Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1901-05-25

Cambridge. Mass, May ga
startling development in the dyna.
mite explosion ease ut the Cambridge.
port National bank occurred yesterday
at II Cottage street. Cambridge. where
Fred &. Foster. who had been detained
under suspicion of being the author ct
the explosion. shot himself witha pistol
and he died within 20 minutes. His
deed was occnsioned by the fact that
he had sent to the bank Il check foi
cover. He leaves II widow and three
children.
Suspicion was directed against Foster
first when Theodore Raymond told tn,
police that he had seen Foster on the
stairway of the bank building shortly
before the explosion occurred. In con.
sequence of the statement of Raymond
and other suspicious circumstances. tic
police visited the home of Foster and
asked him to accompany them to the po-
lice headquarters. The man went will.
ingly enough and for Il time he was in
W III AiNIN'''i Nihi i'iN i,
chief of Police CloyeS and Officer Cox.
The detained man was asked directly
if he had anything to do with the blow
ing up of the Cambridgeport National
bank. and he answered firmly that he
was responsible in no WAY for the cN
plosion. Further questioning on the
part Of the police revealed. among olhcr
things. that Foster. who was Il carpcn
ter, had been out of employment since
january. He also admitted I hat he hal
been purchasing stock lately. He said
that several weeks ago he purchased lO0
shares of stock of the National Tire
InflAter company, paying $1,000. Re
Gently he purchased 1lW additional
shares, and rs payment for this he drew
Il check for 81 100 ON the Cambridge Nn-
1iOnHl bank in favor of the inilator
company. TlIiS check, il was learned
at the bank, passed through the usual
channels, and Tuesday morning it ar
rived in Cambridge, where it was de,
clarcd worthless.
This check, however. was not the first
signed 10y Foster. which the same bank
had to regard as worthless. He ad-
niltrl that several weeks ago he drew
up Il check for $50 on tine Cambridge
port bank, which was also protested.
The fact Of The protesting of the
checks was told to Foster, and he agreed
that the statements made by the bank
officials IN connection with them We're
probably true, but he again Stoutly
maintained that he had not blown up
the bank. The police expressed a de-
sire to have Fosters wife visit the DO
lice station. but Foster said he preferred
to 30 home and see her. Accompanied
hy Inspector Murray and Officer Cox. he
went TO the Cottage street house. Cox
remained outside on guard, and Murray
and Foster stepped into the hallway,
where they were met by Mrs. Foster.
The first thing that Foster did was
to kiss his wife and ask her to take
good care OF the childrcI. lie also told
her that the police could never prove
that he was the man that had caused
the bank to be blown up. Foster moved
to the hall-trrc and slipped on another
coat. He then expressed Il desire for
II drink Of water. He passed from the
dining room. which leads from the hall
way. with Murray about two yards be-
hind him. The distance, however, was
too great to allow Murray reaching Eos
ter in time to prevent him from shooting
himself with the revolver which he
had suddenly taken from his coat pock-
It.
The bullet entered the middle Of the
breast and passed through one side of
tn" heart. The man died Il few minutes
after he reached the Cambridrp hospitol
He made no statement after he had shot
himself.
Although Foster had not been formal
~ arrested. he probably would have
been brfOr" the close of the dny, AS
Sllning that the man had placed the
dynamite on the stairway of the bank
the police are unable to saw
whether 1t was done with the intention
>f destroying the protested check for
SllOO or with the expectation of being
lble to obtain money with which to meet
he payment Of the check. They are
Inclined to accept the former theory as
The more plausible
Mrs. Fsster is under the care of ply
:icians. Her husbands act has given
ler severe nervous shock.
Foster. in addition to being treasurer
)f Harvard lodge, \. o. L. w., was also
treasurer of Harvard Colony. Pilgrim
:athers. The officials OF the latter or
sanization are engaged upon an exam
nation of their books, ami 1t is reported
hat they have found n shortage of