The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-12-06
now TO sToP BoMg-THRow1NG.

The attempt Of a lunatic to blow up Rus
sell Sage is another admonition to Legis-
la,ures to follow the march Of scientifi.
progress with appropriate legislation. II. d.
Wilson-If that be the lunetic's name-was
entirely and utterly irresponsible. He had
passed several terms in lunatlc asylums
and must have been completely out Of his
mind when he made his demand upon Sage
for money. If he had survived and had
been arrested he could not have been con-
victed; the only thing that could have been
done with him would have been to send him
back to the asylum from which he had lust
been discharged. Yet this lunatic acting
with the method which madmen often pur-
sue, killed three or four persons and
wounded several others. 1t is evident that
the law is defective if it contains 70 pro-
vision TO prevent such occurrences as that
In every welEordered State the law pro-
vides that one who carries concealed
weapons shall be liable to arrest and
punishment. But the extreme limit of tie
mischief which may be done with a revol-
yer or a knife or a slung-sh0t is not wide.
1t Is rare that more than one person suffers,
and he is often able to defend himself, or
to obtain suceor from bystandeTs. Whereas
the possession of bomb charged with dyna-
mite may kill half score of people, and
there IS no possible defense against this
weapon. In the case Of the HaYmarket
murders the policemen were struck down
by the bombs thrown by the anarchists
without the possibility of resistance. The
Emperor OF Russia was assassinated by
Nihiiists, who threw bomb in broad day
light, when the object Of their vengeance
was surrounded by officers and servants.
This man Wilson threw his bomb in an
| Office which was full of people at the busiest
hour Of the day. There was no warning or
preparation: he just let his satchel fail and
the explosion followed. No law against
carrying concealed engines of destruction
could have reached him.
II any measure of prevention can be Of
service it must be aimed 1T the possession
If nigh explosives and drawn on the lines
Of the law which regulates the sale Of
Doisons. No person, unless he be engaged
ia the business of mining or blasting. has
any right TO keep in his possession nitro
Glycerine or any Of the other forms of ex-
| pl0siye compounds, and law pronouncing
that mere possession a misdemeanor. OF, If
ueedful, felony, would not be unfair nor
would 1t constitute an invasion of private
rights. One who keeps in his room or his
| house such commodities must be presumed
| 10 Intend 70 use them, and they can only be
used for an unlawful purpose. 1t is true
| that The sale of the compounds of which
| high explosives are made is not and cannot
| be restricted by law, as each of them sep
arate!y IS used for purposes which are en-
tirely legitimate. But the depraved OF
| crazy creatures who are likely to throw
| dynamite bombs are rarely possessed of the
| knowledge required 10 mix the component
parts in the right proportions, and the mix
| ing IS attended with much danger. The
| crank who tried 10 throw a dynamite bomb
| On the stage at the opera house In this city
at one Of PATHS concerts only succeeded in
| injHriug himself.
a simple statute, Furnishing by fine or i'm
| prisonment the possession OF dynamite or
similar compounds by others than miners
OF contractors and awarding half the fine TO
the informer, might prevent the repetition
! of such occurrences as Russell Sage's close
| call on Friday.