Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1906-03-01
YOUNG Vanderbilt
MOBBED IN italy
". K, JR., RUNS DOWN q BOY
WHILE AUToMoBILINa AND
CROWD ATTACKS HIM.
MILLIONAIRE DRAWS
REVOLVER IN DEFENSE
He Is Disarmed and Beaten Before
Police Come to His Rescue and
Arrest Him-Adventure Occurs in
Village Of Pontedera.

Florence, Italy, Feb. 26.-W. K. Van
derbilt, Jr., drew revolver on an
Italian mob in the village of Ponte-
dera when he and his automobile party
were attacked. Mr.. Vanderbilt and
his chauffeur were kicked and beaten
until rescued by the gendarmes and
arrested. Mrs. Vanderbilt went to a
lowed the injury OF boy by the Van
derbilt automobile
The automobile was not going at
excessive speed, but when turning a
sharp corner it 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 motor car,
which was stopped as soon as the ac-
cident had occurred, was surrounded
by a crowd of excited people, who be-
rated its occupants. In the midst OF
the excitement the report spread that
the child was dead and the townspeo-
pie became so enraged that they at
tatcked the chauffeur.
Vanderbilt Is Disarmed.
Matters reached a critical stage, and
Mr.. Vanderbilt, believing that the
lives of the party were in danger, drew
revolver. Before he could use the
weapon several men jumped into the
automobile, disarmed him and kicked
and cuffed him.
BY this time tho police had become
aware that something unusual was
happening, and gendarmes hurried to
the scene to protect the Automobiles
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 sum-
mary vengeance on the travellers. The
shop was owned by relative of the
injured boy, which did not tend to calm
the feelings of the mob
Police Rescue Party.
Eventually an officer OF gendarmes
with reenforcements arrived, and after
the townspeople had Gained down
somewhat he succeeded in rescuing the
automobilists, who were taken to the
police station, followed by a crowd OF
shouting people. The leaders protest
ed vigorously against the alleged care
lessness of the aulomobilists, and said
that it was time 20 put stop to such
accidents
Mr. Vanderbilt and the chauffeur
were detained under arrest, and Mrs
Vanderbilt, who was shown every at
tention possible, was escorted to the
best hotel in Pontedera.
Probable Punishment.
Through the American consular all.
thorities Mr.. Vanderbilt has secured a
lawyer, who has applied for his clients
provisional release, which is always
granted in similar cases, but which
can be refused when the offender is a
foreigner, or when it is suspected thai
he may flee from justice If the chile
does not die or is not permanently dis.
abled, the punishment may be impris.
Onment for three months and a fine
of 5000, in addition to a fine for carry
ing revolver without permission
But it is believed that considering the
extenuating circumstances, Mr.. Van
derbilt may be only sentenced to pay q
fine. Doctors have visited the boy
in order to ascertain his condition
Grave complications, it was an
nounced, may arise.