Omaha daily bee., 1907-01-06
Books and Valuable Papers Torn to shrsds
and Blown Into Street
PRESIDENT MAKES REMARKABLE ESCAPE
Ceiling over His Desk spattered with
Blood and Head of Anarchist
L. Found In Corner of
HIS Room.

could show no collateral. The Identity Of
the perpetrator of the outrage is a mystery,
for he was blown to pieces by his own
engine OF death. Nothing Is left to tell
who he is but bunch Of ten keys. found
in a fragment of clothing belonging to
the bomb thrower, plate In the ring
holding the keys bore the name Of r.
Steele, Garner, Ia, and the police are look
ing up the man. The other man killed
was w, H. McISear, cashier of the bank.
who had been talking to the stranger and
had refused his request.
Among the most seriously injured are;
william Crump. colored, private messenger
TO the president OF the bank; badly mangled
and may die.
Thomas b. Rutter, I.ansdale, Pa; frac-
tured skull.
Frank LaBold. clerk.
A. r. Dominica, clerk.
G, r, Horton, clerk
Miss Julia Brady, stenographer.
First Calls on President.
Tho man who dropped the bomb called
upon Richard II. Rushton. president of the
bank, also president of the Philadelphia
Clearing House association, shortly before
noon and asked for loan OF 5000. The
president quickly sized him up as eccentric
and turned him over to the cashier with
the idea that the latter would have him
taken from the building. Before leaving
the man showed Rushton picture of
woman and child with the remark:
''Ain't they all right?" A few moments
later there was terrific explosion which
shook the big building and completely
wrecked the interior of the bank. Cashier
McLear was In his Office when the man
threw the bomb and was instantly killed.
With the exception of his right arm and
shoulder he was not mangled, The most
seriously injured is William Crump, the
colored messenger who made a heroic at
tempt to seize the object which the man
was about to drop but was an instant too
late. The messenger, IL he survives his
terrible injuries probably will be blind.
Eight OF the bunch of ten keys found
are small and fat and similar to those
used in opening tin boxes. The keys have
been photographed by the police and the
pictures will be sent TO various cities in
the hope of finding clue which will clearly
establish the identity of the bombthrower.
A description of the man given by Presi-
dent Rushton has been telegraphed to
Garner, Ia, and other towns in that sec
ton of the west
President Rushton Talks.
'T was very busy" said President Rush
ton, when the man entered my office, and
I asked him to be seated for a moment.
He was very poorly dressed, had patches
on his shoes, and his entire appearance
made me a bit curious. While he was
waiting for me to finish the business had
in hand, at the moment / happened to no.
tice that he looked at me very curiously.
1 asked his business and he gave his name
as G. Z. Williams and said he wanted q
* llya
who could make loan of that amount
and / asked him for collateral. He said
something about an insurance policy and
that 1t would mature In from one TO five
years. 1 was then convinced the man was
crank and decided to dismiss him at
once, not for a moment thinking there was
any harm in him. 1 told him that he
would have to see the cashier and directed
him out in the banking department At
the same moment 1 called my colored mes
senger, William Crump, TO see that the
man was quickly taken out of the building.
AS l turned to continue my work at the
desk there was a terrific explosion. The
man had no time TO reach the cashier; the
explosion came 30 sudden"
Bomb ThrOwers' Body Found.
The roar of the explosion brought the
tenants on all floors to their feet and a
general rush was made to the elevators and
stalrways. AS the excited people came out
there was a rush from the street to rescue
those who it was thought were caught in
the building. Meantime an alarm was
turned in and nremen were quickly on the
ground. There being no hre in the place
the firemen and policemen ordered every
body out and a strong guard was thrown
about the building. After President Rush
ton had recovered himself he told what
had happened and 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 McLeaT
and looking for others, portions OF a body
were found that plainly indicated that the
man had been blown TO pieces.
The escape of President Rushton was
almost miraculous, for the damage is great
est in his once. The ceiling over his desk
is bespattered with blood and under a pile
OF wreckage in one corner OF the ONCE
was found the head and shoulders OF the
bomb thrower as well as his overcoat Mr..
Rushton does not know how he escaped
but recollects going up the steps OF the
building to the Down Town club, a dining
organisation. where he was later found In
dazed condition.
Not only is the entire interior OF the bank
wrecked but the large windows looking
out on a small side street were blown out
The explosion scattered all the books and
papers OF the institution, which were not
IN the vaults at the time
Some OF them were blown out OF thS
windows and were returned by those who
: found them
Cashier Refuses Money.
! Eugene Mcnhone. assistant 10 the cashier
returned to the bank after having his
wounds dressed at the Pennsylvania hos.
| pital
II was about twenty-five feet from Mr.
/ McLear," he said. Il was very busy al
the time as the bank was on the point OF
closing its doors after completion OF IA,
lcontinusd on sseond Pagsl -