Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1886-08-21
AN AWFUL OUTRAGE.
An Attempt Made TO Blow Up the Resi-
dencs Ofths Assistant Attorney General
of AtehisOn County

An Attempt Made 10 Blow Up the Resi-
dencs OF the Assistant Abtorney-Gen
OF Atehison County
ArCH1soN, KAs., Aug. 15.-An attempt was
made at 2 O'Clock this morning TO blow up
the residence of j.. j.. Tufts, the newly ap-
pointed assistant attorney general, who has
been very active end successful the past
week in closing the saloons. The job was
Dungl6d, however, and but little damage
was done. A twenty-five pound can of Orui-
nary black powder, filled with nails and
slugs, was placed beneath a bedroom win
dow on the back porch and exploded by
slow fuse. The conclusion broke the floor
of the porch and tOO6eled the ceiling above,
forced omen doors and shattered several
windows. Ii the explosive had been placed
inside Of a room Ghs house would have been
torn to atoms and the inmates killed There
were six persons sleeping in the house, VIZ,
Mr.. and Mrs. Tufts, Mrs. Tufts father, Mr..
Hall, and three children. The explosion
startled the family from bed, ana shook
houses within a radius OF a quarter OF mile,
SO that the people ran out into their yards
thinking It was an earthquake. Jerry
IOlherty a c0lOred man, being IN the
neIghbOEhOOd, was awakened by the
shock and reports that he saw the men
leaving Mr.. Tufts yard by the back way.
They passed his housslgoing north on a run.
and he describes them simply az men Of
medium stature, dressed in black clothes,
one wearing black and the other a white
hat. Another neigh or reports that there
we're three men in the party. It was
bright moonlight night and they could be
distinctly seen.
Within i've minutes after the explosion
about 100 ueighbOr gathered at the house
and collected the debris. The can was still
lying on the porch and the nails and slugs
scattered IN every direction. The can bore
the brand Of the American Powder company
and the stencil t-M. 81 Co., Kansas City,
and the AtchIsOn Champion Of yesterdays
date we're also found on the porch. These
articles were all taken possession Of by SheE-
If Shaw.
intelligence Of the affair spread all over
the city at an early hour and created the
widest excitement. OF course the RESPONSE
bilty was charged to the saloons, and men
who had previously favored the whisky side
OF the prohibition. question, came ont boldly
and denounced the scoundr6ls who engaged
IN the attempt and aEfayed themselves on
jhs side of law and order. Governor Mar in,
VINO Is in the city making his usual Sunday
visit to his family, was informed by tele-
phone. at an early hour, of tbs attempted
assassination, and at 10 o'clock, announced
that on tomorrow he would issue the follow
ing proclamation, Offering a reward for the
apprehension of the villains:
WHEREAs, On the morning of the 18th Of
August 1886, an attempt was made In the
city of AtchlsOn 10 blow up the residence Of
j. %. Tufts and,
WHEREAs. At the time this brutal and
Gov ardly crime was planned and executed,
the residence aforesaid was occupied by Mr..
tufts, his wife and two small children an
adopted daughter and his father-ln- Law, and
the lives of SIX persons were thus attempted
and endangered; and,
WHEREAsg This atrocioUs and brutal crime
was undoubtedly inspired by the fact tn It
Nr. tufts was employed as assistant attor-
ney general Of the state, and as such officer
was engaged in prosecuting persons engaged
In violating the laws Of Kansas; now,
Therefore, ], John A. Martin, governor of
Kansas do, by virtae OF authority vested
IN ms by law offer reward of $500 for the
arrest and conviction of the parties who
perpetrFtsd the dOstardly crime, or $3.50 for
the arrest and conviction of each OF the
persons engaged in perpetrating it.
In testimony whereof 1 have caused the
gre Il seal of the state to be affixed. Done
this 18th day OF August, 1886.
JOHN A. MARrn.
By the governor;