The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1903-05-09
DAsTARDLY DEED.
Dynamite Bomb Exploded in Institu-
tionaI Church Iby Policy Sharks.

tionaI Church by Policy Sharks.
The agitation of the policy evil and
the efforts being put forth by the Afro
American ministers of the city to stop
the petty policy gambling was resent
ed last Sunday evening in a way little
expected. ,5.. . -.
Rev. R. c.. Ransom, pastor Of the
Institutional Church, has been very
active in the war that is being waged
on the policy gamblers and has been
ably assisted by Rev. Carey, of Quinn
Chapel and other city ministers ire
spective of color. Rev. Ransom an
nounced to the public that, Sunday
evening, his sermon would deal en-
tirely with the evils of policy gam
bling and the urging of general fight
all along the line against the debauch-
ing effects of the business. Rev. Ran
som was advised by some one friendly
to the policy interests to desist from
his efforts and warned that if he per-
sisted in fighting the policy interests
he would be fought back. Fearing
bodily injury DR.. Ransom armed him.
self, little thinking that the destruc-
ton of his church would be the meth
cd taken to stop him and his co-Work-
ers in their efforts to root out the evil.
The sermon was delivered and it
was a scathing review OF the methods
by which men, women and children
are daily being robbed OF thousands
of dollars. The speaker showed the
money loss was not the worst feature
of the case; but what was more to be
regretted was the debauching effect it
was having upon the young. The
policy writer's accept the child's pen
MES as we'll as the mans dollars. Any
one is allowed to play regardless OF
age or sex. The sermon was listened
to by a large audience and the min
lister had his hearers with him
throughout the discourse. Soon after
the audience was dismissed, and while
the minister his wife and a few
friends were yet in the church a bomb
was exploded at one OF the outer
doors. The explosion was heard a
mile away and soon attracted a great
crowd about the building. Doors were
torn from the hinges, stairways de-
stroyed and the interior of the base
ment of the church was wrecked; but
fortunately no one was injured. Inc
extent of the damage to the building
cannot be estimated until a thorough
examination is made. Four men
were seen to run away Immediately
after the explosion but no means OF
Identification were obtained. The po-
lice department is making thorough
investigation, but, in the absence OF
any clue whatever, the probability IS
that the perpetrators of the work OF
vandalism will go unpublished. me
general impression is that friends OF
the policy interests are responsible
for the attempted wrecking of the
church.
The crusade against policy play
ing inaugurated by the ministers IS
bearing fruit. A humber OF shops
have closed up or, are hunting for new
quarters. Patsy King, the boss OF
the policy combine, is said to be
about ready to quit. While the evil
may not be entirely eradicated, there
is great hope that conditions will be
changed for the better. The efforts
of the Afro-American ministers has
attracted widespread attention and
Bishop Grant, of the A. M. church IS
in the city to lend helping hand.