The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1907-01-08
BOMB THROWER WRECKS
A PHILADELPHIA BANK
RoIlo Steele Kills Himself and
Cashier Mclean.
CRAZY MAN DEMANDS MONEY
Had Asked For $4,000 Loan-Identi-
fed as Man Who Had Lived in
Chicago-Ten Persons Injured,
Several Fatally.

fed as Man Who Had Lived in
Chicago-Ten Persons Injured.
Several Fatally.
Philadelphia bomb that prob
ably contained nitro-glycerine thrown
by mailman upon the marble floor
of the Fourth Street National Bank,
wrecked the interior of the building,
killed William 2. McLear, the cash
Ter, tore the bomb thrower himself
to shreds, and badly wounded a score
of clerks and other employees.
The bomb thrower. identified as
Rollo Steele, who lived in Chicago
had made demand for a loan of
$4,000, for which he could show no
collateral. This had been refused.
The man then drew the deadly mis-
sile from his pocket and threw it at
his feet.
The big building trembled at the
shock The bomb thrower and the
cashier, who was nearest to him,
were the only ones killed, but every
one on the bank floor was thrown
from his feet, some severely injured
in the wreckage Many were made
temporarily deaf by the terrific de-
tonation, heard many squares away
from the bank, which occupies part
of the first floor of the Bullitt Build
ing, in Fourth street, below Chestnut.
A shower of gold and silver swept
through the hank from the desk of
the paying teller At least $4,000
was scattered in the wreekage about
| the place Partitions, desks and
chairs were thrown in tangled mass
upon the floors. Flames started
among the splintered woodwork near
the dead cashier, but were quickly
| extinguished by those who rushed
inside to the aid of the injured.
President Rushton said the MAI
| came into his Office and, after stating
| that his name was G. E. Williams,
and that he lived in the suburbs of
Philadelphia, asked for loan of
| $4,000.
81 asked him what security he
| had said Mr.. Rushton, "and he re-
| piled that he had none He added.
| however, that he was honest, and
would pay the interest annually. and
return the loan at the end of five
years"
Mr.. Rushton told him finally that
| it was out of the question for the
bank to lend him money without
even being assured of his identity
He advised the man. to get somebody
who knew him and return to the
bank some other day
The president hoped in this way
to get rid of him, but when the man
continued to insist that he must have
the $4,000 Mr.. Rushton excused him.
self for q moment and left the caller
sitting in his Office. Stepping out
into the waiting room President
Rushton asked Cramp, the colored
messenger, to get the man out of the
offices. Then the president walked
through the second vice-president's
offices and out of sight into the
banks general offices.
Cramp told Williams that the
president was engaged with othel
business and could not see him again
Williams thereupon walked on
into the waiting room, still declar
ing, however, that he would not leave
until he had had another interview
with the president.
Cashier McLear was sitting at hi
desk just inside the wooden counter
which separated his Office from tn,
reception room. Williams walked
over to the counter and renewed hi
request for loan of $4,000, which
was refused.
Just at that moment the cashiers
telephone bell rang. He picked VI
the instrument, listened for SECOND
and said:
"All right, come in Monday ant
we'll fix that up"
He was sitting in his chair hal
facing the man on the other side o
the counter when the latter quickl.
pulled a shining metal cylinder from
his pocket and tossed it over at thu
cashier. There was puff Of whit
smoke, a tremendous report and thel
all was confusion.
When the police got in they found
the cashiers body about twenty fee
from the spot where he had been sit
ting. The force of the explosion ha'
struck the upper part of his body
and it was torn to pieces.
Cramp, who was standing abou
ten feet from the spot where tn
missile exploded, but in front of tn
counter, was blown into the big opel
CRATE. Both eyes were blown OUT
His clothing was torn into rags AM
his face and body cut horribly by tn
flying particles of glass and tn
splinters.
The other injured are: Harr,
Beck, bank employee; Miss Juli
Brady, stenographer; A. s. Dominci
G. r. Horton, Frank LaBold, otiic
boy; Eugene McIlhone, clerk; Arthu
McNichol, clerk; Harper Mercer
clerk; T. B. Rutter, Albert Smith
hurt by flying glass while walkinl
along the street; William Wright
clerk.
All doubt of the identity of tn
man who hurled the bomb was re
moved by finding some of his cloth
ing, marked r. Steele, in the room h
occupied while in this city In
brown satchel which he left in tn
room were six long electric fuses wit
loaded caps, four yards OF dynamit
fuse, box of cartridges and re
volyer.