The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1875-12-23
A Horrible Plot.

BREMhN, Dec. 16. The passenger on
the Mosel, owner Of the cask Of dyna-
mite, the explosion of which caused the
terrible disaster at Bremerhafen, again
tore the bandages oil his selt-inticted
wounds to-day and died. Previously,
however, he made full confession of his
guilt, revealing a plot of the most diaboli-
cal character He acknowledged that he
had strong barrel made by a Bremen
| cooper and partitioned so that one cham
Der contained dynamite. which he pur
| chased in the United States and had for
| warded to him at Bremen, and the other
chamber an elaborate piece of clock-work,
50 made that when wound up, at the end
of eight days, it would fire the explosive
material. This cask he shipped for Ameri-
ca, intending it should 90 on the Mosel,
and when the steamer was in mid-ocean
it should explode and send the vessel and
all it contained to the bottom He went
on board the Mosel at Brenerhaten, in
tending to leaye at southampton; but the
| rough handling of the men shipping the
luggage at Bremerhaien exploded the dy-
| Mantle. as has been reported, causing
great loss OF life, though, fortunately, not
so great as would have resulted had the
| lllclIil IlOb bctil llttl tul ltIoIptHS
| to programme He intended 10 place the
explosive on board the Deutschland (since
| lost on the English coas). but it WAS not
ready in time lie was to ship q lot of
goods ut Southampton, on which there
was Il very heavy insurance, and on the
| loss Of the steamer would have collected
the insurance and also claimed damages
| Of the steamship company. He has CON
tessed that he had accomplices in New
\ DIRK who We're to share in the anticipated
gains, and revealed their names The
premature explosion at Bremerhaten pre-
vented the accomplishment OF his plot,
and as it was pretty certain that he would
be identified as the shipper Of the internal
| machine he attempted to commit suicide
by shooting himself in the head The at
tempt was not at once successful; but the
physicians could not extract the bullet,
| and it was evident that he must die.
SO he confessed his crime, and IN his
remorse and agony could wait no longer
for death to come. and endeayored to
hasten his end by tearing the dressings
from his wound This was discovered
and new ones put on, but to-day. taking
advantage of the temporary absence OF
his attendants, he again removed the
bandages and in a short time was dead.
His history, rs related by himself, was an
eventtul one Ills true name was William
King Thompson, though he has passed by
the name OF Thomas and Thomasen. He
was born in Brooklyn. n. Y, about 50
Years ago, married a New Orleans lady
and leaves four children, the Youngest m
infant. Some time previous to the Ameri-
can war he lived in Virginia, and was for
several years captain OF the steamer Old
Dominion. employed in blockade running
by which he accumulated quite a fortune
Since 1866 he has lived in Dresden, in
Liverpool, and lastly in Strethlen, near
Dresden. He appears to have lost his
money and become embarrassed. He was
| thrice i'll America during the past sum
mer. The last time he Went without the
knowledge of his family, and when he re-
turned he wrote his banker here that he
had made arrangements enabling him to
pay his debts in December. lie was high
ly esteemed by the people in Dresden. His
house there was searched, but nothing
was found connected with the disaster
The number killed and wounded by the
explosion OF Bremcrhaten is now fixed.
on good authority, at 40
MAGDEBUEoi. Dec IL. 1t is stated here
that Thompson. alias lhomassen, had his
clock-work made by 4 mechanic named
Fuchs, residing at Bernburg, . miles
from this city. The apparatus was con
structed to run noiselessly tor ten days.
when it caused u lever TO strike with a
| force of 30 pounds. Twenty similar ma
chimes had been ordered. The negotia-
tlons between Thompson and Fuchs have
been carried on since 1874 When tupnS
visited Thompson in Leipsc he was told
by the latter that the machines We're want
| ed tor a manulactory i'll the United States
Thompson did not reveal the names Of
his acromplices.