The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-01-07
BOMB THR0WER
WAS ROLLA Steele
Of LYNCHbURG, VA.

Philadelphia. Jan. -7.--Discovery of the
room occupied In Philadelphia by the
man who threw the bomb in-the Fourth
Street National bank. led to store OF
weapons. dynamite. fuses. electric sup
plies, cartridges and a general outft.
which convinced the police yesterday that
the bomb thrower was not weak
minded crank. but determined man, who
came TO this city with the definite inten-
ton OF robbing bank
The mans identity was made certain
He was Rola Steele. whose family lives
I'm Chicago. His name was found upon
portions OF the clothing in his room and
he registered at the New Grant hotel at
Eighth and Spring Garden streets. on
Friday, as ]. r. Steele OF New York.
Upon arriving he refused 10 allow por-
tor TO carry his brown leather grip. which
undoubtedly contained the bomb which
SO completely wrecked the Interior or the
city's biggest bank and killed Cashier
William McLear besides blowing Steele
himself to bits
Some OF the police officials think that
Steele may have come to meet an accom-
plice, and that it was the plan for him
to throw the bomb in one portion of the
bank. trusting to the other man to gather
up money during the confusion. Captain
of Detectives Donaghy. however, thinks
the chances are that Steele intended TO
operate by himself throwing the bomb
far from him and working during the ex-
element sure TO follow. That he was
an expert in the use OF explosives was
proven by the contents OF his grip. dis
In hot
Besides articles of clothing showing
that Steele must have been well over
feet In height. the grip contained: one
revolver, box of cartridges, four yards OF
dynamite fuse. six long electric fuses with
loaded caps, ball of waxed cord, window
cord. two files. nippers, wax, package or
unchanged fuse caps.
The electric fuses were exactly similar
to. those recovered in the possession OF
the anarchist, Fritz Rousseau. who at
tempted 10 blow up the steamship Cmbria
and the statue OF Frederick the Great,
Besides these articles and the clothing
the grip contained Washington news
papers. a freight bill made out 10 steele
by the Southern railroad for box of
pictnres plain cards. a ruler eraser,
fountain pen. a box OF nails and memo
randum upon a piece of brown paper. al
most llegibe but evidently marking the
time OF appointments TO meet several
The clothing was ali made and sold in
Chicago, with the exception OF the over |
alls. which bore the mark of a store In |
Lynchburg, Va, where Steele's wife and |
child now are. and where he had been |
employed as foreman on concrete con-
struction.
The detectives were greatly pleased at |
he discovery OF Steele's stopping place IN |
his city Deputy Coroner Paul had made |
{ certain that Steele could not have peen |
here more than one day, as he receiyed |
dispatches showing that letter wnicn |
va. bore the postmark OF Friday after |
noon.
At the New Grant house description |
mention was made OF any name. Yester-
day afternoon Mrs. j.. l.. Plunkett who |
Is in charge OF the hotel. came TO Capt.
Oonaghys office in response TO message
sent out and stated that q man who had
registered at her hotel Friday had gone
out Saturday morning and had not re-
turned Detective Smith was assigned 10
20 TO tho hotel and there he found the
man had registered as J. r Steele of New
York.
The detective went to Steeles room and
here found large brown leather grip |
with heavy brass fastenngs. IL was lock-
I'd. The bag was taken 10 headquarters, |
and as no key could be found ITO 10 M the
lion was performed most carefully. as the !
detectives feared another bomb might be |
within ready TO explode with the slight |
aSt shock.
Two or three other persons stopping at
the hotel recall seeing Steele. and they al
recall That ne was exceedingly reserved
and would talk with no one. He left the
hotel early Saturday morning. The police,
from this starting point, traced Steele's
around the city, and they
think that his exploding the bomb In the
Fourth Street National bank was simply
The result of his being foiled I'm other
places or. Of his nerve failing him at diff
Ierent points.
They believe that he visited several
banks before making his appearance at
lhe Fourth street National. One clerk at
the Equitable Trust company has been
found who recalls n man coming TO his
window and asking for money. fumbling
IN his pocket the while. The mans de-
scription resembles that given Of Steele
At banking house in lower Chestnut
street man OF the same description stop
ped at the tellers window and asked IL
ne court get 500 $40 bills for check. The
police believe Steele's courage slackened
N these places and that he acted in the
Fourth street bank simply because bank
ng hours were nearly over and he real
zed il was his last chance.