New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-02-25
VANDERBILTS MOBBED.
MOTOR CAR HITS Il BOY.
Mr. and Mrs. ". K, Jr., 4ttacked
at POntedera, Italu.

Florence Feb. 24.-T-,e detention OF Mr.. and
Mrs. W. K. Vanderbilt Jr at Pontedera yester-
day was due 10 a much more serious incident
than was indicated in the first dispatches. 1t
now appears that Mr.. Vanderbilt and his chauf-
feur were mobbed. that the former drew a re-
volver and that both Mr.. Vanderbilt and the
chauffeur were arrested and taken to the police
station. Mrs. Vanderbilt escorted TO the
best hotel In the place.
Mr.. Vanderbilts automobile, IT appears was
not going at excessive speed, but when turning
a sharp street corner in Pontedera it ran down
a child. boy about five years old, and injured
him about the head. The boys face was COW
cred with blood. The automobile, which
stopped as soon as it's occupants noticed the ac
cident. was surrounded by crowd OF excited
people, who berated it's occupants. In the
element the report spread that the child
dead and the townspeople became so eRraged
that they attacked the chauffeur. Matters
reached a critical stage and Mr. Vanderbilt. be-
leving that the lives of the party were in dan
ger, drew a revolver. Before he could use the
weapon 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 a party
Of gendarmes hurried to the scene to protect the
automobilists. Owing to the fury of the people
the officers took the Vanderbilt party into
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 The
shop was owned by a relative of the injured
boy. which did not tend 10 calm the feelings of
the mob
An officer Of gendarrnes with reinforcements
arrived to- scene. ana after the townspeOple
were somewhat calmed succeeded in rescuing
the travellers. who were taken 10 the police sta
tion, a crowd Of shouting people following
them. The leaders protested vigorously against
the alleged carelessness of the automobsts,
and said that it time to put stop to such
Incidents. involving loss of life, which were con-
stantly becoming more frequent.
Mr.. Vanderbilt and the chauffeur were de-
tanned at the police station. under arrest, and
Mrs. Vanderbilt. to whom every attention pos
sible was shown. was escorted TO the best hotel
in Pontedera.
This morning doctors visited Adofo Butini the
boy who was injured by the automobile. Grave
complications, il said. might arise.
Through the American consular authorities
Mr.. Vanderbilt obtained lawyer who applied
for his clients provisional release This
is always granted in similar cases. but be
refused when the offender is a foreigner or when
il is suspected that he may flee from justice. If
the child does mot die or is not permanently dis
abled the punishment may be Imprisonment for
three months and a fine OF 5000 in addition 10 a
fine for carrying a revolver without permission.
1t is believed that, considering the extenuating
circumstances Mr.. Vanderbilt may be sentenced
to pay fine
The father of the injured child. when asked If
he wished 10 bring suit against Mr. Vanderbilt,
not only refused 10 do So but also declined to
accept the indemnity due him under the law.
Thereupon the judge granted Mr.. Vanderbilt pro-
visional liberty. and. accompanied by Mrs Van
derbilt he left for Pisa. Before departing Mr..
Vanderbilt gave $40 TO the local hospital
Pontedera is town OF about 1000 inhabitants
about fourteen miles from Pisa. the confluence
of the Era and Arno. where road through the
beautiful valley OF the Era to Volterra divergeS.