Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1906-03-01
VANDERBILT is
MOBBED BY ITALIANS

Florence, Italy, Feb. 25.-The Incl
dent at Pontedera on Friday, which
involved the detention there of Mr..
and Mrs. w. X. Vanderbilt, Jr., and
their chauffeur, turns out to be much
more serious than at first reported.
The dispatches received on Friday
evening from Pontedera simply an
nounced that Mr.. Vanderbilt was de-
tanned owing to an automobile acct
dent by which boy was injured, but
not seriously. 1t now appears that
Mr.. Vanderbilt and his chauffeur
were mobbed; that the former drew
revolver and that both Mr.. Wander
bilt and the chauffeur were arrested
and taken to the police station.
The Vanderbilt automobile, it APP
pears, was not going at excessive
speed, but when turning sharp
street corner in Pontedera 1t ran
down child, boy about years old,
and injured him about the head.
Though the boy was not seriously
hurt his face was covered with blood.
The automobile, which was stopped
as soon as it's occupants noticed that
an accident had occurred, was soon
surrounded by crowd of excited peo-
pie, who Indignantly and threaten
ingly berated its occupants. In the
midst of the excitement the report
spread that the child was dead, and
the townspeople became so enraged
hat they attacked the chauffeur.
In fact, matters reached a very
critical stage, and Mr.. Vanderbilt, be-
lieving that the lives of the party
we're in danger, drew revolver. Be-
sore he could use the weapon, how
ever, several men jumped into the
automobile, disarmed Mr.. Vanderbilt
and kicked and cuffed him.
BY this time the police had become
aware that something unusual was
happening and party Of gendarmes
hurried to the scene to protect the
autcmobilists.
Eventually an officer of the gend-
armes, with reinforcements, arrived
IN the scene and after the townspeo-
pie had GAINED down somewhat, sue
ceeded in rescuing the automobilists,
who were taken to the police station,
followed by crowd of shouting peo-
pie. The leaders protested vigorously
against the alleged carelessness of
the automobilists, and said 1t was
time to put a stop to such Incidents,
involving loss of life, which were con.
stantly increasing in number.
Mr.. Vanderbilt and the chauffeur
were detained at the police station
under arrest, and Mrs. Vanderbilt,
who was shown every attention pos
sible, was escorted to the best hotel
in Pontedera. Yesterday doctors
visited Adolph Buttini, the boy who
was injured by Mr.. Vanderbilt's auto,
in order to ascertain the injuries.
Grave consequences, 1t was alleged,
might arise. Through the American
consular authorities Mr.. Vanderbilt
has secured a lawyer, who applied
for his clients provisional release.
If the child does not die or is not
permanently disabled, the punish
ment may be Imprisonment for three
months and fine of 5000, in addition
to fine for carrying a revolver with
out permission. But 1t is believed
that considering the extenuating cir
cumstances Mr.. Vanderbilt may be
sentenced to pay fine.
The father of the injured child
when asked If he wished to bring suit
against Mr.. Vanderbilt not only re-
fused to do so, but also declined to
accept the indemnity due him under
the law. Thereupon the Judge granted
Mr.. Vanderbilt provisional liberty
and, accompanied by Mrs. Vandet-
bilt, he left for Piza. Before depart
ing Mr.. Vanderbilt gave $40 to the
local hospital.