The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1876-02-27
THE DYNAMITE HORROR.
The Strange Story Of fhomas's Wife.
Her Ignorance Of His Early History.
Was the Fiend a Monomaniac !
IN. Y. Herald.l

AS was announced in the Herald the
steamer Wieland brought from Europe, on
her last trip, the widow Of Thomas, whose
dynamite plot resulted so disastrCusly at
Bremerhaven. At the time Herald reporter
called upon her and an interview was Ar
ranged, the lady promising to disclose her
knowledge Of Thomas and his antecsdents
and to make whatever statements might tend
to establish his somewhat involved identity.
She received the reporter, and in reply to his
questions touching her husband, she corrobo-
rated the statements published ia the HerdIds
London letter. She said:
"To me he was always known IS William
Thompson. Under that name he married
me and by it he was known to all the acquain-
tances he made on the Continent He seemed
ayerse to speaking much of his early life, but
he gave me to understand that he was born
in Brooklyn and that his people lived in Pc
tersburg, Va. His father, he said, was En-
Rlish, his mother Scotch, and of her have
frequently heard him speak in terms OF the
greatest affection and reverence. Once, how
ever, he told me that his name was Asexan-
der, and that he was led to conceal it from his
being engaged in blockade running at the
time of the war. He always spoke of the sea
and Of military life as if he had been con-
versant with them, but fancy his knowledge
of both was somewhat superficial. OF his
means and resources knew little. He was
never engaged in any business to my knowl-
edge, but am led to the belief that he had
passion for specializing. At one time re-
member his showing me 5000 in bonds,
but that was the only instance Of his giving
me an linking of the resources he com.
manded."
THoMAs's HABITS AND DISPOSITION.
Speaking of Thomas's habits and dispo-
sition, his wife said: He was essentially .
man Of quiet disposition. Most OF his time
was spent 1t home, and he seemed to delight
in nothing SO much as chatting and playing
with his children. He was very proud, made
few acquaintances, and although jovial in
company he always preserved strict DE-
corum and reserve. He was no drinker, nor
did he smoke much, anu I never remember
having seen signs of intoxication upon him. "
From the subsequent conversation the re-
porter was led to believe that Thomas's actions
and likings during the ten years of his mar
ried life in many instances savored OF insanity
His passion for perusing sensational stories OF
murder and havoc, his morbid appetite for
tales of blood, and the unacoountable long
ing for scenes of carnage, which prompted
him to look for war details with anxiety, and
to visit battle.felds from whose horrors the
bravcst might shrink, all seemed to indicate
that Thomas was essentially.a monomaniac
His wife states that during the Franco-Prus-
sian war he conceived most bitter and unac-
countable hatred for the Germans. At times
he would utter the widest denunciations of
them, and, when excited, would make the
maddest threats, and express towards them
the deepest detestation.
SHE MEETS THE MYSTERIOUS MAN.
Mrs, Thomas gave the following story of
her life from the time Of meeting her hus-
band: During the summer OF 1865 Mrs.
Thomas, then young girl, was stopping at q
little country village in illinois. 1t is quiet,
seuuestered spot, shut off from the world by
great woodlands and ranges of hills, which,
from the advantages they offered sportsmen,
drew together quite Q number OF foreign
pleasure seekes. The population OF the place
was made up principally Of French and Ger
mans. and only an occasional American ever
adjourned ct it very long. During her resi-
dence here there came to the house at which
she was boarding an English looking gentle
man. suffering from rheumatism. He was
tail. broad shouldered, with ruddy complex
ion. and q profusion Of light brown hair.
This man was Thomas. Why he came there
he did not divulge, but limited to the young
pirl into whose company he was necessarily
thrown that he had been Q blockade runner
and was now seeking concealment in this out
of-the-way place. :,
Their acquaintance ripened, and in the
autumn of the year she became his wife.
They first took up their abode in St. Louis
and lived there for . while, Thomas devoting
himself entirely to his bride and forming no
associations outside his hotel All this time
he talked necessarily about his adventures IN
the war, often expressing fear that pursuers
whom he dreaded would get upon his track.
At nisht. too. his sleep was troubled, and he
frequently started up, exclaiming that the
dagger of an assassin had been ct his throat.
One night in the middle Of winter, while ell
the residents of the hotel were asleep. there
came knock ct the door, which Thomas rose
from his bed to answer. In moment ne
emo back, hurriedly dressed himself and,
,r;thnnt anx exclamation, departed. Days