The San Francisco call., 1897-06-12
DYNAMITE USED ON
A SOLDIERS HOME
Evidently a Plot to Kill
the Governor and
Family.
His Residence Wrecked and
His Wife Seriously
Injured.
Panic Among the Veterans-Arrest Il
OF a Man Believed to Be
the Culprit.

KANSAS CITY, Mo-, June IA special
| to the Star from Leavenwo-Ib, Kans.,
says: An attempt was made upon the
life of Governor Andrew J. Smith of the
Soldiers Home and his wife and daush-
ter, between and clock this morning
by some bastard who is as yet unknown.
| Dynamite was employed in the outrage.
The explosion, which all but demolished
the Governors beautiful residence aroused
the residents of the city, and houses trem-
bled as if undergoing an earthquake
| shock.
| Mrs. Smith had a miraculous escape
from death, the force of the explosion be-
ing directly beneath the bed cham Der. Be-
sides being cut and bruised by broken
glass and pieces of flying bric-a-brac and
furniture, she was completely prostrated
| by the frig htful shock, and is now in a
precarious condition.
Governor Smith and his daughter. Miss
Daisy, occupied rooms on the second
| floor. far enough removed from the ex-
| plosion TO escape the serious consequences
suffered by Mrs. Smith.
The residence is a scene Of wrecka ,e.
| The brick walls are torn and cracked, one
side being almost com pletely blown out.
| The windows are shattered and the debris
is scattered over the grounds for several
rods. The interior is a scene of confusion
and destruction, with broken brIc-a-brac
| and furnishings utterly wrecked.
The report of the explosion was dis
tinctly heard in this city, three miles
away, and many residents were aroused
by the shock, which was not unlike the
trembling produced by an earthquake.
| Veterans in the barracks were thrown
from their cots and a panic was with diff
| Guilty prevented.
Governor Smith attributes the attempt
on his life and that of his family to the
war waged against him during the past
five or six years. The veterans are stand
ing by him manfully and swear they will
lynch the wretch if he be caught.
From the first Governor Smith suspect
ed ]. w. o iver OF being the guilty man.
This afternoon he telephoned to the
Leavenworth police 20 place Oliver under
arrest. Oliver committed some offense
against the discipline OF the home two
weeks ago, and he was sentenced to the
dump" He refused TO serve out his
sentence, and took the gate On re.
ceiving orders 10 arrest Oliver the police
went 10 his boardnG-house. They found
he was away. His bed had not been dis
tuTb bed during the night. When he came
in by the back way al o'clock he was ar
rested.
divers shoes ana stockings were wet,
showing that he had tramped through
damp grass. The person who placed the
bomb at the window of the Governors
residence left the place by going through
the meadow to the east gate.
At police headquarters Oliver expressed
sorrow when informed that Governor
Smith had not been killed. Beyond this
he refused to talk. This afternoon a war
rant was sworn out charging him with
attempt 10 commit murder and man
slaughter. Oliver has hated Smith some
time, but did not appear as witness
against the Governor during the recent
investigation. He wanted TO testify. but
the attorneys in charge of the prosecu-
ton would not permit him 10 do so. He
has threatened several times 10 kill
Smith.