New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-05-18
THREAT TO KILL ". DAVIS.
ZEN ASK FOR BOER GOLD.
General S. Pearson arrested on
BLccIcenGl Charge.

c1atraI once detectives yesterday afternoon
arrested General Samuel Pearson. of Scranton.
Penn. and Cornelius W. Van Der Eoocr. : fo--
elm correspondent. Of Baltimore and Washing
ron. who were staying AT the Everett House, in
this s:ty. on the Complaint OF Webster Davis,
who was Assistant Secretary OF the Interior in
ne Mckinley administration. Suspicion Of
,,acz1.aiI' was the charge. The prisoners were
-~zen before Magistrate Cornell in the JefTer-
ro7 Market court, where Mr. Davis told story
# receiving letters from General Pearson. and
also a letter unsigned, threatening Mr.. Davis's
lie if he did not pay $4,000
TIE magistrate held the two prisoners 81
81 500 bail each for hearing tomorrow morn
ing ard in the mean time the men were COM
,,.--sd u Jefferson Market prison. Mr. Davis
&c q. the Caledonia Apartments. No rs West
r----tv-sixth-st.. staying with Grant Il. Bl-
te.-re-
--=rlv Yesterday afternoon Mr. Davis went to
Police Headquarters and had an interview with
Police Commissioner McAdoo, ard later Detec-
.tres Edward Hughes and Michael Summers
went with him 70 the Caledonia, where Mr..
r,sr,s had an appointment with General Pearson
and Van Der Hoodt. The latter called al Mr..
Daviss apartment at 8 p. m, when Mr.. Bilheim-
er and the detectives We're present When the
men were seated Mr.. Davis says he asked them
what they wished 20 see him about. and they
told him they were seeking an accounting Of
certain money belonging 10 the Boer govern
nent- Mr.. Davis says he tried 70 get the men 70
state in plain words what they had called for
Van Der Hoodt was asked: What IS your
claim?"
Ny claim Is about 5000 wa. the reply.
NO TROUBLE WHEN ARRESTED.
When Nj Davis called the police into the
room from the wardrobes where they had been
concealed there was no scene. Pearson and Van
Der Hoodt were surprised, but they did not
Try 10 escape. At the Jefferson Market Court.
before taking a complaint against the men.
Magistrate Cornell asked Mr.. Davis 10 explain
the case. and Mr.. Davis said
was Assistant Secretary Of the Interior under
President Mckinley and during the Boer War
I visited South Africa 10 study the situation
there. What ! saw made me a convert TO the
Boer cause. went about the country lecturtnsy
IN behalf OF the Beers, writing newspaper and
magazine articles. and. IN short. gave up every
thing, sacrificed all had for cause that be-
ueved 10 be one worth fighting for.
About that time there was much publicity
given 70 story that had received a large sum
Of money from the Boer government AT that
time letter was also printed in the newspapers
Of the West 10 the effect that had not received
any such amount as had been stated. and the
writer Of the letter was General Pearson whom
had not seen UP 10 that time, and have never
seen until this afternoon, when he called at my
apartments. I received several letters, and the
matter.
M Davis handed 10 Magistrate Cornell sew
eral letters. and described them 70 the uaag4s-
trate. He said he was out OF town on Monday
evening. when Nj. BuheiIner met the men and
arranged the meeting for yesterday afternoon
SAYS LETTER IS A THREAT
Magistrate Cornell passed lightly over the let
ters until he read one written In pencil, when he
Is afr,f-r obi Ia
most threatening. DO not know what these
defendants have to do with this case, but I viii
hold them on a short AFFIDAVIT. which has been
held by the Supreme Court 10 be perfectly
proper and give the police an opportunity TO
work up the case Il there is anything to it."
The threatening letter, which was not made
public, is alleged 20 contain death threat =
$4,000 in cash is not produced.
General Pearson, when seen in Jefferson Mar
ket prison. laughed nerT1ly over the situation.
He said he was born IN 1862 IN South Africa;
lived IN Scranton with wife and eight children,
and was the Scranton agent OF the Knicker-
Booker Transportation Company. Of this city
Van der Hoodt is forty-siX years Of age was
born IN Holland, IS single. and gives his occu-
patton Is that Of foreign correspondent. Gen
era Pearson said:
understand that the Boe- government IN
trusted 10 Webster Davis about forty thousand
F-----S III SplI DllloE ! nave claim
against the BCer government for $4,000. and
When learned that Mr.. Davis knew something
ABOUT that gold determined TO ask for an ac-
counting i he has got the money l want TO
know about H. I did send Mr.. Davis a note or
Two. simply asking for a meeting with him
After the close Of the Boer war 7 conducted the
negotiations in the celebrated case OF the gov
eminent mules, which was widely noticed at the
tine in the newspapers, and on February 81
1901, ! wrote the note 10 President Roosevelt
which is also fresh IL the public mind. I served
through the Boer war, taking part IN the siege
OF Ladysulith. had the rank OF acting quarter
master general and served under General Louis
Botha- Nj Davis may not remember me but
was The first man 70 shake hands with him
when he arrived Comatipoort
While speaking, the general moved restlessly
about. He joked about the case and said
eTal times II he has got that money I'm going
70 get my share"