The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-01-18
JUDGE WOODS,
UNITED STATES COURT,

It did not have sufficient postage it, and
besides canceling the stamps he stamped due
six cents" From his table it went with other
mail matter to the hopper, and then to the dis
tributing department for carriers. when it came
into the hands Of carrier Scantlin, who has the
elivery in the postoffice district.
There is postofice-box for the mail matter
addressed to the federal officers. from which
Thomas McMullen, the ianitor of the building
on the second and third floor, gets the papers,
letters and packages for the collector of internal
revenue, marshal, and other officers. About
430 he started into the postofice on this errand.
when he met carrier Scantlin, who starting
out on a trip Of delivery, handed him the box
for Judge Woods with the request that he would
relieve him of the trip upstairs. McMulen took
tho box and going to the Judges room left it
with him.
EXAMINING THE MURDERoUs MACHINE.
w. P. Fishback was with Judge Woods when
the latter received the box. and. shaking the
package heard the rattle OF small grains, as il
of sawdust Both he and the gentleman to
whom it was addressed thought it bogus internal
machine. but neither would take the risk finves-
tigating it any further than tearing off the white
paper wrapper. This a large official envel-
op, turned wrong side out, the inner. right
side, revealing the imprint. the upper left
hand corner, or 3 cut OF inc cOurt-nOuSe, along
side of which the printed official address OF
"John E. Sullivan, Clerk of Marion CoUn-
ty." Across this address had been drawn
hurriediy several pen marks. If to
indicate that tho package did not come from
that Office. The box was Of white hard wood,
eight inches long. one and one-half inch deep
and two inches wide. On the lid had been
pasted a slip of foolscap paper. on which was
written in much the same style of the outer adj
dress. Judge W. w. Woods The letters in
both instances were of the printed form people
sometimes use in Disgusting their handwriting.
Beneath this strip Of paper could be detected
impression as of three minute holes bored or cut
in the lid of the box District Attorney Sellers
and Noble c. Butler, Clerk of the United States
Court, were informed OF the discovery. Both
box conceded with Judge Woods and Mr. Fish
back in turning it over unopened to the police
for further investigation.
To the summons for officer Detective Thorn
ton reached the Judges room few minutes
before o'clock, and receiving the box from the
Judges hands put it in his pocket and left on
other business He did not reach the station
house with it until o'clock roll-eall, and then,
after a superficial examination, Superintendens
Travis ordered it to be placed In the safe until
morning
Yesterday morning superintendent Travis
started to open it by pulling out the lid but
the next instant. with his knife, he cut of the
lid found three matches depending from it in q
line, with a small and equal space between each.
The match next to the front end OF the box was
longer still. Inside the box at the front end
was placed piece of wood at an incline, the
upper end touching near the lid, while
the lower was MALT inch above
the bottom of the box. little
beyond its middle line In the space thus formed
between the lower end Of the incline and in back
of the box lay two large cartridges each having
two drachms of powder used for large game.
The pastsboard shells showed marks of having
been once used, but their metal ends were solid,
while the other ends were filled with buck shot
The latter came even with the incline. over which
lay piece OF sand paper, and over that
train of medium grain powder, about two
drachms leading to the cartridges in each OF which
a small hole had been bored to admit the train to
tho powder that WAS to scatter tha
shot By pulling the lid with
jerk. and il was SO designed that
II could not bs done any other way, the match
WOULD ignte set fire to the powder and cause
the explosion. If the frat match failed the next
would strike fire, and if not that the third and
longest certainly would.
This 10 the machine the superinterdent
brough. to the United States clerks room yes
terday. where Judge Woods District Attorney
Sellers the defendants in tho conspiracy trial,
their attorneys and others closely and cautiously
examined it. Tho box no longer caused doubt
ing references to its power 10 injure. although
Green Smith, John w. Kern aud others thought
it may not be as dangerous as it appeared
Tho machine WAS then taken to j.. Il. Hurry,
the chemist, who. testing the powder, found IL