The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-02-27

Florence, Italy, February 24-The
incident at Pontedera yesterday, which
involved the detention there nf Mr.. and
Mrs. w. X. Vanderbilt, Jr, and their
chauffeur, turns out TO have been much
more serious than at first reported
The dispatches received yesterday
evening from Pontedera simply an
nounced that Mr.. Vanderbilt was de-
tained there owing to an automobile
accident by which boy was injured
quite seriously. It now appears that
Mr.. Vanderbilt and the chauffeur were
mobbed, and that both Mr.. Vanderbilt
and the chauffeur were arrested and
taken to the police station.
Though the boy was not seriously
hurt, his face was covered with blood.
The automobile, which was stopped
as soon as its occupants noticed that
an accident had occurred. was soon
surrounded by crowd OF excited peo-
pie who Indignantly and threatening
ly berated its occupants. In the midst
of the excitement the report spread
that the child was dead, and the towns
people became so enraged that they at
tackled the chauffeur. In fact matters
reached very critical stage. and Mr..
Vanderbilt, believing that the lives Of
the party were in danger drew 4 re-
volver. Before he could use the weap-
on, however, several men jumped into
the automobile, disarmed Mr.. Wander
bilt and kicked and cuffed him.
BY this time the police had become
aware that something unusual was
happening, and a party Of gendarmes
hurried to the scene to protect the au-
tomobilists. Owing to the fury of the
people the officers took the Vanderbilt
party into neighboring shop for safe
ty. There they were Immediately be-
seiged by the crowd, the most violent
of the people urging thir companions
to take summary vengeance upon the
travellers.
AS a coincidence, the shop into
which the Vanderbilts were taken was
owned by a relative of the injured boy
which did not tend TO calm the feel
iugs Of the mob. Eventually an officer
Of gendarmes, with reinforcements, ar
rived on the scene and after the towns
people had somewhat calmed down,
succeeded in rescuing the automobil-
lists, who were taken to the police sta
ton followed by a crowd of shouting
people.
Mr. Vanderbilt and chauffeur were
detained at the police station, under
arrest, and Mrs. Vanderbilt, who was
shown every attention possible. was es-
corted to the best hotel IN Potedera:
This morning doctors visited Adolfo
Butini, the injured boy in order to as
certain his condition Grave compli-
cations, II was announced, may arise
Through the American consular au-
thorities, Mr. Vanderbilt has secured q
Awyer who has applied for his clients
provisional release which Is always
granted in similar cases. but which
can be refused when the offender Is a
foreigner. or when IL Is suspected thar
he may fee from justice. IL the child
does not die or Is not permanently dis
abled, the punishment may be impris-
onment for three monrhs and a fine of
5000, in addition TO a fine for carrying
a revolver without permission. But IL
is believed that considering the exten.
uating circumstances, Mr. Vanderbilt
may be sentenced TO pay a fine
The father OF the injured child when
asked IL he wished 10 bring suit against
Mr.. Vanderbilt not only refused TO do
so but also declined to accept tndem-
nifty due him under the law. There
upon the Judge granted Mr.. Wander
bilt provisional liberty. and. acoom.a-
| MED by Mrs. Vanderbilt. he left for
Pisa. Before departing Mr.. Vanderbilt
gave $40 TO the local hospital