The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1901-02-02
FORT ASKED PAPA
Stevens Freshmen Started
Out to Kidnap Him and
Prep Funds.
WEREN'T AFRAID OF DETECTIVES
But Two Hoboken Policemen
Put the Twenty Youths
to Rout.
WEREN'T AFRAID OF DETECTIVES

Two Hoboken policemen and an Orange
detective successfully frustrated a bold
attempt at kidnapping in Church Square
Park. Hoboken. last night. The kidnap-
persw ere twenty willy freshmen of Stev-
ems Institute and the object Of their we'll
planned scheme of abduction was William
Fort, son of Supreme Court Justice Fort
of Orange and Treasurer of the gradu-
ating class of Stevens Preparatory
School.
The freshmen's conduct needs no other
explanation than the fact that the
"preps' were holding their annual recep-
tlon and dance and that the former were
doing their utmost to break up the event.
The kidnapping OF Fort with the funds Of
the class in his possession struck the
freshmen as the best means of accom-
was not their fault that their well laid
plans miscarried.
Fort arrived in Hoboken on the $40 train
from Orange in the Lackawanna depot.
He had been informed of the attempt to
abduct him and he wisely sought the ad-
vice of his learned father. Judge Fort es-
tabiished a precedent in collegiate juris-
prudence by hitting upon the private de-
tective idea. The law would be carried
out and justice would be done the i'm
periiled prep" by this means, he ruled.
A sleuth was employed accordingly by
order Of the Judge and he accompanied
young Fort to Hobolen.
The journey from the Lackawanna de-
pot to the Institute was uneventful for
more than three-fourths of the way and
the Orange sleuth was beginning to be-
Meve Hoboken college youths a quiet lot
when a low whistle was heard.
1t was in the middle of lonely Hudson
Square Park. Before the sleuth could
make deductions or give himself over to
analysis of the mysterious signal a score
or more of freshmen sprang from behind
bushes and trees.
Fort, we want you and that money
on your person to go with us into that
cab waiting over there" said one of the
freshmen, pointing to where the light of a
hack could be seen blinking in the ggloom
of far off corner of the park.
'T won't hand up a cent, and I won't
go with you," replied Fort. This man
with me is a detective and / will arrest
any one who lays hands on me-
That's good one shouted one fresh
man. Fellows, the prep has body
guard Let us steal both OF them and
tiaraw hena iato the zissr .s.a,.a....ss:
Young gentleinen- began the slsuTh,
but he got no further. The freshmen
grabbed both him and his charge and be-
gan dragging them towards the cab.
Both began to scream for help and
pretty soon two policemen came running
to their assistance.
Let US steal the cops, too" suggested
one intrepid freshman.
The newcomers, Patrolmen Rabold and
Ryan, were not easily frightened, how
ever, and drawing their night sticks
cleared a way to Fort and his protector.
Putting both of them in the rear, the
bluecoats began to lay on their sticks
gently and wild scrambling of fresh
men soon began.
Fort and the detective were hurried to
the High School where they were given
an enthusiastic reception by the "preps."
The freshmen later in the evening tried
to force entrance into the school for the
purpose of stealing the ice cream and
cake but they found all doors and win
dows barred tight.
The "preps" danced with feminine
friends until midnight and voted the re-
ception a big success. The freshmen say
| they will wreak vengeance on them some
other time