The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1903-11-17
4 SCHOOL FOR CRIME
Unearthed in Philadelphia By Ex-
plosion Which Wrecked House.
SIX MEN ARE UNDER ARREST

Police Believe They Were Expert
menting With Nitro-elyoerine When
Explosion Took PIace-surglars' Kit
Found Ia the Room.
Philadelphia. Nov. 13.-Accident has
revealed TO the police what they be-
lieye is a school for safebreakers, ana
has led to the arrest OF six students
of this fascinating art.
While manufacturing or testing
nitroglycerine in a third-story back
room of a furnished room house at I35
Wood street. the six students nearly
met death during an explosion that
wrecked the room. loosened the roof
and blew a hole in the floor
The men gave their names as vii
liam Marshall. New York; John Moore,
St Louis; Joseph Anderson, Scranton;
William Jones. no home; John Patten.
St Mary's. Pa. and Fred Davis.
Boston
Pattep presented striking evidence
of his narrow escape from death in the
EXPLOSION. Each of his trouser legs
was split into ribbons for their entire
length. Even his underwear was split
along both legs. and yet his skin was
scarcely singed.
Beyond giving their names no state
ment could be had from any OF the
prisoners. They persistently decline to
talk. although subjected 70 a sweat
ing" for more than three hours by po-
lice and detectives.
In their pockets and I'm their room
were found two loaded reyolvers, a
filled cartridge belt. two splendid
skeleton KEYS. each one foot long; dy-
Mantle fuses. dynamite caps. a finely
tempered steel punch and drill, such
as Is uscd in opening safes four maps
of Philadelphia and suburbs. marked
lists Of postoffices. a new silver watch
believed 10 have been stolen, and
about $50 in cash.
Two theories are advanced by the
police 10 explain the explosion. One
is that the men were preparing nitro
glvcerine. Safe-blowers generally use
this liquid form Of explosive. When
they wish 10 blow a safe they build a
cup out Of ordinary soap around some
creyice in the door or keyhole into
this cup they pour the explosive
which gradually filters through the
crevice until the cup is nearly empty
An explosive cap is placed upon the
cup and exploded after the entire safe
has been wrapped in blankets 10
deaden the noise and prevent frag
ments from flying about.
Another theory Is that some of the
men we're affording the others a prac
teal demonstration Of this, using an
old bureau in the room as a safe and
pouring the explosive through the key.
hole. strength is given to this idea by
the fact that the bureau was com
pletelv demolished by the explosion.
Matthew Wilson and his wife are in
charge Of the house. They have three
children. and the police are conVinced
that neither Mr.. nor Mrs Wilson had
the slightest idea Of what use was be-
ing made of one Of their rooms. The
room was rented by a Mr.. and Mrs
St. Clair. who are believed 20 be the
leaders Of the gang The police are
searching for them.
Robert Gilman, Of Port Kennedy
who was bound and gagged by burg
lars while they were TObbing the post
Office at Port Kennedy last Saturday
came here and partially identified Pat
ton as one OF the FIVE men who robbed
the place Other persons from Port
Kennedy ald Spring City viii come
here and try TO identify Patton and
the other prisoners.