Evening journal., 1896-10-23
INGENIOUS DEATHTRAP
The Queer Electric Apparatus
Caused Andrus' Death.
EVIDENTLY AN AssAssIE's WORK.
The coroner's Examination Indicates That
MT. Andrus Was tho Victim of Plotting
Dynamiters-Ihe Police Have suspects
In View. and Arrests WIN Be Made.

MT. Andrus Was tho Victim Of Plotting
Dynamiters-1he Police Have Suspects
In View, and Arrests VIII BE Made.
YoNKFRs, n. Y, Dot. 23.-Hamlin J.
Andrus was murdered either by an an
arohist OF a maniac. The stories that he
committed suicide or that a bomb with
which he was experimenting exploded Ia
bis hands wero works of Imagination.
Dr. Charles A. Miles coroner Of YoR-
kers has discovered that the machinery
with which Mr.. Andrus was assassinated
was tho most diabolicnl arrangement OF
high explosives and electric wires ever
known in this country Whether the act
was that Of an anarchist or Of some para
noino eager to ayenge imaginary wrongs
may never be known. The coroner aud
police OF Yonkers expect to make an arrest
within "a hours.
Coroner Miles came near to discovering
the method OF the assassination Wednes-
day morning, within two hours after the
act, but was diverted from his inquiry by
the assurance Of an old employed of the
Arlington Chemical company that an cleo
trio battery he discovered was part OF a
telephone equipment The coroner revisit
ed the chemical works yesterday. He ex-
amined once moro the scene of the explo-
sion that killed Dir. Andrus John Es
Andrus, the victim brother, was with
him. So were two Pinkerton dotoctivos
Together tho two scrutinized the shattered
wall, the shelf desk and the floor near
whore tho bomb had exploded.
Five feet from the Jagged hole in the
wall DR.. Miles found two tiny copper
wires, their ends blaokened and twisted
by the heat ard force of the explosion.
Those wires lay close together. They were
Of the size and style known as Office wire,
and used by telephone and talegrapk com
panios IN making indoor connections be-
tween Instruments and outdoor lines.
The wires we're about ono-thirty second
OF an inch IN diameter, Of lne, soft COP
per and covered with two wrappings Of
Insulating material Tho inner coating
was OF white cotton thread, saturated
with paraiiin The outer coat was of
white and red cotton thread, also saturated
with paraffn. The Insulating stuff was
so wrapped that the fibers lay across each
other like the lap Of the letter If.
How the Wires Wore Arranged.
These wires were hanging from a screw
eve or hook thrust into the wooden wall,
close under the shelf that formed the desk
at which Mr.. Andrus was in the habit of
standing and at which he stUod when he
was murdered.
Sheltered from observation by this SHELF
thoy might have been there a day, or a
month, without detection The wires were
easily traced back TO the corner and thence
across the angle and behind a safe near
by Here they were found wrapped around
a gas pipe and then were traced Gown
through the gas pipe hole, through The
foor and into the cellar.
Coroner Miles. Mr Andrus and the de-
tectives hurried down into the cellar.
This is a large and musty place, dimly
lighted by grntings let in on the side. 1t
has been used for years as a place for stor
ing malt and peptonOids used by the Ar
lington Chemical company in its manu-
saotures Lights were brought and the
search proceeded. The two insulated COP
per wires were found 20 be wrapped in a
half turn around the gas pipe and carried
along the pipe for 90 feet or so.
Here another wrap was taken, and the
wires disappeared downward into closet.
IN this closet tho wires lod 20 four cells Oi
dry battery Of the type known as Mesco.
Tho title means Metropolitan Electrical
Supply company, and it may be found on
thousands of battery cells all over the
country. The cells are inches thick and
about 6 inches high.
Tho four cells Of battery wire were link
ed with bits of the same kind OF Office
wire, the ouds of it having been stripped
OF Insulation by unravellinz and not by
soraping with a knife The latter method
Is the one employed by experienced wire
workers, so it was evident at a glance that
the person who did this was not an expert.
This was proved also by the joints in the
wires