Smyrna times., 1907-01-09
THREW DEADLY
BOMB IN BANK
Assailant and Cashier Killed and
Many Others Injured
WAS REFUSED LOAN OF $4,000

Cashier w. q. McLear and himself,
there is little doubt left in the minds
of the police officials that he was Rollo
Steele, of Garner, Ia.
The dead are: William X. McLear,
cashier; Rollo Steele, the bomb throw
er.
The injured are: Thomas B. Rutter,
discount clerk, fractured skull, con-
cussion of the brain and lacerations
of the face; William Crump, colored,
messenger for President Rushton, hor-
ribly mangled by fragments of bomb,
eyes partially blown out, scalp nearly
torn off and chest and arms badly cut;
William A. McAney, lacerated face and
scalp; Miss Julia Brady, cut about
face and hands; Frank Laboe, lacerat-
ed ear; Harper Mercer, slightly cut
about face and neck; William Wright.
scalp wounds; Harry Beck, lacerated
scalp; Eugene McIlhone, ruptured ear
drum and laceration of face and scalp;
Angelo F. Dominica, shock and contu-
sions; c. R. Horton, head cut; ]. T.
Albert Hosbach, badly cut about face;
Halburt Smith, lacerated arms; Ar
thur McNichol, cut about head and
face; Jay McNichol, cuts of face and
arms; Albert Troebler, lacerations of
face and ear nearly torn off; Horace
Kriebel, cut about fac eand neck; Rob-
ert Robertson, thrown to the floor by
force of the explosion and severely
shocked; w. d. McAleer, contusions
and cuts of face and scalp.
The bomb thrower was found to
have slept Friday night at the Grant
House, hostelry on the outskirts Of
the Tenderloin, frequented mostly by
respectable working people. The man
registered as j. R. Steele, of New York
He arrived at the hotel about o'clock
on Friday night and engaged 50-cent
room. He carried a grip, which he
refused to allow the colored porter to
carry to the room.
When detectives searched the room
they found several yards of slow fuse,
a number of decorating caps, a revol-
yer, box of cartridges in the grip, to-
gether with a number of tools and
some clothing. There was suit bear
ing the tag of a Chicago clothing
house, and a pair of overalls marked
with the name of Lynchburg, Va,
merchant. There was also a way bill
for box shipped over the Southern
Railway. AS Rollo Steele was report
ed to have been in Chicago and Lynch
burg, the latter place within a few
days. the police say there is little
dcgbt as to the bomb thrower's iden-
tity.
1t is probable that none of those
hurt by the explosion will die.
William J. Crump. the negro mes
senger in the bank and body guard of
President Richard Fl. Rushton, of the
institution, who is the most seriously
injured, was operated on. His condi-
tion was such a few hours after the
explosion that he was reported dead,
but he rallied, and the physicians op-
Grated in an effort to save his eye
sight, though his eyes will never re-
gain their normal condition.
Crump was visited after the opera
ton by his brother, Thomas, of Rich
mOnd, Va, through whom he gave an
interview. He said that his recollec-
tion of what occurred comedies with
the statement that was made by Pres
ident Rushton regarding the affair, ex-
-cept that when he started to escort the
bomb thrower out of President Rush
tons office he walked him past Cash
Ter McLear's desk. Crump says the
man was apparently making for the
door, and he permitted him to go on
alone. When the messenger turned to
go back into Mr.. Rushton's office he
saw that Steele had stepped back to
McLear's desk. 1t was then that Crump
remarked to Mr.. Rushton: THAT is a
persistent man." He says he started
toward Steele when the explosion oc-
Cured. He remembers nothing more
Mr.. McLear was sitting at his desk
when the bomb exploded The force
of the explosion picked him bodily
from his chair. hurting him over the
top of it into the rear of the office
His face and trunk were mashed into
a pulp almost past recognition. His
arms were torn from his frame, and
only his logs aOwed no effects of the
explosion. Seated near him were two
of his assistants, but both miraculous
ly escaped with only a few slight in.
5uries, while several feet away was
Mr.. Rutter, whose skull is fractured
and his life practically despaired of.
Desks in the portion of the Bullitt
building receiving the brunt of the
shock, were broken into splinters
Glass partitions and windows were
smashed into thousands of pieces, ant
everywhere could be seen the demoli
tion from the bomb thrower's bastard
iy act. Clerks who had been at work
were thrown to the floor, and severa
have been made temporarily deaf BY
the roar that shook the building. ant
was heard for squares around. Nor.
than $4,000 in notes and currenc,
were scattered about the floor and Sc
curities blown to remote. corners of tn,
bank, but all were recovered with tn.
exception of one small note. which
President Rushton said could be easil,
reDlaced