The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1904-05-18
Trouble Grows Out of Money
Which Missourian Is Said TO
Have Received From Beers.
SUSPICION OF BLACKMAIL." !"
Charge Against One of Dom
Paufs Generals and a Foreign
Correspondent-Accused
Wanted Accounting.
REPUBLIC SPECIAL

New YORK, May lI-Central Office detec
tives this afternoon arrested General Sam
uel Pearson Of Scranton, Pa, and Corne
lius W. Van der Hoogt, a foreign CORE
spondent OF Baltimore and Washington
who are stopping at the Everett Hous
in this city, on complaint OF Webster
Davis, former Assistant Secretary of III,
Interior, who served under the McKinIe,
administration.
The charge preferred against the twC
men was suspicion Of blackmail," anc
when the prisoners were taken before
Magistrate Cornell in Jefferson Market
Court, Mr.. Davis told a story OF receiving
letters from General Pearson and also re.
ceived letter unsigned. threatening his
Mr.. Dayis's) life II $1,000 was not forth.
coming.
Magistrate Corbell held the prisoners in
N.ooo bail each for a hearing tomorrow.
Mr.. Davis. who is stopping at the Gale
oonia Apartment House. went to police
headquarters early to-day and had an in
tsrview with Police Commissioner Nc
Adoo. and later Inspector McClusky was
called in and Detectives Hughes and Sum-
mers were detailed on the case. The de-
tectives went to the Caledonia where Mr..
Davis had an appointment with General
Pearson and Mr.. Van der Hoogt. The de-
tectives were secreted in Mr Davis
apartments when the visitors called.
ARRESTED BY DETECTIVES.
Mr.. Davis had explained to the police
That he had received several letters. the
last OF which carried a decided threat.
Tne writer OF two at least Of the letters.
Davis said. was General Pearson, and
these letters were simply requests for an
audience The last letter-the one de-
manding So!0o=was the one upon which
MI. Davis acted. and this letter. penciled
was not signed by any name, but sipply
initials, which the police would not dis
close.
When General Pearson and Mr.. Van der
Hoogt called at Mr.. Davis's apartment
the police were present.
When the men. were seated Mr.. Davis
says he asked them what they wished IN
see him about. and they told him they
were seeking an accounting of certain
money belonging to the Boer Government.
Mr.. Davis says he tried to get the men
to state in plain words what they had
called for, but failed. Mr.. Van der Hoogt
was asked:
What is your claim?''
Van der Hoogt's reply was: MY claim is
about $500"
When Mr.. Davis called the police into
the room from the wardrobes, where they
mad been concealed. Pearson and Van der
Hoogt were surprised. but they did not
create scene. The two men were taken
ht once to police headquarters. where
they were led before INSPECTOR McClusky.
After an Informal talk the Inspector
sent the two prisoners TO Jefferson Mar
get Police Court for arraignment.
DAYIS'S SIDE OF STORY.
Before making complaint against the
men. Magistrate Cornell asked Mr.. Davis
to explain what the facts in the case
Were IN part. Mr.. Davis said:
Il was Assistant Secretary of the In
terror under President Mckinley, and dur
ing the Boer War I visited South Africa
10 study the situation there. What saw
made me a convert to the Boer cause. I
went about the country Iecturing in behalf
OF me Beers. writing newspaper anG mag
azine articles. and. in short, gave I'D ev-
efythng, sacrificed all / had for a cause
tnat believed to be one worth fighting
Tor.
I resigned from the Department O, In
terror 1 lived in Kansas City, and after
I had been here from South Africa some
nme tramp came to my house ont
mere, nearly frightened my mother and
orcthers to death with his ahsIrdities
and was later driven out of the city. This
man was known as the Baron de Gins
berg.
About that time there was much pub-
acity given to a story that had received
large sum OF money from the Roer Coy
srnment.
AT that time n letter was also printed
N the newspapers of the West to the ef-
'ect that j bad not received any such
imount as had been stated, and the writ
r or the letter was General Pearson
whom had not seen up to that time ana
tave never seen until to-day-this after-
tcon-when ne called at nv apartments
received several letters and the last Of
ne letters caused me to take action in the
natter
A short affidavit was drawn I'D and
worn to by Detective Sergeant Hughes
Ind the two prisoners were held in q 10
saii each for hearing Thursday morn
ng on a charge of suspicion of blackna5I
PEARSoN'S STATEMENT.
General Pearson said he was born in
ss in South Africa; lived in Scranton.
Pa; has wife and eight children living
Ind Is the Scranton agent of the Knick-
erbocker Transportation Company of this
city.
Van der Hoogt Is ss years of age: was
born In Holland: is single and gives his
occupation as that of foreign correspond
emit General Pearson said:
L Understand that the Boer Government
ntrusted to Webster Davis about $4,000
n gold bullion. have a war claim
against the Boer Government fo- $500
md when 1 learned that Mr.. Davis knew
iomething about that gold determined
70 ask for an accounting. II he has got
he money want to know about II.
Il did send Mr.. Davis a note or two,
dmpay asking for a meeting with him. I
recall that 1 sent him letter on Aoril
s. written at the Continental Hotel. ask
ng IL could see him the following after
soon at 2 o'clock
Not receiving any reply from Mr.. Davis
wrote again on the afternoon of the 2sth,
asking for later meeting. In the second
etter I think I demanded an accounting
f the $4,000 OF gold bullion. threat
ming legal steps IL such an accounting
The General said he dined to-day with a
,oicnel Ladybridge at the lawyers club
fe1eraf Pearson also said. regarding the
.lleged Baron de Ginsberg. that It was he
Fno drove the Baron out of Kansas City.
Forty Athletes Entered.
Fcrty. athletes have already sent IN their
2: nset 2 ;. held ssaSrday in the
Ia, are sxpected TO compete The entry, list