The herald., 1896-10-22
Hamlin j. Andrus of Y0nkers
the Victim
THE AFFAIR IS A MYSTERY
And Gives Rise to Various Sensational
Rumors
Anarchists Are Accused of Attempting
the Life of the Dead Mans Multi
Millionaire Brother.
Associated Press Special Wire

Associated Press Special wire
NEW YORK, Oct 21.-Hamlin j. An
drus, secretary of the Arlington Chemi-
cal works. located in Palisade avenue,
Yonkers was instantly killed this morn
ing by dynamite bomb which, the po-
lice think, was placed there for the
purpose of destroying life and property.
There is a deep air of mystery about the
entire affair and one particularly sensa-
tional rumor is afloat The body Of the
victim was frightfully mangled by the
explosion and death must have come in
stantly.
Hamlin Andrus was man of wealth
and he lived in Yonkers in handsome
style with his family. He left home in
company with his son Herman, aged 20
years, a little before o'clock this morn
ing and they went to the factory togeth-
err AS was his custom, the young man
opened the safe and got out the books.
after which young Andrus went from
the office to the factory. The office is
is a one-story structure and stands de-
tached from the factory proper. The
room used by Andrus, in the office build
ing, was separated by a thin board parti-
ton from the part occupied by the clerks
of the concern. 1t was a few minutes
after o'clock when the explosion oc-
Cured. 1t shook the factory building
and was accompanied by the sound of
crashing glass and the sight of smoke.
A rush was made by the factory en-
ployes to the office. They were headed
by young Andrus. He found the floor
of that portion of the Office building oc-
cupied by his father covered with glass,
mortar and broken furniture. In one
corner of the room he saw the bleeding
and mangled body Of his father, partly
covered with the debris. 1t was in a
terribly mangled condition. Imbedded
in the flesh of the dead man were found
several pieces of castiron. Other pieces,
corresponding to these. were found in
the office. They were carefully placed to-
gether and, although all of the pieces
were not found, there was enough to
show that the bomb or machine that
exploded was a piece of castiron pipe
about six inches in length by one and a
half inches in diameter. Fastened to
either end of this piece of pipe was a
cap, which was screwed on. The odor
and smoke indicated that the explosive
was either dynamite or giant powder.
Information Of a startling character
was received by the police which may
aid in the solution of the mystery. 1t
was to the effect hat the bomb was in
| tended for John F. Andrus, brother of
| the dead man, several times million
! aire. John F. Andrus did not appear
| at the Office of the Chemical company
| this morning, as was his custom.
On learning of the explosion and of
the death of his brother, he hurried to
the police station and communicated
to Captain Maingun. To the captain
he said that the explosion might have
been the work of an anarchist. and Of
fered an explanation for his belief.
About three weeks ago, he said, he
was walking along Wall street, New
York, when he was accosted by rather
seedy looking individual, who took him
by the arm and said: "Mr. Andrus, you
| are very wealthy man. You have too
| much money, and I am one of a num-
her of people who believe that you
ought to distribute at least one-third
will either do this, or there will be a
way found of compelling you to do it."
| Andrus, according to his story, paid
| little attention to, the, man atsthe. time
| Up to the present time no arrests have
been made. The police were informed
| that Hamlin Andrus was in the habit
of experimenting VITA explosive chem
| icals, and several tubes similar to that
| by which Adams was killed were sent
to the police station by an unknown
man, who said he had made tubes of
that nature for Mr.. Andrus. The police
are looking for that unknown, This
story, however is not believed by the
dead mans relatives or friends, who de-
| clare that he has never engaged in any
| such experiments nor shown any inter-
| est in it,
The theory is that bomb was placed
| in box under Andrus' desk, and that it
| was exploded when he went there. No
one was in the office yesterday so far
| as known but the cleaner, and no one
| was supposed to have the keys of the
| buildings besides three reliable people
| who apparently knew nothing about the
| explosion.
| Mr.. Andrus was a director of the
| Citizens National bank of Yonkers and
| a member of the First Presbyterian
church. He was a public spirited citi-
zen and always identified closely in all
| public matters that tended to the well
| fare of the people of the place.