TO DYNAMITE A LINER.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 65, 5 August 1914, Page 2

TO DYNAMITE A LINER.

KtIAMAXIO OAPTURK Oi'' I'LAOK.MAI blili. Eighteen detectives, ariucd with rifles and revolvers, and two J'jii. way trains were used recently by tile New York Police iJqKir'inenl. to capture a Hl-year old negro messenger who had threatene 1 >lo-dynamite at sea one of tlie Uuimrr. liners unless the Cunard Company [mi l him JiiiOUl) (wrote the New I'ork corlespondent of the Express), The circumstances of the negro's piot and iiis capture are the most remarkab.e in New York police annals, ana constitute a drama of real Ine eijuulltiiy the ati'dugi'st plots of the kinema screens. Three weeks ago the Ouiianl Line reI ceived an anonymous .letter declaring I that the writer had by bribing sailers ! discovered a method of depositing dynaj mite in the coal bunkers of the Cunard , steamers, and tile writer swore tliat he would do so unless the company paid him £2OOO. A few days later another communication was received by the Cunard Company. who were this time directed to give £2OOO in a bundle of Dotes to one of tkejj oflicials, 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 platfom and watch for a purple light. As soon ag he saw the light he was to throw the money j from the train on to the line. ! THE PURPLE LIGHT.

_ A third letter yesterday conveyed a. final warning, and stated tluit the arrangement roust 'be carried oat that n-giit, but instead of a purple light i police whistle would be blu-\vn somewhere b&wn-n 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 CiLy Hal( Park at 5.30 p.m., who, after resting his hand oil the statue of .Nathan Hale for three minutes, was to vva.k quickly away wiUh'out turning around. A detective was assigned to do this., and then arrangements weie made to complete the capture. Six detectives w ere on board .the Buffalonian in charge of Captain Jones, tihe champion rifle shot of the police department, when the train left Weeih'awken at ii p.m. Captain Jones alone was on the rear platlorai, with a bundie-to represent the money. A (minute after the liullalonian had left a special train, with 12 detectives aboard, followed flier, the object being to surround the blackmailer and cut off his retreat. After the Bull'alonian passed Bogota, eight miles from YVeehawkcn, Captain Jone» heard three blasts from a police whittle from the bushes near the track. He immediately threw the bundle on the track, and then stopped the ex, piess, signalling to tife train behind with a. red lamp. TIJK CAPTURE.

Captain Jones seized his rille, leaped to the ground with his live subordinates, and rushed toward a form dimly perceived in the dilrk which was makin;;' towards the bundle on the line. Twulvu detectives from the other train did the same, and (is the negro picked up the "money" he was coinli.anded sharply to throw up his bands. He gave a .shriek of terror as he saw 18 rifles and revolvers pointed at him. Amazement and fear alternated in his countenance as handcuffs wire snapped 011 his wrists, while detectives hastily searched the neighbourhood and convinced themselves that the man Iliad no accomplices, ' The negro was then taken' bo Weehftwken in the detectives' special train and locked up.

Jit; declares that ho acted alone, and tl'.ut the idea suggested iU'ejf to iiiim when lie was reading about the lu.vu-y i-nd size o£ the Aquitaiiia. The police l'ecoived liigli praise for tl'eir clever handling of tllwe case. It is stited by tUie Cunard clficb's that their system of supervision and inspection is'such that it would bs impossible for dynamite to be placed in the bunkers.