The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-03-12
PLOT AGAINST A WOMAN.
An Internal Machine Sent by Nail in
Philadelphia.

PHILADELPHIA, March PA small
pasteboard box. oblong in shape, contain
ing an ounce of gUnpowder, two matches.
and a piece of sandpapeT. was forwarded
through the mails 10 Miss Florence Ban
ker. of go North Ninth Street. and Fred
erick Miller. who Is also known as Her
man SChulter- of 751 South Sixth Street
has been arrested on suspicion The PEI
son who sent the internal machine 20 aIiss
Banker evidently did 50 with the hope that
it would either kin or iuiure her She
saved herself by the good judgment she
displayed after receiving the box
The machine was ingeniously contrived-
The two matches were fastened 70 a piece
Of wood which would revoIye by turning
a little brass handle upon the outside Of
the box. and in turning the handle the
tips of the matches would be brought in
contact with the sdndpaper glued TO one
Of the sides and upon iguiting would cause
the powder 70 explode. The box and its
contents accompanied by a letter. was
delivered at Miss Bankers home by a let
Ter carrier on Saturday afternoon Il was
handed TO her when she reached home Two
hours afterBard.
The maker Of the machine relied uDon
the letter to assist him in accomplishing
MS purpose The letter described the box
as d musical instrument one that WOULD
play Ny Old Kentucky Home The
letter also expressed the writer's best
wishes for the young woman To hear the
supposed music Miss Banker was directed
Dy the letter to turn the handle ten times
This sac die got do She became susY5ci-
Gus Ire moment she saw the box. One
turn of the handle and she would probably
have been killed or badly injured
How the machine. handled and knocked
about IS 1t was during transportation IN
the mans. ldliea TO explode IS considered
remarkable. Miss Banker was AFRAID 10
touch II after discovering the DovC.ter in
side LIacInE II gently on the bureau in
her room she hurried 10 the Sixth district
statioHhouse and reported the matter u
Special Officers Gregory and Carr. They
ETere startled BY her story
This = a case which should be report
ed 20 the authorities at police heaGQuar-
tiers. they said, and We want YOU 10
accompany Us TO City Han and tel your
story TO Captain Miller She went with
them. and Captain Miller was consulted
The woman told him that she suspected
Miller Nobody else would have done
II. she declared, he wanted revenge.
but failed
She then told the story which led to the
prisoners arrest She said that Miller
had been in love with Miss Elsie White
WhO also lives At the Ninth Street house
Three weeks ago Miss White requested
Miller not 10 call ON her any more he
had been an ardent sutton For some Yea
son Aliitr charged Miss Banker with be-
ing responsible for the advancement He
continued TO call 1T the house. but never
was admitted. y few days ago, according
10 Miss Banker. he accOSJed ner and Miss
" hite on the street and threatened them
Since then Miss Banker has been in dread
OF him This IS why she accuses him of
sending her the box filled with powder
Although the warrant for Miller was is
sued on Saturday evening. he was not ar
rested until Sunday afternoon. The two
special officers, together with Detectives
Of Saturday night. but could not find him
that he was innocent He said the 50 nee
thing in court yesterday. The police
however. think he - guilty They claim
that he wrote thu letter which accom-
panied the machine II VAS noticed. how
ever. that the prisoners name was not
signed TO the letter. The officers have
asked the postal authorities to assist
them III their Investigation An effort is
now being made 10 find out the location
OF the letter box in which the Internal
machine Was mailed
Miller was confronted IN court by Miss
Banker and Miss White The Masis-
trate held the prisoner IN $500 bail pend
ing another hearing next Monday after
noon Miller came 70 this county from
Germany. He IS employed in = Market
Street restaurant The penalty for the
offence with which Miller is charged Is
three years Imprisonment and fine Of
$500