Morning journal and courier., 1881-01-26
Nihilist Intrigues in England.


| ACIockmaker's Disa greea BILE Position.
The London Times relates an extraordinary
story of nihilist negotieation with Birming-
| ham mechanic for the manufacture of internal
| machines to be used against the Emperor of
Russia. Some months ago an operative
clockmaker named Hutchinson wrote to the
local chief of police that he was in fear of
his life, owing to a rupture between himself
and certain nihilist agents for whom he had
undertaken to do work. To detectives sent
to interrogate him he stated that in April,
1879, he was in London on business, and in a
restaurant met two men, with whom he en-
tered into conversation. One of these was a
Russian, and the other a German. In the
course of conversation Hutchinson happened
to say tnat he was clockmaker and showed
the men some of his patterns. They became
interested at once, asked him if he could
work on designs, and upon his making answer
in the affirmative they produced some rough
plans for his inspection. On announcing his
readiness to peform the work, Hutchinson
was told that he was to assist in the prepar-
tion of Internal machines of the following
construction: One machine had to be arrang-
ed SO that it could be fixed under the ground
a little way, and from the place where the
t'crutch'' was fixed over the pendulum wire
little contrivance had to be constructed by
which small lead pipe could be attached and
through this pipe wire had to be carried.
second machine was to have sharp hooks
affixed to drive it into the bottom of rail-
way carriage, the clockwork movement being
made to explode the charge in from one min
ute to forty-eight or more hours The third
machine was to be more simple, having to be
80 constructed that it could be put under a
garden wall or any pathway. This contri-
vance was to be worked with thin wires.
Another machine was q dynamite bomb, to be
placed under the seat of a private carriage.
The last machine sketched out by the con-
l., -e. soAs..- II. kLok
it might be easily placed within a bouquet.
A thirty hour movement was required, similar
to that found in an. American alarm clock,
and the charge might either be of pitroglyce-
rine or dynamite.
The clockmaker asked time to consider the
proposition and afterward met the men at
Birmingham, where Hutchinson was asked to
sign an agreement pleging him to the strictest
secrecy penalty of death, and promising
him $500 on the completion of the work.
He then told the men that he had decided not
to undertake the work, whereupon they left
him after making violent threats against him.
Since that time he has been continually ap-
of nihilist vengeance, has been un-
able to sleep at night, and feared to disclose
his secret lest he should pay the penalty of
After long period of suspense he
wrote an anonymous letter to the Russian
En- bassy, informing them of attempt
which the conspirators had revealed to him to
blow up the Emperor's train to Moscow
(which was soon after duly made). This
led to correspondence be-
tween Hutchinson and the Embassy, and ul-
timately an GttGche was sent down to see him.
Hutchinson was subsequently taken to London
and had an interview with the Russian Am
to whom he gave minute descrip-
ton of the conspirators and their machines.
Nothing has since been heard of the two
nihilits but Hutchinson is still apprehensive of
violence from them.