Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-12-03

their hinges. and the door leading into
the bedroom was smashed into fraE-
ments and hurled across the room. II
the explosion had occurred second
sooner or later than 1t did would nave
been within It's range and would nave
been killed. j had seized rug from
the sitting room floor and had almost
reached the inside vestibule, door on
my way ia smother the flames when
the explosion occurred. ] was safe
but felt as IL my head had been liLtea
off was too stunned to answer the
cries Of my wife.
Heard Three Miles Away.
O. How does 1t happen that IL this
bomb was intended to destroy Mr..
Thomas and his family 1t did not con-
tain greater quantity of explosive or
was not so placed as to properly &C.
complish It's purpose?'
1t contained enough explosive to be
heard three miles away. That 1t failed
to accomplish It's purpose properly"
l attribute to the mercy of God rather
than to the intentions of man.
10. How does 1t happen that the
World Herald was notified of the bomb
explosion at least ten minutes before
the police were notifed?'
Mr. Perely, my nearest neighbor. was
at the scene almost instantly. He ran
to the house of Mr.. Benson, which is
also near. Mr.. Benson Immediately
called the police. Later Mrs. Benson
notified the World Herald and perhaps
other papers. / also called the World
Herald and called for private detec-
tives.
The letter says that Dennison and
those he classifies with himself were
too smart to do this act because 1t
would injure them. My death would
have resulted to Dennison's advantage.
l have fuller and more intimate
other man. The persistency with
which this report has been circulated
from the very instant of the crime In
dicates that this feature was thought
out In advance and that these men
thought they could divert suspicion
from themselves because Of tho story
that it would injure them.
Dennison Is now under an indict-
ment in the state Of Iowa for robbery
and receiving stolen diamonds. He has
used all the processes Of all the courts;
has spent an enormous sum OF money;
has gone upon the witness stand and
stated that he was not In Iowa on the
face Of hotel register which conclu-
sively shows that he was there on q
given date; his agents have dragged
from q railroad train q witness who
would have opposed him, kidnapped the
witness and imprisoned him to pre-
vent his testifying in this case. SO
much for the veracity and character Of
the signer of that letter.
have never said positively that
Dennison committed this crime against
me and mine. said, and say now, that
he did it himself, hired it done. knew
who did it. or can find out who did it.
say this because Of his intimate
knowledge of crime and criminals. The
wives and children of the men who OPP
posed him have been intimidated. Here
was an opportunity to intlmidate all
the wives and children Of Omaha, and
this Is not the first attempt that has
been made to fasten heinous crime
upon the victim.
Tom Dennison insinuates that have
placed the lives of my family and my
self in imminent peril. What for? He
says did it to gain sympathy. He says
the civic federation was dead, Its
treasury depleted, and that was dis
credited with the committee. Each OF
these statements is false. But suppose
they were true? Would that be suf-
ficient motive for murder? But I do
not need any sympathy. have always
had the sympathy of the good people
of this community in my efforts at the
enforcement Of the law In very great
measure. Everything the civic fedora
ton has attempted UP to this point 1t
has been successful in accomplishing,
and I have at all times enjoyed the
confidence of the executive committee.
I had no motive for this crime, but
there are men in Omaha whose bust
ness and whose liberties have been
placed in jeopardy because Of the work
Of the civic federation.
The most hellish suggestion OF this
letter Is that my wife, who has nobly
encouraged me turnout this whole
fight, was In plot with me to put the
lives Of all Of u.s. ourselves as we'll as
our children, in the Eravest danger In
order to gain little sympathy. A COM
munity is wonderfully patient which
will longer permit such villain as has
made that suggestion to remain within;
its borders.
fsigned) ELMER e. THOMAS.