New-York tribune., 1907-09-02
KIDNAPPED INTO JAIL.
NEW Yorker IS VICTIM.
Rich Realty Nan Taken to Pittsburg
on Irumped Up Charge.
[Rv Telesrarh to The Trfbnne. ]

Pittsburg, Sept kidnapped from his sum-
mer home at New Monmouth. N. j.. hurried
thirteen miles Il automobile TO Jersey City
and then placed a Pennsylvania Railroad
train. which reached this city last night.
Charles K. Thompson. a wealthy real estate
dealer Of New York City. with offices at No. 20
Broad street, lies in jail here tonight, having
refused to furnish bail on what the authorities
admit is trumped-up charge Before the af-
fair is ended three states may be mixed up in
the complications.
The charge on which Mr.. Thompson
brought here is the larceny of a watch and
chain from John X. Damascus. a prominent real
estate dealer of this CITY. Mr.. Thompson as
serts-and there seems to be little doubt of it
that the watch and chain given to him by
Mr. Damascus. The real charge upon which he
IS wanted is giving N1E Damascus note for
$i.S00 in a street railroad deal which. it is al
legged, proved to be worthless. Mr.. Thompson
admits having given the note. and also admits
that he did not make it good, his being.
he says. that he received only S2S2 in value for
the note.
The whole trouble dates back to last June,
when Mr.. Thompson and Mr.. Damascus became
interested in a new electric railroad that is TO
run through Fayette and Westmoreland
counties. ir this end of the state. II at
that time that Mr.. Thompson gave Mr. Damas-
Gus the note, and also at that time that the
watch was presented to Mr.. Thompson. The
latter had nothing do with the railroad trans
action. and was merely a present. it is alleged
When the note came due Mr.. Thompson refused
to pay it because he declared he had not got its
value
Mr. Damascus consulted attorneys IN this city
and he was told he could not bring any action
against Mr.. Thompson regarding the note that
would permit the New Yorker being extradited
It was then that Mr.. Damascus thought of the
watch incident, and charge Of petty larceny
was brought against Mr.. Thompson.
Two weeks ago a warrant for the arrest Of
Mr.. Thompson sworn out and given to Fred
Wills. of the local detective force. He went to
Harrisburg where Governor Stuart issued a
reuuisition on Governor Stokes of New Jersey.
Wills then went TO New Monmouth. where he
found that Mr. Thompson had retained State
Senator Aaron Johnston. ex-District Attorney
Of Monmouth County, and Charles Harvey. of
Freehold to represent him The attorneys for
Mr.. Thompson refused TO give him up and an
nounced that they would fight the requisiton-
Governor Stokes at Long Branch spend
ing his vacation, and Mr. Johnston hurried
there and urged him not to grant the requisition
papers. declaring that II a trumped up
charge. When Detective Wills arrived Long
Branch the following day the Governor told him
he would look into the matter Last Monday
Wills received a letter from E. D. Fox. executive
. clerk to Governor Stokes. saying he would honor
the requisitton. Wills hurried back TO New
Jersey, received Governor Stokes's signature to
the papers and then started after Mr. Thompson,
but the latter could not be found.
Wills got the help OF John d. Rue. county de-
tective Of Monmouth County. and last Friday
the two were in Red Bank. During the after
noon Rue's wife saw Mr. Thompson aght from
+ra he cd
her husband and he and Wills got an automobile,
in which they made record of thirteen
miles 10 Mr.. Thompson's summer home. There.
IN spite of tho presence OF two big bulldogs they
caught Mr. Thompson mapping and placed him
under arrest.
Mr. Thompson requested that he be permitted
TO confer with Mr.. Harvey. and the two off,
GERS said they would take him to the latters
home in their automobile once in the machine
they raced with their prisoner TO Red Bank.
There Mr.. Thompson was placed in cell in the
dingy town Jail and kept all night
At < o'clock yesterdays morning Wills and Rue
took Mr.. Thompson to Jersey City where Wills
caught the Pittsburg special at 1920 with his
prisoner arriving In Pittsburg at ~ o'clock last
night Mr. Thompson taken from the train
at the East Liberty station and brought into the
city on a streetcar. He was placed in a cell at
Central station.
This afternoon Mr.. thompson was perihitIeu
TO telegraph 10 his family and his attorneys
Late this evening he received a telegram from
Mr. Harvey in which he was told not to at
tempt obtain his release on bail He Will
receive a hearing Tuesday morning.
Mr.. Thompson has telegraphed to his son to
come TO Pittsburg at and bring the watch
and chain in dispute. He says that he barely
remembered the present as the watch was of
small value and he never wore IT,
,SplNkS. HITS DYNAMITE.