Year: 1870

Associated Press and How tt was stopped.
SACRAMENTO, CAL, July 29.-The case of F.
s. Van valkenburgb, the manager of the Office
in this city of the Central Pacific Railroad Divi-
sion of the Atlantic and Pacific Telegraph Com
paDy, who was caught in the act of attempting
to steal the Associated Press dispatches last
night, was called up In the Police Court this
morning at 10 o'clock.


Van Valkenburgh did not Jump or fall from o
balcony, as stated In despatch to the American
Press Association by the Atlantic aud Pacific
line, but was held in the position he was caught
In until taken in charge by policeman. The
clip and paper were moved from the position in
which he was found. Two pencils and his hat
were picked up from between the balconies of
the Western Union Office and the one next to It,
where he had crouched to copy the report. His
pocition brought him in the hearing of the
sounds of the instrument in the office a window
having been left open near him.


He was first seen to come out of the Record
Office and go direct to the position he occupied
on the balcony up through house near the
Western Union Office, and coming out through
q window on the balcony of the house which
adjoins that of the Western Union building,
there being a space of two feet between the
balconies where he took up his position, and
from which he did not move until detected.
The pistol fired by Mr.. Person the Western
Union operator, was merely to intimidate Van
Valkenburgh, and had its effects he held up the
clip and begged thathe would not kill him. There
, was no attempt made to do him any bodily in-
ury except few lusty kicks administered by
Mr. Pierson when he took hold of him. The
opposition line is known to have been down
portion of the day yesterday and up to one
o'clock this morning; hence his attempt to sup
ply the news from a more reliable source at
little expense.


The following from the Sacramento Union
gives very clear statement of the attempt last
night to steal the Associated Press dispatches
in this city,


About quarter to Ii O'Clock last night O pistol
shot was nred at the Western Union Telegraph
office, on Second street, between l and X Streets
and quite excitement ensued In the neignoornoOd.
Being in the immediate vicinity at the .ine our re-
porter ran up into the telegraph office and learned
that the cause OF the excitenenG the discovery
OF the leak in the Western Union Comp~nys affairs
Press have been stolen since the latter part June
| when about column OF news was
and w snose in other wOdn
was sent A detective has oeen employed by the
Western Union Company TO work the matter up.
The indications were IT, the effect that messages
! had been taken Off IN this city, and strcG watch
has therefore been kept ever since. Last night,
few minutes before the shot referred to was ired,
E. T. PiersoD, one of the Western Union operators,
while the balcony in front OF the operatingroom,
| heard noise on the balcony adjoining ana looking
| around he saw the figure Of a man, which he
thought he recognized as tnat Of f. S Van valken-
| burgh, the manager OF the office of the Central
Pacific RalIo DAD Division of the Atlantic and Pacific
| Telegraph Company. AS Mr.. Pierson turned
the man stepped back into shadow but MIR. PIER
son became confident that It was Van valkenburgn,
and that his mention Was to catch their press des
wards the dispatches commenced coming aud Mr..
Pi,r went To the instrument to receive them He
was scarce'y down, however, before he heard
noise on the balcony which convinced him that the
man outside had taken position from which he
could hear everything, and he therefore signalled
| a
minutes aud went out on the balcony aud caught Van
Valsenburgh y ing concealed In narrow sp ,ce be-
tween the railing of the balcony Of the telegraph
BUILDING and that OF the building adjoining 1t on the
north. Drawing his pistol he fired shot in the air
to intinidate Van Valkenburgh and to call assist
ance which was quickly forthcoming from the other
side OF the street, In the person OF J. f. Allen the
Van Valkenhurgi ia custody. After the shot was
fire the latter called to Pierson not to hurt nim
writing paper on which he had evidently intended
to take down the report He said, you see l
station house by oficers Moore AID Chamberlain,
and charge OF attempting TO steal the telegraphic
arrested for discharging firearms in tue city Both
tS put ap for s od
is s younp man Of Unusual ability ia his profession
and has been esteemed by large number OF friends
would appear to have made a misstep in his an Sieiy
to further the interests Of the company by which he
was employed that will have a very Damaging
effect upon him. We have not heard his expana-
tion OF the occurrence but it looks almost iap ,ssi
BILE for him TO clear away the cloud resting over
owing to the peculiar position in which he was
caught, being concealed and having ia his posses
the material with which to secure the dispatches
belonging TO other people. The law Of the State,
If we mistake not, makes II q misdemeanor for any
person to claDdestnely obtain the contents OF tee
graphic messages, fixing as the penalty therefor u
nne not exceeding $1,000, or Imprisonment for not
longer than one year. or both nne and Imprisonment
In this case the party did not gain possession OF the
contents Of the dispatches but he made the attempt
which, In other Ofenses, amounts to the same as
the commission OF the deed. In fact, the Western
Union people say that they have evidence snre to
convict him of having taken in a similar manner the
column OF news before referred to.