The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-02-24
MUM BnUD6HAOl6H .
Citizens Mob the American Mill
lionaire in POntdera, Italy.
His Automobile Ran Over and
Badly Hurt a Boy.
HE DREW HIS GUN.
Was Arrested and Taken to the
Police Station.
Mrs. Vanderbilt Was Sent to
the Best Hotel.
DREW HIS GUN.

Florence. Feb. 24-The incident at
Pontdera yesterday which involved the
detention there of Mr. and Mrs. W. K.
Vanderbilt, jr, and their chauffeur
turns out to have been much more
serious than ct first reported. The dis
patches received yesterday evening
from Pontdera simply announced that
Mr.. Vanderbilt was detained there ow-
ing to an automobile accident by which
a hoy was injured. but not seriously. It
now appears that Mr.. Vanderbilt anu
his chauffeur were mobbed; that the
former drew a revolver and that both
Mr.. and Mrs. Vanderbilt ard the chauf-
feur were arrested and were taken TO
the police station. Mrs. Vanderbilt was
escorted to the best hotel in the place,
where, according to the latest aoVlces,
she was awaiting developments.
The Vanderbilt automobile, 1t appears,
was not going at excessive speed, but
when turning a sharp street corner IN
PonIedera it ran down a child, boy
about 8 years old, and injured him about
the head. Though the boy was not
seriously hurt. his face was covered
with blood. The automob bile, which was
stopped as soon as its occupants noticed
that an accident had occurred, was soon
surrounded by q crowd OF excited people
Indignantly and theratingly beratlng
its occupants. In the midst OF the *
element the report spread Ihat the
child was QeaQ ana LH6 lONllSRSORAC
came so enraged that they attacked the
chauffeur. In fact, matters reached
very critical stage, and, Mr.. Nandefplll
believing that the lives of the party
he could use the weapon, however, sew
eral men Jumped into the automobile,
dtsarmed Mr.. Vanderbilt, kicked and
cuffed him.
By this time the police had become
aware that something unusual was
happening and a party of gen d armes
hurried to the scene to protect the
autonobilists. Owing to the Iury OF
the DeOple the officers took the party
1 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 traV-
elers.
( the Vanderbilts were taken was owned
! by relative of the injured boy,
which did not tend to calm the feel
/ ings of the mob.
Eventually an officer OF gen d arnes
/ with reinfOrceme ntS arrived on the
| scene and after the toWnSpeople had
! Gained down somewhat, succeeded IN
rescuing the automobiles VINO were
| taken to the police station, followed by
! q crowd of shouting people. The lead
ers protested vigorously against the al
/ legged carelessness of the automobilists,
and said that 1t was time to put stop
/ to such incidents, involving loss of life
which were constantly increasing IN
- Mr.. Vanderbilt and the chauffeur
/ were detained at the police station IN
/ der arrest, and Mrs. Vanderbilt, VINO
! was shown evey attention possible, was
escorted to the best hotel in Ponte-
~ Doctors visited Adolphe Butini. the
boy who was injured by Mr. Wander
bits automobile. in order to ascertain
u rs q M
it was announced, might arise.
Through the American consular au-
/ thorfties Mr.. Vanderbilt has secured
lawyer, who has applied for his
clients provisional release, which is
usually granted in similar cases, but
which can be refused when the
offender is a foreigner or when it is
I suspected that he may fee from JUS
tice. II the child does not die or is
! not permanently isabled, the punish
ment may be imprisonment for three
months and a fine of 5000, in addi-
! ton to a fine for carrying a revolver
without permission. But it is be-
/ lieved that considering the extenuat-
! ing circumstances Mr.. Vanderbilt may
/ be sentenced to pay fine.
Shepard Must Go to JAN.
Paris, Feb. 24-The ministry Of JUS
/ tee has acted adversely on the appli-
cation of the American authorities for
! executive clemency in the case of FL
/ hot E. Shepard Of New York, grand
son of the late Commodore Vanderbilt.
who was sentenced October 26, to
three months imprisonment and $40
/ fine and to pay $4,000 damages to the
parents of Madeline MardueL who was
! killed by Mr.. Shepard's automobile at
! st. Ouen, April "A last. The fine and
Indemnity were paid but the applica-
! ton sought to waive the imprisonm ent-
Further efforts in this direction win be
made, but the governments adverse
/ action IS considered final.
Elliot F. Shepard, whose residence is
/ in Paris arrived in New York from
/ France January to visit friends.