New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-07-18
FAREWELL TO HIS son.
KIDNAPPED NAN WRITES
Friends Not to Pay $4,000 Ransom
for Er-Judgc McKOOn.

Ex-Judge Dennis Daniel McKoon. a lawyer
with large property interests on Staten Island
with offices at No. 40 Broadway. kidnapped
early last Friday afternoon in Broadway, oppo-
site City Hall Park according 10 letters he
wrote TO relatives and friends Saturday. He
writes that he is now being held for 5000 ran
som in house uptown. whose location he Is
unable TO give. In the last month he is known
to have received several threatening letters de-
manding that sum foe his personal safety. ard
warning him that he wou;G IL carried of un-
less he handel over the mouey
II the letters which the judge had written
give the facts in the case the kidnapping is
OF the bodest ever carried il. this
city. II seems almost impossible that maa
OF Mr.. McKoon's prominence could be carried
orr h. force a. SroaA daylight ir II tse
busiest parts OF the city.
The detectives ~ Police Headquarters thought
Saturday. when the account Of the kid
mapping was given them by T. \ Darby. from
whom Judge McKoon rents his Office ~ No ~
Broadway At FIRST. they said that such a
thing impossible. but when they had read
the threatening letters and those which the
Judge had written begging his friends and ram-
liz TO raise the 5000 demanded when they
had satisfied themselves ar his high character
and standing. some Of the best detectives III
the department. went to work on the case
In letter addressed TO his son. Bert" with
whom he lived in Mcisner-ave.. Port Richmond.
Mr.. McKoon wrote:
friend will meet you at Pearl AZ p m
Saturday. Give him $1,000 If you can ana they
will release me. If you cannot give him that
much give him as much as you can.
In the warning letters Pearl and Whitehall
SITS had been mentioned the place where Nc
Koon was to appear with the package of money
which to secure his personal safety. His
took the Pearl I'm his fathers letter 10 mean
Pearl and Whitehall SITS. and was there at -
p. IL. Saturday. but no one appeared.
In the afternoon came another letter from the
lawyer inclosing number Of business papers
which he had In his pockets when carried away.
1t gave directions concerning certain business
transactions. The lawyer then expressed doubt
that he would ever see his son again rs his cap
tors had about given up hope of getting ransom
and going TO ship him to some distant port
some vessel
The history Of the case. his friends know it,
given TO Tribune reporter last night 10y
r. A. Darby. a promoter from the South with
whom ex-Judge McKoon had Offices and who
lives at the Hotel Wellington seventh-ave and
Fffty-hfth-st
''It was three weeks ago that Judge McKoon
came to me with an anonymous letter which
had Just come to him by mall said Mr.. Darby.
The letter said that he was being watched and
that at a certain time n demand would he made
him for $4,000, which would assure his per
soual safety. Otherwise he would be carried off
and held until the sum was forthcoming The
letter was typewritten. and signed Your Friend
the Enemy.
This is the second of these letters I've re-
ceived.' said the Judge laughing TN just put ii
on the shelf with the other one
"A third letter came. giving with considerable
detail the judges movements for the two pre-
vious days. He laughed it. he had at the
others.
"A week ago there came fourth letter of
warning. which he brought AS nearly as
can remember it read:
You passed me to-day with a boy as you went
into the safety deposit vaults When you came
out you did not choose to make yourself known
nor did you seem to have the money with YOU
This is a final and last notice 1t will not be
safe for you TO go about unless you have the
$1,000 with you
The Judge said that he had gone into a build
ing in Wa-st where he has safety deposit box
the morning mentioned with his son. He did not
remember noticing any one about the entrance
as he came out. He WIS beginning to be wor-
ried little by this time. and l advised him to
consult the police He said he would await fur
ther developments. he did not believe there
were bandits in New-York bold enough to carry
Kim off.
THE next development was Saturday morning.
when found letter in my mail in the judges
handwriting. 1t contained the startling nforma-
ton that he had been kidnapped and would not
I've released unless $4,000 was paid He
that he had gone from the office to keep
gagement with Mr Peck. whom | have not
been able 10 find. He then went TO the Astor
House to meet who knew of some parties
who wished 10 uurchase his hill land on Staten
lal.inloI on ~