Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-05-29
A WORLD DESTROYER
Is What Alfred Hanson's Chief Aim
in Life Has Always Been.
HE is CAPTURED JUST IN TIME
To Save Big Philadelphis Plant From
Being Totally Wrecked.
AN ADMIRER OF ALL THE ANARCHISTS

PHILADELPHIA, MAY 2s.-Albert Hoff
man-reaIlY Alfred Hanson-dynamiter'
languishes in Moyamensing prison. His
bombs, chemicals and apparatus for the con-
struction of internal machines are in the
hands of the police. His career. was cut
short just in time to save the soda water ap
paratus establishment of Liprincott & Co.
on Filbert street, above Ninth, where he
was employed, from total annihilation.
| Alfred's 81 years of life have been de-
voted entirely to experiments; he never at
tempted to create any terrible catastro-
| phes, and his study of the art OF dvnamiting
has but just reached completion. And now,
with the probability of leaving behind him
a name as famous as that of Spies or of
Parsons, he has been nipped in the bud by
the law.
Hoffman is tall, blonde German, with a
light mustache and a stoop He appeared
at the residence of Ferdinand Schenck, on
Cherry street, below Broad, on March l,
and engaged room upon the third floor.
With Aim he had large black satchel.
''This bag contains glassware; handle it
gingerly," he warned Mr.. Schenck, who ac-
cordingly bore 1t carefully to the apartment
of his new lodger. A few days later the
dynamiter arrived to take possession.
Afraid OF Annihilation.
"Where is my satchel?" was his first re-
mark
"In your ROOM" said Mr.. Schenck.
did you stand it on its enc or on Its
"On its end" responded Schenck.
The dynamiter dropped in heap upon
the floor. ''My Godt' he shrieked, ''do
you want to kill us alp" Then he pulled
hor nd al
approached his door, "If die remember
you will be responsible for my DEATH" he
saidy portentously. He crept into the
room, and. spying the satchel. emitted a
shout of Joy. 'Safe! Safel'' he yelled.
From that day forward he never referred to
this incident except with pallid visage
and trembling voice.
During the three weeks that he lodged
with the Schenck family he was employed
at Lippincott & Co.'S works, and from this
establishment it is claimed by Mrs. Schenck
that he purloined in large quantities such
tools and brass work as he needed in his ex-
periments He developed great liking
for his good landady and took her into his
confidence, informing her under promise of
inviolable secrecy that he proposed to blow
up the establishment of the Lippincotts, be-
cause they did not treat him with proper
consideration.
Mysterious Contents ofa SatcheI.
He further informed her that he occupied
his leisure time in the construction of
bombs and "bell machines" and he even
showed her the contents of his black satch-
ell, which was filled with powder and a
white substance that was evidently dyna-
mite or nitro-glycerine. He said his en-
ployers had refused to give him slOO, at
which harsh treatment he had naturally be-
come incensed.
The dynamiter's greatest piece of work at
the Schenck residence was a burglar alarm
which he constructed for his apartment
He had intended going out of town for few
davs and, as his door was void of lock, he
built, for the protection of his property. an
internal machine, SO arranged that an in
truder's foot upon his floor would canse
terrific explosion. Upon the completion of
the delicate mechanism he visited Edward
Muller, shoemaker. who occupies the first
floor, and geefully narrated his ingenious
scheme.
"But," said Muller "won't the e1plo-
sion njure the house?"
-''Topple it right over" said Hoffman,
with a iendish chuckle, "but I'll be out of
the city safe enough"
':Well," exclaimed Muller "I'll be right
here on this floor. Take that thing down,
or I'll break your back
The dynamiter, with many sneers at the
selfishness of his friends, accordingly was
obliged to demolish his splendid achieve
ment.
An Anarchist All the Timc
Toward the end of March Hanson broke
his arm. His in uries were treated at JEFF
ferson Hospital, and, after recovering, he
removed to 1900 Tree street, where, upon
information furnished by his former land
lord, he was arrested by Special Officer
Nevins yesterday. A search of his room
revealed a motely assortment of socialistic
newspapers, chemicals, photographs OF
famous Anarchists, and brasswork that had
probably once formed part of the stock of
Magistrate Pole he proudly declared that
he was Socialist.
81 have been a member of our General
Assembly three years to my joy and six to
my SORROW" he enigmatically remarked
He said that his chemicals and powders
were merely used in various experiments
he had been conducting.
"To what end?" asked the Magistrate.
The dynamiter frowned portentously, but
made no reply. He was committed to Moy-
amensing Prison for a further hearing
May 81 ..
Late in the day Officer Nevins and Detec-
i've Ii. O McheHtE VlSlteu the mouse on
Tree street, which is occupied by the Brad
ley family, who deal in groceries. More
chemicals, brasswork, papers and letters, a
bomb and an internal machine were found
The bomb was made in the usual manner,
piece of lead pipe, corked at each end. The
internal machine was black tin affair." re-
sembling greatly an ordinary hand satchel.
4 Fortune for Opening the satche'.
Detective McKenty carried these articles
to City Hall, and derived considerable
amusement from the remarks OF Captain
Miller and the detective corps. Not man
could be found who would undertake to
open the satchel for less than $50, 900.
A singular trait of the dynamiter was
the number Of residences he occupied Be
sides the Cherry and Tree street houses, in
both of which were found portions of his
property yesterday, he had a room at Mrs.
Aimsch's mansion in McGufin's court, a
cheerful little byway between Cherry and
Vine streets. Here were found an empty
satchel and a life-sized bust of August Spies,
the Chicago Anarchist, whose family tree
boasts ''sus. per. colL," after his name.
Among the portraits of great men in Hoff-
mans collection were those Of Parsons,
Fielding and LiDgg