The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-06-15
AN INTERNAL MACHINE
ONE SENT THROUGH THE MAIL TO s.
TRITTIPO At FISHERS STATION.
An Ingenious Continuance, Now i'm
Possession of Inspector Fletcher
Wrong End Was Opened.

Last Thursday Samuel Trittipo, postmas-
ter and general merchant at Fishers Sta
ton, received a small box, about by 2 by
2is inches. 1t did not attract his attention
particularly or arouse his suspicion. On
one end of ii was the inscription: "Open
this end For some reason which he can
not explain he opened the other end, al
though he saw the directions for opening.
1t did not enter his mind that frightful
injury and possibly death lurked within
the box, and ii was only by the mere ac-
cident of opening the wrong end that he
escaped. When he tore away the end of the
paper box he discovered that inside of it
was a smaller box. made from pieces of
cigar box This smaller box was bound
up securely, in fact so much so that II
aroused his suspicious. On examining it
little further he found there were other
contrivances which he could not under
stand, and then decided that the box must
contain some kind of an internal machine.
He placed it aside, away from all danger
of doing any damage, and notified Postofce
Inspector w. T. Fletcher of the receipt of
suspicioUselookng box which roi he WAS
ing him to bring it TO this city. He de-
clined to do so. saying he had handled the
thing all he cared to. Yesterday morning
II.
brought it TO this city. On close exam
nation he determined that il would not be
safe to play with, and then immersed 1t in
water, where he allowed IL to remain until
ii was thoroughly soaked.
An examination then revealed an internal
machine that most ingeniousiy con-
structed, and showed that 1t had been made
by some one who has made such things
study. Within the paper box was the
smaller wooden. box, securely bound, so as
to confine about ten ounces of powder Con-
Meeting with the powder were two fulmi-
mating caps such as are used on dynamite
cartridges. Small paper fuses led from
these to two punches of matches arranged
so that if the box had been opened on the
end that was marked they would have been
drawn across piece of sandpaper and ig
so that If one side failed TO fire the other
would do the work. Mr.. Fletcher says the
whole contrivance was made in such way
as to indicate considerable study and an
ingenious mind He thinks IL could not
have failed to explode If the right end had
been opened. 1t would be difficult TO say
what damage il would have done. The
powder was we'll confined, although being
in a. wooden box it would not have made
such an explosion as il IL had been confined
in something stronger.
The appearance OF the powder Indicated
that IL might have something else mixed
with il. Mr.. Fletcher took il to DIR. j. y.
Hurry who, after an examination, said
there was nothing in the composition but
common gunpowder.
The box was postmarked Cincinnati and
from other evidence secured Mr.. Fletcher
thinks he can soon arrest the sender of IL.
He is confident that he knows who the
person is. but has not yet sufficient evil
dence to make an arrest About a year
ago some one placed dynamite cartridge
under a corner of Mr.. Trittipo's store and
blew up a part of il. Mr.. Trittipo is in
guilty in both cases, but it is not known
whom he suspects.