The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-02-25

Ran Over Boy With His Automobile
Most Exciting Time
Followed.
PROTECTED BY GENDARMES
CHILD WAS NOT SERIOUSLY IN
JURED-REVoLVER DRAWN.

Florence, Italy, Feb. 24.-The incl
derrt at Pontedera yesterday which in
volved 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
retained there owing to an automobile
accident by which a boy was injured.
but not seriously. It now appears that
Mr.. Vanderbilt and his chauffeur 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. Van
derbilt was escorted to the best hotel
in the place, where, according to the
latest advices, she was awaiting de-
velOpments.
The Vanderbilt automobile, 1t ap-
! pears, was not going at excessive
| speed, but when turning a sharp street
/ corner in Pontedera it ran down a
/ child, a boy about five years old, and
| injured him about the head. Though
I the boy was ret seriously hurt, his
/ face was covered with blood. The au-
! tomobile was stopped as soon as its
/ occupants noticed that an accident had
occurred. was soon surrounded by a
crowd of excited people Indignantly
/ pants.
Thought Child Dead.
| In the midst of the excitement, the
report spread that the child was dead
| and the townspeople became so en-
ragged that they attacked the chauf-
feur. In fact, matters reached a very
| 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 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 au-
/ tomobilists. Owing to the fury of the
people, the officers took the Wander
bilt party into a neighboring shop for
safety. There they were Immediately
besieged by the crowd, the most vio-
lent of the people urging their COM
panions to take summary vengeance
on the travellers.
AS a coincidence, the shop in which
the Vanderbilts were 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 gendarmes
With reinforcemeHts arrived on the
scene, and after the townspeopIe had
claimed down somewhat, succeeded in
rescuing the Automobiles who were
taken to the police station, followed by
a crowd OF shouting people. The lead
eTs protested vigorously against the al.
legged carelessness of the automobilists
and said that it was time to put a STOP
to such incidents, involving loss of life
which were constantly increasing in
numbers.
Detained at Police Station.
Mr.. Vanderbilt and the chauffeur
were detained at the police station under
arrest, and Mrs Vanderbilt, who was
shown every attention possible, was
escorted to the best hotel in Pontedera
! This morning doctors visited AdolphC
BUtini, the boy who was injured by Mr.
Vanderbilt's automobile in order to as
/ certain his condition. Grave compiled
tons, it was announced, might arise.
Through the American consular au.
. thOrities, Mr.. Vanderbilt has secured 6
lawyer who has applied for his client!
granted in similar cases, but which
can be refused when the offender is q
foreigner or when 1t is suspected tina
! he may fee from Justice If the chilC
does not die or is not permanently dis
abled, the punishment may be impris
onment for three months and a fine o
. $500, in addition to a fine for carrying
: a revolver without permission. But i
, is believed that considering the extenu
ating circumstances, Mr.. Vanderbilt
may be sentenced to pay a fine.
The father OF the injured child whel
asked if he wished to bring sui
against Mr.. Vanderbilt not only re
: fused to do so. but declined to accep
the indemnity due him under the law
Thereupon the judge granted Mr.. Van
dCrbilt provisional liberty and, accom-
panied by Mrs. Vanderbilt. he left 10
= PISA. Before departing Mr.. Wander
bilt gave $40 to the local hospital.
Must Serve Sentence.