Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1897-06-18
WRECKED BY A BOMB.
ATTEMPT MADE TO KILL
GOV. A. J. SMITH.
His Residence Dynamited-House Badly
Damaged and Mrs Smith Injured
Joseph w. oliver, Veteran, Who Left
the Homo Recently, Under Arrest.

LEAvENwoRTH, Kan, June 12.-Be-
tween and o'clock yesterday morn
ing a cannon-like report was heard at
the Soldiers home, and the beautiful
residence of Governor Andrew j.
Smith, commandant of the home, was
all but demolished.
Dynamite was employed in the out
rage and the explosion aroused many
residents of this city and houses trem-
bled as if in an earthquake shock. In
the barracks the shock was teri ific
enough to throw veterans from their
cots, and prompt work was required
on the part of the commandant to pre-
vent serious panic. One veteran,
who was occupying a seat on the lawn,
was thrown to the ground.
Mrs. Smiths escape from instant
death was miraculous, the explosion
was directly beneath her bed chamber.
She usually sleeps upon couch, but
Thursday night occupied a bed in the
same room, but on side farthest from
the outer wall. She heard the shut
ters rattle, but saw no one. A moment
later the explosion followed, and she
found herself in the midst of flying
furniture and shattered window panes.
One entire side of her room was torn
away. The couch she usually occu-
pied caught the full force of the ex-
plosion and was hurled across the
room, passing directly over her bed
and landing upon bureau.
Governor Smith and daughter, Miss
Daisy Smith, occupied rooms on the
second floor, and were far enough re-
moved from the seat of the explosion
to escape the serious consequences suf-
fered by Mrs. Smith.
Besides being cut and bruised by
broken glass and pieces of flying fur
niture, Mrs Smith was compile tely
Frustrated by the shock and is now in
a precarious condition. Mrs. Smith
has been in delicate health for years.
The scene at the governors resi-
dence is one of wreckage and confus-
ion. The brick walls are shattered
and torn, the east side being almost
wholly blown out, the windows broken
and debris Is scattered over the
ground.
The whole interior was wrecked,
bric-a- brac scattered about the various
apartments, and furniture tossed
about and piled up in a confused mass.
About one hour after the explosion
the police authorities arrested Joseph
w. Oliver, a dishororably discharged
veteran, for the crime. He was found
in his room at Cherokee street board
ing house where he had just arrived
after having been out all night Many
persons are ready to believe he is inn
plicated. His trousers were bedrag-
gled, showing he had walked through
tall grass, and his shoes were soaking
wet and covered with blue grass seed.
He was in surly mood and when
taken into custody expressed regret
that Governor Smith had escaped
death
Afterward he refused TO say any
thing. Another dishonorably dis
charged veteran is suspected Of COM
pliclty, out has not been apprehended.
Oliver is tough character, and a
few months ago was arrested and pun
ished for deliberately shooting into an
electric car. A few nights ago John
Biringer's powder magazine was
robbed, and it is believed the robber
is the one who caused the explosion.
1t is the universal opinion in this
city that the outrage is a direct result
OF the persecution waged against Gov
ernor Smith for the past five or six
years by certain persons in Leaven-
worth and elsewhere in Kansas.
Threats to blow up the governor have
been freely made by discharged veter-
ans since the national board of man
ayers made the order transferring
Colonel Smith to the Pacific branch
home at Santa Monica, Cal