The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1882-06-07
DYNAMITE DISCOVERED
Under the Floor of the Old Christian
Church, BESIDES Two Mysterious Bottles
OfLiqaids, Burglar Tools, etc

tuusr the rioor OF inc Ola Ohristfan
Church, BESIDES Two Mysterious Bottles
ofLiquids, Burglar Tools, etc.
Yesterday morning force under the
supervision of Captain w. c. Connor, while
clearing the old Christian church at the
north end of Austin street, preparatory to
erecting building for the headquarters of
the Dallas Electric Lighting company,
which has purchased that property, came
| across a lot of dynamite and two bottles
with glass shoppers containing fluid re
sembling in color iodine, which is believed
TO be nitro-glycerine. Mr.. Common
knew that the three large rolls
in brown paper were dynamite and lifting
them and the two mysterious bottles with
tender care, he carried the articles of des-
truction to the office of Chief of Police Ar
mold, where they are now lying on the
hoor; They were inspected yesterday by a
number oil persons, who were content with
only glance, for they darned not touch
them. Tho dynamite was wrapped
in brown paper and around all
three of the rolls was newspaper
dating back to July list, 1881. They were
concealed beneath the floor of the building
IL was used as house for the storage OF
oats by Mr.. Thomas Field, and the weight
OF the grain broke in the floor. Some three
weeks ago while removing this grain, a
jimmy" and several other burglar tools
We're found, and the inference is that the
articles found were used by the par
ties who attempted to burglar2e
Adams q Leonard's bank on the night of
the 10Th of November, 1881. A lot of fuse
was found with the dynamite of the make
OF that discovered when the attempt was
made TO rob the bank. Directly after this
attempt three masks of false whskers were
found on Paclhc avenue, between the bank
and Schneider II Davis wholesale gro
Gerry house, but the matter was
kept quiet with the hope that the
wearers of them might be ferreted
out. The tools found by Mr. Tom Field
were near the spot where the dynamite was
found. It's the belief of many that instead
OF the find being the store of the parties
who attempted the robbery of the bank,
that it has recently been placed there by
parties who contemplated the robbery of
some bank in this city. No worship has
been held in the building for the
past two years, and it is made u
handy store-house for bank.burglars.
Some two months ago information was
given the banks here that several noted
craftsmen were in this city, and for them
TO be on the alert. Guards were employed
and the police force did extra duty for some
time, yet after several weeks had elapsed
H'.Hib VI ousplClOuS NATURE
came to their knowledge it be-
came to be regarded as a false
alarm, though the utmost diligence contin-
ues to be exercised, and should break be
made there is hardly doubt but that the
burglars would get the worst of it, Later
in the day, as the workmen proceeded
tearing up the old floor, they came
across something rolled up in a
piece OF cotton, and on unwrapping
1t found pound Of powder and a large
piece of oil-cloth, six by three feet, on
which was artistically painted the door of a
bank vault. 1t was complete in every re-
spect, having the gilt lines usual to such
doors as well as the nickel knob and COM
bination lock, which were complete in
every respect and calculated at a
few PAGES to deceive the closest
observer so thorough is the imitation.
Along the edges of the cloth are holes to be
used in stretching the cloth, and it is under
cover of this imitation of this false vault
door that these experienced cracksmen
| operate. They stretch the cloth on frame
work of wire, and setting it a few feet in
front OF the vault do their work behind
this screen which the passer.by mis-
takes for the original vault door. 1t is n
cute contrvance and shows the inventive
shrewdness of the bank burglar. Mr.. Con-
nor took it down to the Dallas Ice company,
where 1t is now on exhibition. Among
other things found was a wash list from the
City laundry, but there was no name on it,
yet judging from tie wash list the wearer
of the clothes must have changed his linen
at least once day if not oftener.