Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-08-06
DEMANDED PAYMENT OF $4,000
Threats TO Blow Up Pennsylvania
Railroad Trains With Dynamlsa
Unless RANSOM" Is Paid, Put
sleuths on virginlan's Trail and He
Is Entlced to Quaker City.
(By Associated Prsss.)

PHILADELPHIA, PA. Aug. g.
''This is declaration of war. My life
is penly staked on the resurt for am
prepared TO meet you any time and
place you may name The weapons
| shall use are dynamite and other
high explosives
Thus wrote Abram Eby. mayor and
referee In bankruptcy of Burkeyiile.
Va, to the President of the Penn
sylvania Railroad, Philadelphia" on
July odd. naming $4,000, as the ram
som for the safety OF the railroad. It's
steamships and the travelling public
and otherwise threatening the Penn
sylyania Railroad
Eptrapped in Philadelphia.
Following u carefully laid plot or
the federal postal dett ctives, Eby was
arrested in this city today while In
the company OF Oswald J. Derousse.
chief clerk to President McKea. who
acted Tor the latter In inyeigling May
or Eby to this city. He was given
hearing before United States Com
missioner Craig and held in $4,000
bail for September term of court.
At the hearing, William L. Canvert,
postoffice inspector of Richmond, Va.
furnished evidence showing that Eby
mailed threatening letters on The
Richmond and Charlotte railroad post
Office.
All through the hearing Ely sat TN
moved. and said simply that he could
not furnish bail.
Proposed to Wreck Trains.
The first letter written by Ely was
signed Adam Smith" In 1t he pro-
posed TO use explosives in wreckfng
freight and passenger cars along the
various lines OF the Pennsylvania
Railroad.
When you look for me In Penn
sylvania," he wroted, Il shall be in
Virginia shall take care that the
papers have details of all wrecks. Es-
cry anarchist in the country with
nerve will fellow this lead. am
ready to disclose my identity and keep
the secret OF this warfare and its
methods provided you pay me $751;
0O0 and have yoar pledge that 1
go free"
Ely sets forth further that he has
tried for 30 wears 10 earn an honest
living. but finds that e the corpora
ton thieves get ali and the rest or
mankind must starve OF stand IT," In
this letter Ely said he would NEST no
one except the president or some high
Official of the road. He designated
that the sign of secret order be
used in the Insertion OF '-poisonai'
as an answer in the Richmond Times
Dispatch.
"poisonaf' Caught Him.
A ~poisonar' was inserted by post
Office detectives and Eby's demand q
$4,000 and transportation TO Phiia-
dclphia was acceded to through Mr.
Derousse Letters were received from
Ely telling OF his intended trip 20
this city.
he reached here last night and
wrote Mr.. Derousse making an APP
pointment to meet him at noon today
About 1880 O'Clock the men met aud
NJ. DerCusse took Ely TO the Third
National Bank where ne procured a
certified check fer $4,000 and sIco IN
cash. These he offered Ely, bBs re
later refused them saying. Keep
them for awhile
Thinks Road ROBBED HIS Father.
Chief Postal Inspector Cortefy5u
then made the arres-- Inspector Cal
vert. who knows Ely was asked about
his queer action. He sal d: Mr.. E5T
Is not crazy. He has long enterf1fned
q spite against the Pcnnsylvapia Kali
road. Hts father held stock IN =
branch road In viTksris ana Ely BE-
iieves thai by the rtoreznizaiIon 81
the read through the Reading & Pcun-
sylvsnia Influences HIS fafhsr io<r
some S1oo.0oo. That = Why he se-
lievcs $4,000 and msrc - Justly cue
him