not heard of the kidnapping
scheme. Mrs. Gould did not know that
she under police protection at the
opera houEe this afternoon. II there was
coed reas IN for this special care il was
consdelHte of the detectives to give her