The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1907-01-07
CRANK'S BOMB
WRECKS BANK
Philadelphia Cashier and In.
sane Man Killed.
HAD DEMANDED $4,000
Explosion Destroys Two Lives In
iurss Twelve and Completely
Ruins Offices.

PHILADELPHIA, Jan. Two mcn
were blown to pieces. another probably
fatally injured and several slightly
hurt In the Fourth Street National
bank here by bomb thrown by a man
who had failed TO negotiate a loan of
5000 with the president of the insti.
tuition. Richard IL. Rushton.
The dead are W. Il. McLcar. cashier
OF the bank, and Rolla Steele, the
bomb thrower. identified by the name
plate on key ring.
The injured are Harry Beck. bank
employee: Miss Julia Brady. stcnog
rapher; William Crump. private mes
scnger 10 the president OF the bank
who will probably die; A. $. DomIncl.
&. Il. Horton. Frank Iabold. onice
boy; Eugene Mcllhpne. clerk; Arthur
McNlchol. clerk: Harper Mercer. clerk.
+. Il. Rutter. Albert Smith, hurt by
flying glass while walking along the
street. and William Wright. clerk.
The Fourth Street National bunk l.
one OF the richest financial institutions
OF Philadelphia AMI occupies most OF
the ground fioor OF the Buiutt build
lng. Just before the bank was q close
for the day and a rush WAS on poorly
dressed man. carrying Ia his hand a
small parcel wrapped In paper. entered
the bank aud told one OF the aliache.
that he had urgent business with the
president lie was shown into hi.
office.
Mr.. Bean Of the Bean company.
bankers. was talking 90 Mr.. Rushton.
The stranger interrupted them. saying
he wanted 10 NEGOTIATE a loan of Sl.OpO
lie produced paper. Il Is said. which
Mr.. Rushlon thinks was life insur.
ancc policy. The stranger pr0gcrcd
this as collateral for the prospective
loan.
Mr.. Rushton was busy aud. In nc.
cordance with banking routine. mo
toned the man toward the cashiers
department. This Is a suit Of several
small offices opening on the corridor
across the bank aud 10 one side Of the
big armor plated vaults.
The bomb thrower entered the Office
Of Mr. Mcl.car. who was nc his dcsk.
and. according to the lattcr's assistant.
talked with him FOR moment and
then threw o. the floor a bomb wrap.
ped Ia n newspaper.
There was an car splitting report.
the bank filled with smoke aud dust.
all the windows and glass partitions
were shattered 60 bits. counters were
upheavcd aud overturned. books. type.
writers. counting machines. cash
frames and loose currency were hurled
about In confusion.
A shower ~ gold aud silver swept
through the bank from the desk % the
paying teller. At least S20O0O was
scattered In the wrcckage about the
place. Partitions. desks and chairs
we're thrown Into n tangled mass upon
The floors. Flames started among the
s9llnicTcl woodwork near the dead
cashier. but were quickly extlngulshed
10y those who "a. he'd inside 10 the aid
of the Injured
Oihcials. clerks. attaches 81 the hank
and patrons who were crowded before
the counters rushed about screaming
aud panic stricken. and there were sew
eral minutes u the widest panic be-.
fore there could be any attempt at res.
cue or inquiry a. 10 the fate Of those
near the explosion.
Tho Bullitt building tenants. men aud
women. clerks and stcnographcTs. rush.
II from their offices aud down the
stairway. Nobody waited for the Gle
vators. The bank force. all Of whom
had been thrown 60 the ground. aud
those doing business NJ the tcllcrs'
windows rushed Into Fourth street NJ
the usual hurrylng crowds Of the iinan.
clal district. hearing the report. ran 20
the building. In moment Fourth
street aud SAMSON street were I'm
passable.
The reserve policeman turned In n
hre alarm With the fire apparatus
zane n patrol wagon load OF police
men. flrcmcn aud policemen pushed
back the crowds aud entered the build.
ing. so quickly had the alarm been
flvcn that smoke I'm obscured the
view.
Under n pile Of debris. terribly man.
ylcd. was the body OF SIR. Mcicar.
Ten feet away. with the head and
shoulders under wrccknrc. was the
body 81 the bomb throwcr Both legs
were on. Afterwarl bits OF the mans
flesh were found cllngng TO the ceiling.
MIR. Rushton said the man came into
his Office and. after stating that his
name wns q. u. williams and that he
lived In the suburbs Of Philadelphia.
asked for n loan Of 5000.
II asked him what security be had"
said Mr.. Ruuhton. "and he replied that
he had none. lie added. however. that
he was honest and would pay the In.
tcrcst annually and return the loan nj
The cnd Of i've years
II told him could not let him have
the money without security. aud he
asked me 10 make sixty day loan.
The man appeared 60 be eccentric
and neryously fingered his pockets.
From nm inside pocket he drew out
picture Of his wife aud child and said,
Amt they oil rlghtr
"I told him 4 was httav aud had nm