The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-06-30
Ri7H IS HELD.
Suspicious Articles in His
Workshops He the
Bomb Thrower?

The examina ton in the case of William
Rath, the German carpenter of No. q
Stage street. who was arrested yester-
day morning on complaint of Mrs. Lilly
Hilsenbeek of No. Is StagS street, for
| placing q bomb upon her woodpile for
the purpose of inJuring her family, was
held yesterday afternoon in the Oakland
| venue police court before Judge Doug
lass. Rath was unable to secure bail
| yesterday morning, but looked no worse
| for his short confinement in a cell.
Detective Keenan, and Patrolman Ma
guire went to Rath's house yesterday af-
ternoon and thoroughly searched the
premises. They found nothing in the
house, but in the accused man shop,
in the rear of his back yard, they found
| enough stuff just like that which was
taken out of the stick of wood contain
ing the bomb to make a half dozen more
| of them. Not only did they find a small
tin can containing a half pound of pow
der, exactly like that used in the bomb.
but they also found a small quantity Of
| cotton, which had a peculiar color OF
| blue running through it, like the kind the
| fuse was made of in the bomb. There
| was also found a small quantity of tin
| like that of which the cylinder, containing
the powder, was made. They also picked
up a piece of wood, one end of which
matched the plug used in the block of
wood in which was the bomb.
Both the detective and the policeman
testified to what they had found and pre-
duced the articles in court.
The first witness called to testify was
| Mrs. Hilsenbeck, who repeated the story
she told in the morning, a full account
CT which was published in last nights
Jersey City News.
The next to testify was Sergeant Batters-
by, who said that he went to Kath's
house and ound two pieces of wood sim
liar to the one containing the bomb.
Mrs. Alfred Skinner, who resides at No:
through a hole in Rath's shop and saw a
stick of wood. which looked very much
like the bomb, standing On its eEd with
working in the shop at the time. She said
that she had been called over 10 look
at the stick by Mrs. Hilsenbeck, who
told her that she had put a piece ike
that there was an explosion afterwards.
Mrs. Amelia Holland testified that she
by Mrs. Hilsenbeck about min months
ago. At that time she saw Rath al work
on a piece of wood, the exact duplicate
of the one found by Mrs. Hilsenbeck yes
terday, containing the n2wder. She said
that ne held the stick In his hand and
was reaching over for a box Hike the one
found In his shop yesterday afternoon by
| guirs, and which contained the same
grade of powder as the bomb was made
of. She did not, however, see him put
anything into the stick from the box.
Michael Murphy, who gave the most
damaging testimony against the accused
bomb-making carpenter, was the next to
testify. He said:-"I saw the defendant
with a stick like hat (pointing to the
one in question: in his possession, going
on a year ago. I went to Hilsenbeck's.
and they brought me to a knot hole IN
saw just such a piece Of wood. He was
boring a hole in 1t 1enstnw1se, and after
he finished boring the hole he poured
some fine black stuff into the -holesfrom
a paper funnel. I am sure it wasn't giant
powder"
was shown to Murphy he said that that
ing lg.fo the stick aSont nine months ago.
.Ia3t IS gun powder" he continued,
sand ne was tamparing with that when
saw me peeking through the hole, and
she gave him 4 nod. He put the stuff
down and picked up a hammer and threw
it at me-. I then went away"
Rath was asked by Judge Douglass if
ne had anything to say. and he replied
that he did not understand what he was
charged with.
chief" said the Judge, I'm attempting to
blow up a persons stove with a bomb"
Well" replied Rath. IT never saw1tnat
Stlc a beFore; The cemplainant here has
boy arrested for stcning my wife, and
has repeatedly tried to ger me into
Despite Rath's denial and his pleasant
smile. which he were continually, Judge
Douglass held him for the Grand Jury.
IN rne ban was ls5ft IT, the same as It was in
Rath had no bendsman and was COM
PEELED to spend the night in a cell.