Los Angeles herald., 1907-10-12
DLABOLHAL
PLOT CHARGED
INTERNAL MACHINES AND POISON
FEATURES
NEGRO LAD ACCUSED; DENIES
GUILT
BelIboy Arrested-suspected Of At
tempts on Lives Of 6enefactor
and Whole ,Family--Ar-
son Hlnted

son Hlnted
CONTINUED from Page One.)
when Miss Mathewson was notified that
a third bomb had come for her. The
postoffce authorities had found 1t and
had succeeded in throw .ng 1t into a pail
of water before it exploded. The bomb
was OF the same nature as the first.
From then on Miss Mathewson lived
in constant fear of her life. Each morn
ing when she arose she wondered If she
would escape through the day with her
life. and during her spare moments her
thoughts were constantly on her danger
and were passed in wondering who could
wish to take her life.
QuarreIs with Pierce
shortly after the third bomb was sent
Miss Mathewson she had difficulty with
w. J. Pierce. a guest at the hotel, and
Pierce and family moved to another
hotel.
word that Miss Mathewson and Mr..
Pierce had spoken har5hly about each
other was mentioned about the hotel, and
within a few days Mrs. Pierce received
the box of poisoned candy with Miss
Mathewsons name on the bottom.
All this time the detectives were seek
ing to apprehend the ones responsible
for the outrages They could gain no
trace of any person who had grudge
against Miss Mathewson and she IN
sisted that no one employed ABOUT the
hotel could be responsible.
When questioned about Harris she al
ways spoke of him in the highest terms
and said there was no question about
his integrity or good character.
A week ago while passing through a
hallway near the court on the third
floor of the hotel she met the youag
negro. He was carrying chair at the
time and as he passed her he suddenly
turned in such a manner that the chair
struck the woman and knocked her
foward the court. She caught herself
when on the verge of falling and sprang
down the steps.
She discharged Harris and he left the
place and secured employment at the
Coronado hotel, where he was working
when arrested.
Detectives Suspicious
After his action in trying to knock
Miss Mathewson into the court Detective
Hosick was called into the case After
an investigation Hosick decided that the
safest thing to do was to place the man
under arrest and lopk for further proofs
of his guilt afterward. He secured a
warrant for Harris arrest late Thursday.
Harris was then taken to the central
station, where for several hours he was
closely questioned by Capt. Paul RAM
mer Hosick and Superintendent Bailey
of the Pinkertons. He refused TO make
any statements beyond denying that ne
had ever made any attempt on the HE
of Miss Mathewson.
Late Thursday night Hosick returned
10
and made a thorough search of the room
occupied by the young man.
In it he found articles which led MIN
to believe that he had captured the
right man.
A gas pipe loaded and formed into one
of the most dangerous kinds OF 1nfernal
machines was found between the mat
tress and the springs of the bed. Clip
pings from newspapers telling of the
deeds of noted anarchists were found,
as well as formulas for the making OF
explosives and the manufacture of bombs.
Finds Writing
In addition samples of his handwriting
were found.
Harris was instructed to write his
name and certain sentences on paper.
He wrote in a cramped vertical hand'
The addresses on all the packages were
hand.
1t was decided by the police that the
services of a handwriting expert were
necessary and yesterday afternoon The
Herald secured Addison II. Lysle, cash
Ter of the Fraternal Savings and Com
mercial banks, and one of the most re-
nowned handwriting experts in Califor-
MIA.
Mr.. Lysle visited the office of Capt
hn
Harris. acknowledged handwriting were
shown him, as well as the papers which
had covered the Internal machines.
.T am convinced that the same man
wrote both,'' said Mr.. Lysle, after max
ing a careful examination. ''The ch'
In the word children in these two sam
pies are identical except that one IS
written slanting and the other vertical:
."The capitals I, M, w and are all
similar in each case. and l am willing
to stake anything l have that the same
man wrote them both.
.sThe fact that the Greek letter e Is
used in the disguised hand in all cases
but one, while the English 'e' is used
in the handwriting the prisoner aeknowl-
edges. does not alter my decision, as 1t
is common practice for men wishing
to disguise their handwriting to change
their ways of making that letter"
Certain of Guilt
"I am confident we have the right
man. said Detective Hosick. Il found
four loaded revolvers ten boxes Of cart
ridges. besides explosives in his room.
In addition l found other articles which
clinch the case to my mind"
'I am sure the man under arrest Is
the one who attempted to kill Miss
Mathewson in such a diabolical man
ner.n said Superintendent Bailey of the
Pinkertons yesterday. "I have had men
on the case for some time, and | am
sure we will be able to convict Harris
of the charge"
When seen in the court room yester-
dav afternoon Harris refused to make
anv statements beyond saying he was
not guilty of the charge.
II never sent her the bombs and know
nothing about them. never made any
bombs and anyone who says l did y
lying" He refused to make any further
statements, but sat sullenly at one side
Miss Mathewson says: II have lived
in constant fear of my life during the
last year and half. 1t is not pleasant
to know some person is seeking your
life. I never dreamed Harris was the
guilty one, but i am now sure 1t was
he and also that he was the one who set
fire to the Coronado hotel nearly two