The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-06-12
DYNAMITE FOR A. ]. SMITH.
AN hTTEMPTTo KILL TIE GoTERNoR
OF n SOLDIERS HOME.

A Bomb Exploded At NiEht AEaiBst nsis House
In Observation-Disclosures Hurt Seriously
A Veteran. who Had Becn Discipincd,
IL Arrested = His Threats Of Vengeance.
L~EAvENwoRTH. Kan, JUNE 11.-An attompt
was made this morning at $3.50 o'clock TO assas-
sinate Gov. A. J. Smith of the National Sol.
diers' Home Of this place. A dynamite bomb
was used, and Mrs. Smith was injured and q
part OF the family home was destroyed by the
assassin. Joseph w. Oliver, until two weeks ago
an inmate of the Soldiers Home. is under arrest
charged with the crime, and there is much owl
dence to show that he is guilty. He lie an eccen-
trio veteran, whom many people believe crazy.
Ho has been In trouble several times. and only
last winter shot at n stroct-car conductor In q
trifing dispute.
The attempt to kill Gov. Smith was made a
little before daylight. Tho explosion Of the
dynamite bomb made as loud q report as that
occasionod by the bursting Of a cannon. The
report was heard in Loavenworth, and IL
aroused tho city.
The assassin placed the bomb on the sill Of tho
bay window on the north side OF the house. It
was one window east Of the room in which Gov.
Smith slept, and was directly under the room
occupied by Mrs. Smith. 1t was evidently in
tended for the Governors room. Only q few
hiiilutS belOTB tn0 oNplOblUn VlTb. I'LL was
aroused by hearing q noise at the east Of the
house. and she lighted a lamp. but seeing moth
ing wrong, concluded 1t was a cat, and blew out
the light and retired to bed. Just as she lay
down a terrific explosion occurred. Every one
in the house was aroused instantly. and, before
trying to get n light, each called to the others to
see IL all were alive. All answered.
Mrs. Smith was bruised in several places. but
her injuries arc not serious. She received q SO.
we're shock and 1t will be somo time before she
will recover fully from her trying experience.
An examination of the promises shows that tho
bomb was heavily charged and that 1t destroyed
property worth IS, 900.
Tho rock was torn from under the east bay
window, and the window stills and weather
boarding were loosened from the whole eastern
side of the house. The headboard was torn Off
the bed in which Mrs. Smith was sleeping, and
everything in the room was wrecked. How she
escaped with her life is a mystery.
From the first Gov. Smith suspected J.. W.
noon he teiephoned to the L~esvcnworth police
to place Oliver under arrest. Oliver committed
some offence against, the discipline of the home
two weeks ago. and, he was sentenced to the
dump" He refused to serve out his sentence.
On receiving orders to arrest Oliver the police
went to his boarding house on Cherokee street a
little after 1 o'clock and found he was away and
that his bed had not been disturbed during the
came in by the back way at 6 o'clock they
placed him under arrest.
divers shoes and stockings were wet, show.
ing that he had tramped through damp grass.
The person who placed the bomb at the window
at the Governors residence left the place by
going through n meadow to the east gate, which
he broke open.
At Police Headquarters Oliver expressed his
sorrow when informed that Gov. Smith had not
been killed. Beyond this he refused to talk.
This afternoon a warrant was sworn out before
n United States COMMISSIONS charging him
with attempting murder and manslaughter.
Oliver has hated Gov. Smith for some time.
but he did not appear as "A witness against the
Governor during the recent investigation. He
wanted to testify. but the attorneys in charge oil
He has threatened to kill Gov. Smith several
times.