The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1863-03-03
A DIABOLICAL ATTEMPT TO
MURDER.
From the Chicago Tribune. Feb


One OF the most diabollcal attempts at mur
der of which we have ever heard has been
brought to light by the ssgacity aud shrswd
ness of our police, who have b, en- upob the
scent for several weeks past. The sffair hap.
pened in January, but we, in common with
the entire city Iress, refrained from publishing
it, that tho ends Of justice might b. further.d
in the detection OF tie guilty parties. That
lection has row been consummalsl by the
skil of our police, and the alleged guilty par
ty has been brought 10 this city, so that all
RESTRICT, ms OF publication are now removed
The facts in this Interesting case, q case VIII ch
had nearly developed into most terrible trsg
edy, are az follows:
The alleged guilty party is Nehemiah
Hodge Of North Adams, Mass, a man about
fifty years Of age, and unusually shrewd and
smart, not alone in finsnc.ering, but also in
mechanics. He is the IT aker Of patent car
trsk', Of which hs claims to possess patent.
This brake, owing to its many excelleDcies, 10
n use upon nearly ali of the roads cen,err g
here, re he claims, illegally. To test this
qucstion, he sued the ChicaL O, Burlington aud
Quincy Railrosd Company in tho U. s. Cir.
cult Court, for applying the brake to their
cars without buying the gbt. The case ia
still pending before Judge Drummond, who
hold bis decision in reserve.
One S. NJ. Whipple, formerly resident of
North Adams, was employed by Holye in
the manufacture of the brake, and was also
thoroughly converssot with the matter of the
patient right, and was expecte by Hodge to
lie material Witness for him, but in -omo
manner, Whipple WAS disepgsged from Hodge,
and went into he employ Of the railroad in
gu stion. furnishing them with valuable in,or.
nation relative to the bake and the validity
Of the patent, and working up the evidence ip
the case.
Tbs suit was instituted in the early part of
October, 1862, AM during the lsttor part,
Whpple went to North Adams, intending to
return to this city about the Is. of January.
at which time 1t was agreed that the case
should bs argued in Court.
Upon he 9th Of December, '62, and while
vet in North Adams, in the service Of the
Railroad Company, Whipple received an an
enymous letter, in disguised band, the con
tents being printed with a pen instead #
written, which of course completely sst a. de-
fance spy attempt 10 identify the hand writ
lug. The letter WAS mailed from Albany,
Dec 9Th, and informed Whipple that An in-
rnsl machine bad been sent him, and warn.
ing him. upon penalty of his life, not to at
tempt to open it.
In the mean time the box was takeu from
Albany to New York. aud shipped per the
American Express Company, on the 4th Of
Dec, for Chicago 1t arrived here on the
7th and was delivered on the sth at the Of
fee OF tho Chicago Burlington & Quincy
Railroad Company. 1t Sas n strong sprucs
box, nicely finished anil dove,ailed with the
utmost exacness, weighing about fourteen
pounds. tho dimensions being eighteen inches
in myth, ak in depth. and two in width
II wa. locked. wrapped in several thckuesses
Of str' ng brown paper, and secured with siout
twne Upon the top OF the box was Labelled
1.-TWO model Spark Arresters 10 brass for the
examination and report of s. NJ. Whipple,
Railroad Attorney. Please notify Mr.. Whip
ple." Upon one end was "Chicago. Burling.
ton and Quincy Railroad Company" and on
the other "S. Whipple" the whole being
printed as with a stencil. Fastened to the
top was letter which hal escaped the atten.
ticn Of the officers oft Express Company
at tho New York end Of the line. Tlis let
ter was addressed upon the outside "To the
American Express Company, l24 Broadway,
New York; expressage enclosed" Thi let.
ter was removed and opened. The inside
contents were: ''You will find 81, so on nc
companving boz. Please mark il PAID !.
The amount named above was found as the
letter stated and out of il tho express charges
amounting to $l,25, we're paid here, the nd
dltionnl quarter Of dollar and letter being
placed With the box TO await the pleasure Of
Mr. w ppIe. The box remained in the of
flee of Mr.. Hall several days awaiting Win
pies return. One day, led by the address.
and anxious to soc the contents, a proposition
was made to open the box, which, owing to
the relations between Whpp.s and the off
GERS, might have been dono without any
breach Of propiety. A porter was sent for
bn. h, could not be found aud the opening
was given up. Thus narrowly did ten or
twelve pofsons escape destruc,ruction, as the
explosive material within Was sufficient to have
blown the room, il not the whole building to
pieces >. ,8sr, ersI Ia aIf.sei w 81
Upon tho lsl Of January, Whippls return.
ed 10 Chicago and was Informed that box
vas awaiting. Tho anonuous leltsr at once
flashed upon bin and ho instantly suspected
this was the machine sent for hs destruction
H. compared iis sizs and wrappings with tho
description IN that letter. They exactly con.
pared with each other. The police w,rs no
titled, aud D"puty Superinse ndent Rehm, with
one or two officers weat down aud examined
the box. The papers ani iwne were care
fully takap off and the hox l.rt in thai cop.G
ticn until the mex, day January sth. IN the
meantime two sharp wedges connecrpd By a
tfaussrss bar ., the top wefc prepared and