Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-02-24
He, His Wife and Their Chauffeur
Have an Exciting Ey-
perlence.
AUTOMOBILE RAN OVER CHILD,
Crowd Became Menacing and He
Pulled Pistol But Was
Disarmed.
Gendarms Rescue Men and Take Them
To Police Station. the Lady to
Best Hotel In Town

Florence, Italy. Feb. 24.-The Incl
dent at PonterderR yesterday which In
volyed the detention there OF Mr.. and
Mrs. william K. Vanderbilt. Jr, and
their chauffeur turns out to have been
much more serious than at first re-
ported. The dispatches received yes
terday evening from Pontedera simply
announced that Mr.. Vanderbilt WAS
detained there owing to an automobile
accident by which boy was injured.
but not seriously 1t now appears that
Mr.. Vanderbilt and his chauffeur were
mobbed; that the former drew a re-
volyer and that both Mr.. Vanderbilt
and the chauffeur were arrested and
taken to the police station, Mrs. Van
derbit was escorted to the best hotel
IN the place where, according 10 the
latest sdyices she was awaiting de-
Velopments
The Vanderbilt automobile, Il APP
pears, was not going at excessive
speed. but when turning sharp street
corner in Pontedera II ran down a
child. a boy about five years old. and
injured him about the head Though
the boy was not seriously hurt, his face
was covered with blood The automo-
bile which WAS stopped as soon as Its
occupants noticed that an accident had
occurred. was soon surrounded by
crowd OF excited people Indignantly
and threateulngly berating its occu-
pants. In the midst OF the excitement
the report spread that the child was
dead and the townspeople became so
enraged that they attacked the chRuf-
feur In fact, matters reached vrey
critical stage. and Mr., Vanderbilt, be-
lieving that the lives OF the party were.
In danger. drew "A revolver. Before he
could use the weapon. however. sew
eral men jumped into the automobile,
disarmed Mr. Vanderbilt and kicked
and ouffed 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 au-
tomobilists. owing to the fury OF the
people, the officers took the Vanderbilt
party into a neighboring shop for
safety There they were Immediately
besieged by the crowd the most violent
Of the people urging their companions
TO take summary vengeance on the
travellers
As coincidence the shop to which
the Vanderhllts we're taken was owned
by a relative Of the injured boy which
did not tend to calm the feelings OF the
mob.
Eventually, an officer OF genharmes
with relnforcemertis arrived on the
scene and after the townspeople had
Gained down some what succeeded In
rescung the automobllists. who were
taken TO the police station, followed
by a crowd Of shouting people The
leaders protested vigorously against the
alleged carelessness OF the automobile
lists. and said that IL was time to put a
stop TO such Incidents. Involving loss
OF life, which were constantly increas-
ing in numbers.
Mr.. Vanderbilt and the chauffeur
were detained at the police station un-
der arrest, and Mrs. Vanderbilt. who
was shown every attention possible, was
escorted TO the best hotel In Pontedera.
This morning doctors visited
Adolphe Butini the boy who was In
Iured by Mr.. Vanderbilt's automobile
IN order to ascertain HIS condition
Grave complications, II was announc-
ed, might arise,
Through the American consular au-
thorities. Mr.. Vanderbilt has secured
a lawyer who has applied for his
clients provisional release which Is
always granted I'm similar cases, but
which can be refused when the Of
fender Is a foreigner or when II Is
suspected that he may flee from jus
tice. II 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
10 fine for carrying a revolver with
out permission. But II Is believed that
considering the eXtenuating crcum-
stances. Mr.. Vanderbilt may be sem
fenced to pay fine,
no CLEMENCY FOR SHEPHERD
Parts. Feb. 2i.-The ministry OF
Justice has acted adversely upon the
application OF tho American authorl-
ties for executive clemency In the case
Of Elliott f. shepard, OF New York,
grandson OF the late W. X Wander
bilD, who was sentenced Oct. 26 to
three months imprisonment and Sl20
fine and TO pay $4,000 damages 10 the
parents Of Madeline Marduel. who was
killed by Mr. Shepard's automobile at
ST. Ouen, April "a last Tho fine and
indemnity were paid, but the applica-
ton sought To waive the imprlson-
meut, Further efforts IN this direc-
ton will be made but the governments
adverse action Is considered final.
Elliott +. Shepard, whose residence
i3 IN Paris. arrived In New York from
Irauge Inn visit friends