Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-04-07

DIaboIfcaI Attempt TO Murder n Citi-
zen--ExpIosfon of an Internal Ma
chine, and Mutflaffon OF the In
tended Victim.
A diabolical, but fortunately futile attempt
was made, at about eight o'clock yesterday
morning to murder Pryor p. Lee, Engineer of
the Cincinnati Type Foundry, in the engine
room of that establishment, on Centre street.
west of Vine. An internal machine, consist
ing of piece of gas pipe seven-eighths of an
inch in diameter, and nearly eight inches long.
welded with wrought iron plugs at either end.
and filled with explosive material was the
means by which the hideous crime was sought
to be completed.
The circumstances coincident with the ex-
plosion of the machine are but imperfectly
known, but are surrnised from incidents that
subsequently transpired, together with discon-
nected statements made by Mr.. Lee after the
pains from his terrible wounds were somewhat
mitigated by medical treatment. At the hour
mentioned, the inmates of the Foundry. up
stairs, were startled by decorating sound in
the engine room. like the discharge of a heav-
lily charged musket. Surprising the boiler
had exploded, several artisans FASTENED to the
head OF the stairway leading to the engine
room. and met Mr.. Lee on the topmost step,
covered with gore and enveloped in flames.
Water was thrown upon his garments, and the
fire eXtinguished. Mr.. Lee then tainted and
messengers fastened for medical aid. Mean
time it was discovered that the sufferer was
wretchedly mutilated, his left hand being lit
orally torn to shreds his body, between his
thighs and waist, badly burned, besides being
punctured with severe wounds, both eyes
burned. and the flesh about them much lace
rated, and one of his ears shockingly man
gled
Drs. Vim. and Jesse p. Judkins We're soon
upon the spot, and Mr.. Lee was removed, when
his left hand was amputated and his remain
ing wounds dressed. Yesterday afternoon he
was able to converse little, and informed Mr..
Wells, of the type foundry company, that he
was engaged in cleaning up shavings and other
litter about carpenters bench in the engine
room, where he was wont to devote his spare
time to the manufacture of type boxes, and
picked up the Internal machine from the floor
under the bench, and laid it upon the bench,
when it exploded in his hand. The force of
the explosion was terrific. The thick pipe
metal was shattered into dozen pieces and
twisted into odd shapes. Some of the frag-
ments perforated inch plank, and imbedded
themselves in he plastering of the wall. The
largest fragment. consisting of about one-third
of the machine, went whizzing through the
engine room like missile shot from a cannon,
into an area eighty feet distant, and striking
stone wall, rebounded six or eight feet.
Two-thirds of the fragments of the pipe were
found, and the fabrication of the machine is
conclusive evidence that it was made by some
one familiar with iron manufactures. The
explosive substance was inserted into the ma
chine through a small vent hole near one end.
and evidently was so manufactured that a
slight disturbance would cause an explosion.
The author of this fendish attempt is I'M
known. and the superinducing cause is a pro-
found mystery. Mr.. Lee has been employed
in the type foundry about fifteen years, and
has always been regarded peacable, molten
sive, steady and industrious man, and is not
known to have an enemy. He is aged forty
two years, and has wife and three children
dependent upon him for support. He is not
MORALLY wounded. but his vision is endan-
gered by the wounds in and about his eyes.
We understand that the police are eDdeavor-
ing TO obtain clue to the murderous villain
who committed the hellish deed.-Cn. CON-.
Aprl 3.