Western cyclone. [volume] (Nicodemus, Kan.) 1886-1887, 1886-08-26
AN AWFUL OUTRAGE.

An Attempt Made to Blow Up the Resi-
dence of the Assistant Attorney General
of Atchison County
ATCHIsON, KAs., Aug. 15.-An attempt was
made at 2 o'clock this morning to blow up
the residence of j. +. Tufts, the newly APP
pointed assistant attorney general, who has
been very active and successful the past
week in closing the saloons. The job was
bungled, however, and but little damage
was done. A twenty-five pound can of Ordi.
nary black powder, filled with nails and
slugs, was placed beneath bedroom win
dow on the back porch and exploded by q
slow fuse. The conclusion broke the floor
of the porch and lOosened the ceiling above,
forced open doors and shattered several
windows. If the explosive had been placed
inside of room the 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, and shook
houses within a radius OF quarter of mile,
so that the people ran out into their yards
thinking 1t was an earthquake. Jerry
TOlheTt, a COlOred man, being IN the
neighbOrhoOd, was awakened by the
shock and reports that he saw the men
leaving Mr.. Tufts yard by the back way.
They passed his house going north on run,
and he describes them simply as men CT
medium stature, dressed In black clothes,
one wearing a black and the other white
hat. Another neighbOr reports that there
we're three men in the party. 1t was q
bright moonlight night and they could be
distinctly seen.
Within five minutes after the explosion
about 100 neighbOrs gathered at the house
and collected the debris. The can was still
lying on the porch and the nails and slugs
scattered in every rection. The can bore
the brand of the American Powder company
and the stencil IN. d CO., Kansas City,
Two newspapers, the Kansas City Times
and the Atchlson Champion, of yesterdays
date were also found on the porch. These
articles were all taken possession of by Sher-
III Shaw.
Intelligence of the affair spread ali over
the city at an early hour and created the
widest excitement. OF course the response
bility was charged TO the saloons, and men
who had previously favored the whisky side
of the prohibition question, came out boldly
and denounced the scOundrels who engaged
in the attempt, and arrayed themselves Oh
the side OF law and order. Governor Mar In
who i in the city making his usual Sunday
visit TO mis- family, was Informed by tele-
phone. at an early hour, of the attempted
assassination, and at 10 o'clock, announced
that on tomorrow he would issue the follow
ing proclamation, offering reward for tht
. apprehension of the villains:
WHEREAS. On the morning OF the 18th oil
! August. l>~j. All attempt was made II the
+ city OF Atchison TO blow up the residence Of
/ J. +. Tufts; and.
! WHEREAS, At the time this brutal anC
cOxarlly crime was planned and executed
! the residence aforesaid was occupied by Mr.
Tufts, his wife and two small children al
adopted daughter and his fgther-ln-law, anc
+ he lives of six persons were thus ATTEMPTED
and endangered; and,
+ WHEKEAs, This atrOclOus and brutal CRIME
was undoubtedly inspired by the fact tina
. Mr.. Tufts was employed a. assistant attor
ney general OF the state. and 81 such o:hce
was engaged in prosecuting persons engaged
in violating the laws of Kansas; now,
Therefore. I, John 4. Martin, governor o
Kansas. do. by virtue OF authority vesteG
in me by. law, offer q reward Of 500 for tn
arrest and conviction OF the parties VIII
perpetrated the dostsrdly crime,.or $3.50 70
the arrest and conviction OF each OF IN
persons engaged in perpetratlng IL
In testimony whereof | have caused n
great seal of the state 10 be affixed. Don
this 10th day Of August, lseG.
JOHN 4. MAETIs
By the governor:
T.. b. ALLIES, Secretary OF state