The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1907-10-11
KIDNAPPING AND
Rescue OF editor.
DESPERATE EFFORT OF SAN FRANCISCO CoNsPRAToRs
GET EDITOR OLDER INTO JAL-sPIRITED HIM AWAY ON LOS
ANGELES WARRANT BUT QUICK WORK NTERCEPTs
A BARBARA
AT SANTA BARBARA

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept 3O.-Com-
plete details of the frustrated attempt
to kidnap Fremont Older, managing
editor of The Bulletin, clearly reveal
that the whole affair had not even the
shadow of authority and was plot
Matched by the officials of the United
Railroads to get the newspaper man
out of San Francisco for reasons best
known to themselves. Indeed, Older
was spirited from this county not by
deputies from Los Angeles and not on
the strength of warrant issued in the
southern city, but by United Railroads
detectives, who held him illegally in
their custody by force of arms until
the county line was safely passed
The conspiracy was put in motion
while Older was at the Office of the
graft prosecutors Friday afternoon
about 5 o'clock. He was called up by
phone, and as he took the receiver of
the hook a strange voice said:
This is Mr. Stapleton. I am at the
Savoy Hotel. have some private bust
ness I'd like to discuss with you"
What is your business?" asked Old
err.
81 can't tell you over the phone"
VERY well, then, I'll be right down"
Now Older knew no Mr.. Stapleton
and at once suspected that all was not
well. AS he left the Office he said to
Charles Cobb that it might be a plot,
Older walked down toward Van Mesa
avenue, and as he hurried along OBJ
served two automobiles following him,
which he saw contained a hard-loOk-
ing gang, but which he did not at first
connect with himself When he had
reached the Baltimore Hotel, on Van
Ness near Geary, the autos drew up
at the curb and their occupants leap
ed out. Ben Cohn, a Los Angeles con-
stable, showed a warrant on the charge
of criminal libel into his hand and
then he was seized by a United Rail-
road detective whom he did not know.
This man searched him to discover If
he were armed and at once he passed
out of the custody of the officer who
had arrested him and into that of the
Railroad employees who guarded him
from that moment until he was taker
off the train at Santa Barbara.
AS soon as Older had been hustled
into the auto and recovered from hi
surprise he demanded to be taken be-
fore his attorney. This demand was
peremptorily denied. He then demand
ed an opportunity to furnish bail. Well
knowing that Older had every lega
right to this, the detectives resorted
to a subterfuge.
Very WE'LL they said, "well take
you to Judge Cooks court"
AS the auto in which he was seated
beside the unknown detective, with the
constable on the front seat, proceeded
at top speed, Older observed the other
machine rolling along in front. II
contained Luther Brown, chief of the
United Railroad detectives, and Por-
ter Ashe, one of Calhouns legal staff.
Older soon found he was not going
to Cooks court, and remarked on it,
He was told with a laugh that they
were going to Cooks home, but as the
machine entered Golden Gate Park he
was forced to the conclusion that the
men meant him some bodily harm,
Ignorant of his destination, in the Gus
tody of desperate men employed by en-
emies, and held without warrant OF
law, the editor might well suppose
that serious injury, even DEATH was to
be his Tot. He began to plan some
means of escape, but the machines
were going with such rapidity that to