The New York herald., 1876-01-17

THOM ASSEM-.
Preliminary Contrivances of the
Dynamite Assassin.
WOrkmen Whom lie. Employed Coming
Forward to Testify.
HERR RHIND'S IMPORTANT NARRATIVE.
The America an M G g tin 2
in Berlin.
HERR RHIND'S IMPORTANT NARRATIVE.

Berlin dec 81 correspondence Of London Timesl
Thanks to the unwearied activity Of the police and
the ready cooperation OF every right minded person.
the preliminary contrivances OF the assassin Thomas
being completely unraveed All the workmen
employed by him coming forward Of their own ac-
cord
RHND's TESTIMONY.
One OF the most interesting dispositions has been
made by Herr Rhipd matchmaker at Vienna
This gentleman having exhibited eight-day clock in
April, 1874 received visit from gentleman gave
himself out for Russian, and certainly spoke very
different German The visitor whom Herr Rhind has
had no difficulty in identifying Mr. Thomas or
Ihomassen stree he has the photograph, desired
Herr Rhind to construct the model Of a twelve-day
clock which should be noseess and at the end OF the
time fixed give q single stroke. To indicate the force
required Thomas took up hammer and dealt power
ul blow on the table at which the two were standing
Herr Rbind declaring his willingness TO carry out
the order price OF $780, in gold, agreed upon
few days later Thomas called again to inspect the de
signs made by Herr Rhind and after expressing salts
sfaction paid $50 on account Amer this the de-
signs were put into the hands Of operative named
Carl Gllckschall, who constructed
MODEL
in five months Upon the delivery Of the finished
Thomas would not take the clock unless a
more powerful spring was inserted Two
or three more springs tried before
tho fastdious customer was suited. After
three months experiments Thomas at last content
and paid $40 extra for the trouble he had given He
however, obliged to leave Vienna he said, for
St Petersburg before the mechanism was ready to be
delivered. He therefore requested Herr Rhind TO
send the order TO the address Of NJ. Pero wskon,
poste resante Bodenbach leaving printed card with
this ON it, Herr Rhind did as he told, and,
about Christmas, 1874,
prspArcnEp THE MODEL TO ITS DESTINATION
Il only called for in the beginning of February,
1875, which occasion the $50 remaining unpaid was
hquidated
CHARACTER AND APPEARANoR
Herr Rhind who has handed over the card, as well
as some of the rejected springs TO the Vienna police
stated that nothing could be natural and
picous than the assassins behavior in the shop He
played the part OF distinguished foreigner to perfec
assumed Scavonic accent in speaking Ger
man. He was portly man, with hair inclining
TO red, elegant manners and jovia countenance. He
would laugh and crack jokes in giving his orders like
warm hearted, genial man Of the world. Tho only
thing that seemed IN the least to upset his equanimy
were those insufficient specimens OF the handspring he
SUCCESSFULLY rejected and replaced And well might
his temper be ruled by these refractory spirals After
what has come light the last few days that
the omnous spring killed him and subverted his design.
'PowERPuL cLocK" "
Thomas as your readers are aware took his model
TO one Herr Fuchs. clockmaker at Bernburg. Duchy
OF Anbalt whom he desired TO make a powerful clock
after this pattern. Herr Fuchs complied and framed
the machine; but the Vienna model remaining in his
hands was transferred by him TO the Bremen police
directly the terrible Of the crime got abroad Two
days ago. at scientific lecture gwen at Bremen by Dr.
Hapke this model was produced with the consent OF
the authorities. Considerably smaller and more
simply formed than the machine made from IL, II yet
displays all the characteristic features or the latter,
and allows scientific judges 10 form exact opinion OF
the merits and deficiencies OF the work DR.. Hapke,
therefore was enabled 10 demonstrate that ihc spring
enough IL
tached to while the machine was stationary, could
not Withstand the strain consequent upon violent and
sudden motion This opinion was confirmed by Herr
Bruins, clockmaker al Bremen, 10 whom the assas-
SIN gave bis machine for
PISAL BRUSH UP
before consigning II to the .nurderous chest Il is
likewise be the view taken by Herr Fuchs at
Bernburg and Herr Rhind at Vienna All agree that II
they had been told that the mechanism likely TO
be rudely handled and thrown about when wound up
they would have either inserted different sort Of
spring modified the wheel work connected with IT,
But this the very point the assassin would
not reveal Giving out his internal machine some
times as contriyance for breaking silk threads,
sometimes peculiar description OF clock for
trolling workmen, be never was in position TO beray
that its allotted task would have 10 be done by travel
ling Knowing his own secret designs, he certainly
had IDEA that the spring ought TO be more powerful
than any presented him by the unsuspecting mecha
ncians but though he rejected several IN succession,
be failed 70 secure the strength required TO prevent
cidonis on the f6eA- he came 70 grief on the very
point where his hshish secret Began
now fHR MECHANISM WORKED.
Viewing the explosion in the light OF these facts,
there can be no manner Of doubt that the fell
when the chest thrown on the pavement and that
the dangerous liquid set ablazc by the regular ac
ton Of the ignng apparatus not by the mere copcus
consequent upon the sudden crash The machine,
know, about thirty pounds in weight,
thirty 1--WE centmetres long. and twenty three cent?
metres broad. IL contained two springs, the one
somewhat stronger than the other rom eight TO nine
centmetres in width and threequarters OF q cent?
metre in diameter. The springs were enclosed in
brass cases provided with teeth hitting into the
volvng shaft Of the main wheel 10 which six minor
wheels we're attached The hammer, which to
come into action after week OF ten days, fell with
force Of thirty pounds Imagine machine Of this
and latent energy devised the suppositon that
Il would not be disturbed when at work and s easy
TO comprehend that It did not answer when precip-
tated from wagon In the hurry scurry OF departure
for America after the second bell had rung
The question whether
CAPITAL PUNISHMENT
could have been pronounced against Thomas under the
German code had he survived Is making stir in the
legal world. Your leader the subject having
called forth many approving remarks, has given fresh
impetus TO the discussion day two ago the Official
Berlin GdSete Joined the controversy giving II as
the opinion OF the Grown lawyers that tho assassin In
the present state OF the CODE could not have been
held responsible for murder, but only Tor attempt
at murder. Had he been found guilty on this
been hard labor Of from three 70 fifteen
years Such sentence, however, could only have
been passed on the suppositon that the mechanism
was wound up and everything prepared for the explo
sion OF the ship when the chest about 70 be carried
on board. Had this been denied by Thomas, and had
the jury In the absence or any tangible proof failed TO
satisfy themselves that the mechanism actually at
work II Is probable that the crime 70 be brought home
TO the assassin would have been only arson as the
crime was not actually completed attempt at arson.
In this case hard labor for something like fourteen
years would have been the severes penalty that could
have been inflicted Considering the universal abbor
renee testified at the crime u is only natural tho
GdEete should doubt whether these provisions would
have satisfied the public had Thomas appeared in the
dock
uvEIY TRADE PoR rHR PHOTOGRAPHERS.
There being rage for Thomas portraits, Il may
be well 10 say that there are many spurious
going about. The one published by R0mmler Jonas,
photographers al Dresden, Is stated 70 be taken from
life.
THE AMERICAN MEETING IN BERIIN-GERMAN
PRESS LIBEIs REPUDIATED.
The attempt Of some Berlin journals TO hold Amer
lean civilization responsible for the crime OF the muir
derer Thomaa bias been allowed 70 pass unnoiced