TO DYNAMITE A LINER.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 150, 31 July 1914, Page 6

TO DYNAMITE A LINER.

DRAMATIC CAPTURE OF BLACKMAILER. Eighteen armed 'with rifles and revolvers, and two railway trains were .used last evening "by the New York Police Department to capture a 19-year-old negro messenger who had threatened to dynamite at sea one of the Cunard liners Unless the Cunard Company paid him £2OOO (wrote the New. York correspondent of the "Express" under date June 19). The circumstances of the negro's plot and his capture arc the most remarkable in New York police annals, and constitute a drama of real life equalling the strangest plots of the kincma screens. Three weeks ago the Ounard Line received an anonymous letter declaring that the writer had by bribing sailors discovered a method of depositing dynamite in the coal bunkers of the Cunard steamers, and the writer swore that he would do so \mless the company paid him £2OOO.

A few flays later another communication was received by the Cunard Company, who were this time! directed to give £2OOO in a bundle of notes to one of their officials, who was to engage a passage on the Buffalo main line express train of the West Shore Railway.

The letter directed a Cunard official to ride on the rear platform and watch for a purple light. As soon as he saw the light he was to throw the money from the train on to the line. .

The Purple Light. • A third letter yesterday conveyed a final warning, and stated that the arrangement must be carried out that night, but instead of a purple light a police whistle would be blown somewhere between New York and Buffalo three times, and the money must then be thrown from the train. The letter further directed that if .the Cunard Line agreed to the terms it must send a man into City Hall Park at 5.30 p.m.', who, after resting his hand on the statue of Nathan Hale for three minutes, was to walk quick ly away without turning around. A detective was assigned to do this, and then arrangements were made to complete the capture. Six detectives were on board the Buffalonian in charge of Captain Jones, the , champion rifle shot of the police department, when the train left Weehawken at 8 p.m. Captain Jones alone .was on the rear platform, with a bundle to represent the money. A minute after the Buffalonian had left a special.train-,-with 12 detectives aboard, followed her, the object being to surround the blackmailer and cut off his retreat.

After the Buffalonian passed Bogota, eight miles from Weeliawkon, Captain .Jones heard tliree blasts from a police whistle from the bushes near the track. He immediately threw the bundle on the track, and then stopped the express, signalling to the train behind with a red lamp. The Capture.

Captain Joucs seized his rifle, leaped to the ground with his live .subordinates, and rushed toward a form dimly perceived in the dark which was making toward the bundle on the line. Twelve detectives from the other train did the same, and as the negro picked up the "mbney " he was commanded sharply to throw up his hands.

He gave a shriek of tenor as he saw 18 rifles and revolvers pointed at him,

Amazement and fear alternated in his J countenance as handcuffs were snapped. ! on his wrists, while detectives hastily searched the neighbourhood and con- ' vinced themselves that the man had 110 , accomplices. The negro was then taken to Wee- , hawken in the detectives' special train j and locked up. j He declares that he acted alone, and that the idea suggested itself to hint ' when he was reading about- the luxury land size of the Aquitania. I The police received high praise for j their-clever handling of the Case. It is stated by the Cunard officials J that their system of supervision and in- : spection is such that it would be impossible for dynamite to be placed in. ; the bunkers. ;