The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-01-05
HURLS A BOMB.
Man ExplOdes a Missile in a
Philadelphia Bank.
Blows Himself to Pieces and
Kills the Cashier.
HE ASKED FOR $4,000.
Several Other Employees of the
Concern Injured.
Bank Office Was Badly Wrecked
by the Explosion.
LOOKED LIKE RUSSIAN.
Was Poorly Dressed and Had
Patches on His Shoes.
Name of OR. Steele, Garner,
Iowa" ON His Key Ring.
Several Other Employees Of the
Concern Injured.
Bank Office Was Badly Wrecked
by the Explosion.
LOOKED LIKE RUSSIAN.
Was Poorly Dressed and Had
Patches on His Shoes.
Name of OR. Steele, Garner,
Iowa" on His Key Ring.

Philadelphia, Jan. 5.-Demanding a
loan of $1,000 and. failing to get it, a
man who has not yet been Identified
dropped a bomb in the Fourth Street
National bank today. blowing himself
TO pieces, instantly killing Cashier w
Il. McLear and injuring six others, one
or two of whom may die.
The only clue to the identity of the
bomb thrower was a bunch of keys
found in portion of the clothing at
tached to which was a plate inscribed
"R. Steele. Garner. Iowa"
The Fourth Street National bank is
the largest financial institution in the
city and occupies the greater portion
of the first floor of the Bullitt building
on Fourth street between Chestnut
and Walnut street in the heart of the
financial district. The explosion was
terrific and it caused tremendous ex-
citement in the crowded building and
the street
1t occurred a few minutes before .
o'clock at a time when the bank is
usually filed with persons in a hurry
to transact business before the bank
closes. No one saw the unknown man
enter the bank except E. F. Shanbach-
err. the vice president, who was pass
ing out of the building on his way to
luncheon. He noticed the man was
poorly dressed, looked like a Russian
walked straight back to the rear of
the bank and asked a clerk to direct
him to the Office of the president,
Richard Rushton. What took place in
his office is best told by the president
himself
His Shoes Were Patched.
81 was very busy said President
Rushton, when the man entered my
office and asked him to be seated for
a moment He was very poorly dress
ed, had patches on his shoes, and his
ent'-e appearance made me a bit curl
Gus. While he was waiting for me to
finish the business had in hand at the
moment l happened to notice that he
looked at me very curiously. I aked
him his busir ess and he gave his name
as G. E Williams and said he wanted
a loan of $1,000. He did not look like
man who could make a loan of that
amount and I asked him for cola teral.
He said something about an insurance
policy and that it would mature in from
one to five years. 1 was then convinc-
ed the man was crank and decided to
dismiss him a once, not for a moment
thinking there was any harm in him.
told him at once that he would have to
see the cashier and directed him out
into the banking department. AS the
same moment called my colored mes
senger, william Crump, to see that the
man was quickly taken out of the build
ing. AS I turned to continue nv work
at the desk there was a terrific explo-
sion and 1 thought the building was
coming down. The man had not time
TO reach the cashier. the explosion came
so soon-'
None Saw Him Drop 1t.
Details as to what actually happened
Wnen the man left the office of President
Rushton differ, as no one can be found
who saw the man drop the bomb. The
door to the office of Cashier Mclean is
only few feet from that of President
Rushton and the man must have drop-
ped the missile between the two rooms
cashier McLear was sitting at his
desk at the time and his body was badly
The bomb thrower's body was torn
to pieces.
At the time the explosion occurred
piled on desks and papers of ali sorts
OF value were lying on desks prepara-
tory to being put away for the dav.
me explosion devastated the interior
of the big banking room Glass and
wooden partitions We're wrecked and
levelled to the ground as though a
cyclone had swept through the place
Desks We're ruined and iron bars were
twisted; IN fact, there was hardly an
object left intact in the room. OF ali
the persons in the room at least SIX
all clerks. were hurt, two probably
Gent to the hospital.
Knocked Everybody Down.
The explosion blew every one in
the banking room to the floor and for
a moment they were dazed. Many of
lntIn not knowing what naQ happened
and fearing that the building which
Is an eight story structure. was falling
made a rush for the door, Mr.. Rush
ton among them. The roar of the
explosion brought the tenants on all
floors to their feet and a general rush
was made to the elevators and stair
ways. As the excited people came out
there was a rush from the street to
rescue those whom it was thought had
been caught in the explosion. In the
meantime an alarm of fire was sent
in and firemen We're quickly on the
ground. There being no fire in the
precinct. firemeu and policemen or
dered everybody out and a strong
guard was thrown about the building.
After President Rushton had recov-
cred himself he told what had hap
pened and a search for the bomb
thrower was made. At the moment it
was supposed he had not been Killed
but in taking out the body of Cashier
McLear and looking for others. por-
tions of a body were found that plain
~ indicated that the man had been
blown to pieces. The escape O..
President Rushton was almost mirac-
ulous. for the damage is great test in
his office. The ceiling over his desk
Is despatched with blood and under a
pile OF wreckage in one corner of the