Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-01-05
sowED THE LAND WITH BOMBS.
\ Dangerous Piece of Road Making
 in Indiana.

A Dangerous Piece of Road Making
 in Indiana.
 :, The most dangerous piece of road making ever undertaken has been completed at Elkhart. The road was less than mile long, but men re- fused to work on it for months and when they were finally prevailed up- on to do so it was on condition that they should take their own time and be governed wholly by their own judgment as to the work to be done. While wages for such labor usually range from $1.25 to $1.50 day, the contractor paid some of his men $3.25 day and at times as much as $5 an hour for work on the road.
 The road ran through the land of James R. Devor, one of the largest landowners and wealthiest citizens in Elkhart county. He felt special pride in the tract of land needed for the road and refused to sell any part of it.
 When efforts were made to con- demn the land he fought the case in the courts, but was finally beaten at all points. In the meantime worry over his various suits and differences with neighbors who insisted on the improvement had 50 wrought upon his nervous system that his mind gave way and he was adjudged in- sane and sent to an asylum.
 Night after night before his com- initial he was seen at work on the strip of land which had been con- demned for the roadway. What he was doing no one knew.
 He appeared completely exhausted when he reached his home in the early morning after his nights work and often his clothing was wet with precipitation, showing that he had been making violent or long contin- ued physical effort. Attempts to learn what he was doing were futile till 1t was accidentlly discovered that he had received lot of dynamite un- der an assumed name at a nearby town.
 It then dawned upon his neighbors that he was planting dynamite bombs in the proposed roadway in order to obtain revenge when the authorities should enter upon the land. A care full investigation was made under the direction of the city council of Elk hart, but no evidence could be found anywhere that the sod had been dis turbed.
 Some people pooh-poohed the idea that Devor had planted any bombs and men were put at work improving the roadway. Before the had been digging an hour one bomb was turn ed up, fortunately having escaped contact with the pick.
 Consternation seized the laborers and they refused to proceed with the work. When the news got out women came upon the scene and dragged their husbands away, declaring that they should not engage in so danger ous task.
 How many bombs had been planted no one knew. but Devor had worked night after night for more than a week, and it was asumed that there might be fifty or even hundred.
 Within an hour after the discov- cry of the first bomb every laborer had deserted the job and only the contractor remained on the scene. He didn't think there was any, danger, but he rufused to go before the la borers with pick and make test of his faith that all was clear.
 Then he began to dicker with the men but their wives interposed. In- crease after increase of wages was offered, but it was a week before a force of men could be secured. When they were finally hired it was agreed that two men should go in advance of the pick men and carefully rake over the ground to find if possible where the bombs had been planted.
 The first days work netted three bombs, and the second day six bombs were turned up. By that time the searchers had go on to Devor's plan of planting and it was all easy.
 The insane landowner had prob- ably measured off the spaces very or was good guesser. for the bombs were found in three rows across the roadway and about twen- ty-flve feet apart. X total of thirty five were unearthed and then there was skip of about 200 yards. when . l. much closed together.
 It is supposed that Devor planted his bombs at each end of the pro- uosed roadway with view of killing the laborers at either end at which they might begin work and thus to terrorize the people that the improve ment would be abandoned. Fortu- nately the work was accomplished without exploding single bomb.