davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1908-04-23
managed to. carry his wife out OF the
building safely.
INTERNAL MACHINE,
BELIEF. OF POLICE
Captain Petersen Says That Un-
dOubtedIy Assassination
Was the Object

Gallagher added to his original
theory that his life was sought by un-
identified assassins the fact that he be-
Heved he had been watched for months.
1t was well known that he had made
his home with the Schencks for sew
eral months and his comings and go
ings to San Francisco in the midst of
the graft prosecutions were of daily
occurrence.
AS soon as the first excitement was
over the Schencks and Gallaghers took
refuge in the Gardiner residence. Ply
Sehenek and Mrs. Gallagher. who were
hysterical from the shock.
Gallagher and Schenck remained
there and both were questioned closely
by the police. Schenck is a salesman
for the Ralph Brown wholesale hard
ware company Of San Francisco. He
was positive that there was not an in
cident which could have prompted any
person TO have taken such desperate
means to injure him or his family.
Schenck was not clear as to what had
prompted the terrible attack, but he in
clined to the view held by the police
and Gallagher that the ex-supervisor
was the target at which the awful
weapon Of destruction had been aimed.
Under the personal direction of Cap
tain Petersen, Detectives Hodgkins
Green, Kyle and McSorley made a thor
ough. search of the wrecked house and
the ruins. They also interviewed
every member of the Schenck family,
the Gallaghers and the neighbors. Cap
tain Petersen. said:
There is not the slightest doubt in
my mind that this was an atrocious
crime, a dastardly plot aimed at the
life Of former Supervisor Gallagher
Although we are not in a position to
state definitely what steps we shall
take further. ii is my belief that in a
few days we will know whence came
this whole affair.
Il am satisfied that an Internal ma
Chine was placed in the vestibule of
the Schenck home for the purpose of
killing Gallagher. 1t looks as though
the plot had been planned with desper-
ate thoroughness by persons who well
knew the use and effects of high ex-
plosives.. These persons, l feel conf
dent, were familiar with Gallagher's
movements and were also in touch,
more or less perfectly, with the internal
arrangements of the Schenck home. The
internal machine might have been
timed to explode while it was ex-
pected Gallagher would be at dinner
This theory would seem to be borne
out by the fact that the explosion ac-
CURED exactly at 7:3O o'clock. as evil
denced by the stopping of Lieutenant
Browns watch. 1t can readily be seen
how close this was to the meal hour
and how near the Gallaghers would
have been to the machine had they not
left the dining room a little earlier
than usual.
owing to the darkness 1t was not
possible to get all that might be OBJ
tanned in daylight, but we are salts
fed from our Investigations thus far
The San Francisco call., 1908-04-23
IMMENSE CHARGE OF
DYNAMITE EXPLODED

The police estimate that at least SO
pounds Of dynamite was exploded, but
this is merely speculative. The whole
front of the house was blown out, leav
ing the interior fully exposed. The
shock was so severe that it shattered
windows insthe neighborhood and was
felt for blocks around. The explosion
was distinctly heard in Broadway, two
miles Distant
Debris Uttered the streets and the
floors of adjoining residences were COW
cred with splinters and glass. The
furnishings in the Schenck house were
destroyed and there was not a SEM
blance of the front porch of the place
left.
The residence sets back from the
street about 25 feet and is approached
by a walk. The grounds are open, sur
rounded by large lawn. The location
is an entirely residential district and
at the time of the explosion was quiet.
Little pedestrian travel was about.
The house was separated on the north
by 80 feet from the Mcdonald resi-
dence and about 40 feet from the Gar
diner house. None of the neighbors
heard anything unusual before the ex-
plosion, which brought hundreds of per-
sons to the scene. Luckily no fire
broke out and this fact tended strongly
lO Tie uyIldiIllle lHeOTy DIS
against the possibility of gas explo-
sion. Both Assistant Chief Engineer
George Mcdonald of the fire depart
ment and Captain of Detectives Peter
sen made close inquiry along that line,
but found nothing which would indi-
cate a gas explosion. 1t was found
among the wreckage that a large hole
had been blown in the floor of the yes
thule, plainly visible by the jagged
ends of the floor joints and such other
parts of the structure there which
were not splintered.
The force of the explosion was down
ward, apparently. The explosion was
in the confined space of the vestibule,
which was shut In on two sides by
solid board walls, in front by the closed
storm doors and at the back by the
main dwelling entrance.
Charles Schenck said that he dis
tinctly smelled powder after the explo-
sion. He was within 10 or Is feet of
the vestibule, but around the corner of
the house, when 1t occurred. As one
result of the shock the back stairs were
shattered and a large chimney was
thrown out of plumb, but did not topple
over. 1t seemed as though the entire
house had been twisted off it's feet and
jammed over toward the Mcdonald
place. In making their way out of the
The San Francisco call., 1908-04-23
CALHOUN SAYS Thugs OR
ANARCHISTS DID CRIME


Patrick Calhoun seemed to be deep
ly interested when he was told of the
blowing up of the sSchenck home, In
which former Supervisor Gallagher was
a guest. The president of.the United
Railroads was informed OF the occur
renee shortly after it happened. and he
expressed himself as being deeply
shocked at what he terms the work OF
daring anarchists and law breaking
thugs"
Calhoun was anxious to learn all the
details. He asked many questions re-
garding the dynamitihg and wanted TO
know what progress the police had
made toward apprehending the person
of persons who planned and executed
the diabolical plot
Il regret this very unfortunate oc-
currence," said Calhoun. 1T deeply
grieves and shocks me to think that the
life of any citizen should be placed in
jeopardy by such fiendish plot. The
conspirators are evidently daring an
archists or law breaking thugs. l hope
that the police viii quickly capture
them and that just punishment will be
meted out to them"
The San Francisco call., 1908-04-23
SUSPECTED THE HOUSE
WAS BEING WATCHED
Youth Sees Two Men Hurrying
Away After Explosion
Occurs

Gallagher and his wife have been
living in the Schenck residence since
October. Mrs. Gallagher is a sister Of
Mrs. Schenck and the two have been
inseparable. Members Of the Schenck
family say that several times of late
they have suspected that the house
was being watched. Young Harrison
Schenck called to his father yester-
day morning, saying that he heard
some one moving around on the front
porch. When the explosion occurred
this evening Charles Schenck. 19 years
old. cripple, was in the yard, having
just left the front OF the house, and
was thrown to the ground by the
shock He got on his feet and looked
out toward the street. The youth saw
two men walking rapidly north in
Nineteenth avenue, but he paid no at
tention to them, as he was too ex-
cited by the crash to observe them
The boy did not for the moment con-
meet the men with what had occurred.
As soon as the explosion occurred
the Schencks- rushed on the lawn
through the wreckage. An alarm
Of fire was turned in from Thomas
Gardeners residence, next door, by tel
ephone. As soon as the firemen arrived
hasty examination showed there
was no fire. The police were called sim
ultaneously and Captain of Detec-
kins arrived soon. An Investigation
was set on foot at once by CAPTAIN
Petersen. with his force augmented by
Detectives Kyle and Green
Baby John" Martin was taken to the
sfscene for the purpose OF close IN
quiry as TO the manner in. which he,
had placed the dynamite at Judge Og-
den's residence, the object Of the
questioning being study of the enects
of the explosive.
The Schenck residence is q large.
olilding with basement and porch run
ming along the left side, with an upper
veranoa formed by. the protecting
rooms upstairs which extended out from
the face OF the dwelling. The main
entrance at the front was flied w3+b
storm doors inclosing a vestIb4lle T.in
which it is supposed the dynarnfte'
bomb or Internal machine was placed
The police feel sure that il was an in
fernal machine set in such way as to
explode automatically, as no trace of
fuse was found among the, debris of
the shattered dwelling. From the yes
tibule the inner door opened into a large
reception hall and from this at the
left was the dining room, In which the.
family were when the explosion rent
the house Immediately above the yes
tibule was the projecting front of a
large living room which, the police. be-
ieve, the dynamiters figured. was occu-
pied by the Gallaghers. The theory is
that the dynamite was placed so that
IL must have wrecked both this apart.
ment and the dining room, with the
idea that the intended victim Of the
plot would be killed or terribly manned
That the scheme Of murder, If such II
was, failed was due TO one OF those
remarkable escapes which have accom-
panied other dynamite qutrages. Cal
lagher was in a room some distance.
from the vestibule. though it ad1oined'
the front living room on the south.
Both rooms were wreckeds but the floor
in his room was partly intact and he
The San Francisco call., 1908-04-23

mess Gallagher was obliged to lower
Mrs. Gallagher to the ground moor
through the opening left by the de-
stroyed stairway and upper hall.
The San Francisco call., 1908-04-23
U. S. POST CARD CONTEST
CLOSES 10 Pm. SATURDAY
Open TO AII-Tbree Finest New Planes
TO BE Given Away ABsO-
IuteIy Free

Contestants must use a standard size
(5hx3A inches) government post card.
The sentence you are to write here
follows.
The San Francisco call., 1908-04-23
CHIEF BIGGY PLANS TO
HELP OAKLAND POLICE

Chief of Police Biggy was notified
of the attempt to assassinate Gallagher
soon after it occurred in a telegram
from Chief Wilson of the Oakland de-
partment He Immediately got into
communication with Wilson over the
telephone and was given the details.
Biggy dispatched Acting Captain of De-
tectives Thomas Ryan, a man thor
oughly familiar with all classes of ex-
plosiyes, to the scene of the outrage
to be OF assistance to the Oakland
police.
Through Ryan's knowledge of pow
der and dynamite it was hoped to de-
termine what sort of explosive was
The San Francisco call., 1908-04-23

of the soundness of our belief that a
horrible crime was intended-much
more awful than the destruction of the
Schenck residence"
Police guards were placed around the
Schenck house tonight in order that
nothing should be disturbed The resi-
dence is owned by Gardiner, the next
door neighbor. He was at a loss to ac-
count for the explosion in so far as he
might have been concerned. Gardiner
said that he knew of no reason why
an attempt should have been made to
injure him. The damage to the house
was $4,000.
The Gallaghers went to San Fran
cisco tonight to the home Of Mrs. Gal
laghers mother
The San Francisco call., 1908-04-23

Eilers stores sell the three
foremost pianos Of today;
The kimball. Chicago:
the Lester. Philadelphia.
and the Hobart NJ. Cable.
The San Francisco call., 1908-04-23
Dynamite Wrecks Home of Graft Prosecution

the window and suffered few minor
bruises on his legs and body. but the
other members Of the family were un-
Injured.
The tremendous force of the explo-
sion was shown by the fact that win
dow curtains from the Sehenck resi-
dence were blown through the win
5ows Of the Macdonald home next door
and landed against the far side of the
house.
The San Francisco call., 1908-04-23
ATTEMPT ON LIFE
SHOWS KIDNAP'ERS
Continued From Page /, Column 5

Continued From Page. 1, Column 5
the higher ups, and the hirelfngs OF
these higher ups are men who have
shown they are willing to go to any
extreme to gain their ends. Other
plots have been laid bare, and the de-
tails of this one may come out later.
Heney received the news of the ex-
plosion at his office last night. and was
afterward in consultation for some
time with Rudolph Spreckels and
other members of the graft prosecu-.
tion. Spreckels would not discuss the
matter, but it was evidenr that the
general option prevailed that the ex-
plosion was the result of a deliberate
attempt to assassinate Gallagher and
that it was made for the purpose OF
keeping him from testifying in the
graft cases.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. ~~~~0~~~~~~~-~~-~~->~|~~s
used in the manufacture of the bomb,
how it was made and how it was fired
off. and then to trace the source from
which it was obtained. Ryan was busy
on the case until late into the morning.
Biggy made arrangements with Will
son for a conference early this morning
in Oakland. He declared that he would
cooperate with him by every means in
his power to capture the perpetrators
of the crime and would detail to the
Oakland chief many men from the
San Francisco department as he would
need to assist him.
Detectives Steve Bunner, John Freel.
Conlon and Mackey were sent to the
ferry boat landing to watch all incon-
ing boats. They know nearly every
person of prominence who has been
interested in the graft cases in any
manner since their inception. They
were given orders to watch for any
body connected with the graft defense,
and to keep strict surveillance of all
suspicious characters coming over from
Oakland on the late ferries.
The San Francisco call., 1908-04-23

Write this sentence as many times as
possible on the back of the post card
giving attention to punctuation and
spelling. You may write crosswise or
lengthwise OF the card, but you may
not write crosswise Of your own writ
ing. Sign your name, address and the
number OF times you have written the
sentence on the front Of the card
The person writing the above SEN
tence the greatest number of times will
receive absolutely free one magnificent
new upright piano Of the famous KIN
ball make.
The second best list receives free a
superb, new, sweet toned popular Ho-
bart NJ Cable, and the person who
writes the sentence the third greatest
number Of times receives free one high
est grade Lester plano.
The next following replies of special
merit Will receive valuable prizes.
II you have no piano, it is sure you
viii never be given an opportunity to
get one so easily as now. Contest
closes at 10 p. m. Saturday. April 25.
EILERS MUSIC CO.. Worlds Greatest
Piano Dealers, 1920 Fillmore st.; 1130
Van Ness av.; 975. etc. Market st.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-06-02
NEW COUMC|LMEN IN CHARGE
TAKoMA PARK APPOINTMENTS
ANNOUNCED BY MAYOR.
Telephone Service Within a Radius
of a Mile to Be Given at City
Rates-Important Matters.

At special meeting of the Takoma
Park town council last evening Mayor
Wilmer G. Plat and the newly elected
councilmen took the oath of office and
began the discharge of duties they will
perform for the next two years. The
new council is composed of Mayor Wilmer
G. Plat. Councilman E. E. Blodgett. w.
w. Dyar. H. E. Rogers. L. r. Grabill.
r. D. Rush and II. F. Taft.
The following appointments were an
nounced by Mayor Platt:
Town clerk and trea surer, Ben G. Davis.
Bailiff. George Day
Deputy bailiffs. E. E. Blodgett, Thomas
Rhine. ]. A. Van Horn.
Inspector Of buildings. E. E. Blodgett.
Inspector of plumbing. L. R. Grabill.
Registrar Of vital statistics, L. NJ.
Mooers
The retiring members of the council,
Messrs. ]. B. Derrick and John Hanson.
were not present. Mr. Derrick rendered
his resignation several weeks ago. The
pew members on the council are Messrs.
Rush and Taft. Mr.. Grabill served the
past two years and was reelected for
another term.
Mayor Plat addressed the meeting and
paid high tribute to Messrs. Derrick
and Hanson for the faithful performance
OF duty while members OF the council
and tho valuable assistance they had rem
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-06-02

council. The Spring Park question. which
was voted upon at the election last
month. he said, should receive serious
consideration by the judiciary committee
A new filtration plant is another important
matter which should be taken up at once
by the water committee. and new bridge
across Sligo stream was also Of vital in.
project $500 was appropriated at the re-
cent session of the Maryland legislature
which sum could be increased by dona-
tons. with the expectation of making
the bridge a massive as well as attractive
structure ands credit to the town. The
regular meeting of the council will be-
held next Monday evening.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-06-02
IN VALLEY OF VIRGINIA.
Local National Guardsmen Follow
Example of Sheridan.
Special Correspondence of The Star


CAMP HARRIES,
Winchester. Va, June . 1908.
The cavalry detachment Of Conn.,
pany G. lst Regiment. National Guard OF
the District of Columbia. which left
Washington last Friday evening. arrived
here yesterday from Charles Town and
camped on the same ground as did Gen.
Sheridan when he was in this county.
The wagon train under the command of
Lieut.. Johnson. left Charles Town ahead
of Capt. Bean and his troopers. which re-
suited in the latter becoming alarmed.
II was thought that possibly the
grub" wagons would be held up before
they reached their destination.
The troopers caught up with the wagon
train near Berryville. after having forded
stream. After lunch had been served
the ride TO Winchester was resumed
Mayor Harry Baker of Winchester has
invited the troop to visit his home at
Gordon White Sulphur Springs A game
of base ball will be played with the
Winchester team this afternoon
The troop is TO depart Thursday morn
ing for Charles Town. where 1t will spent
the night All the men and horses are N
good condition.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-06-02
dered in the management of the affairs

dered in the management of the affairs
of the town
Prior to swearing in the new members
brief meeting of the old council was
held and the affairs wound up.
A request was received from Mr.. n.
Frank RUPERT. who recently bought
Cycle cottage on Carroll avenue, for
sewer facilities for lot s. block 81. The
matter was referred to the water and
sewer committee.
New Telephone Rates.
long communication was read by the
town clerk from the Chesapeake and Po-
tomac Telephone Company relative to a
resolution which had been forwarded by
the council from the Takoma Park Citi-
zens' Association. requesting reduction
of toll rates from 10 cents to 5 cents.
The letter stated that the question of
telephone rates had been carefully con-
sidered by the company and that the
company was authorized to offer within
radius Of one mile Of the central office
at Takoma Park, D. c.. local TakOma
service at regular city rates. In regard
to allowing reduction from 10 cents to
cents for outgoing messages this could
not be done wl..lout distinct loss to the
company.
In this connection" the letter saws.
we should add that our four party Mary
laHd-D1strict rate now becomes obsolete
within the mile radius referred to and
that no further contracts at that rate will
be entered into within that area The
company has no thought at the present
time of cancelling existing MARYLAND Dis
trict contracts in this area but believes
that the advantages of city service and
rates will so appeal to these subscribers
that they will voluntarily accept the same.
The effect of all this is to make Ia
koma Park. within one mile radius of the
existing central Office at that point a city
exchange district. In which. under flu
ture contracts, only city rates will pre-
vail
The letter was referred to the mayor
for such action as he saw fit
Mayor P1att outlined to the meeting i'm
portant questions to be considered by the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-06-02
DROPS DEAD AT A FIRE
EUGEi-E JEPsoN, NOTED ACTOR,
sUCCUMBs TO EXCITEMENT.

| CLEVELAND. Ohio. June Fire in
| Keith's Theater yesterday afternoon. n
| which a panic was averted only by the
GOODNESS of the house staff and the or
| chestra members. cost the life of Eugene
Jepson. fifty-three years old. a well known
! actor. who has played in the support OF
many stars.
Mr.. Jepson died of heart disease due
| to the excitement engendered by the an.
proach of the flames and his haste to pack
| his costumes. about to be used in a new
| playlet which was to have been presented
| for the first time.
Jepson and his little company were tn
| have gone on the stage the second num-
| her following Carolyn Delmore who was
| singing at the time a hot box in the cleo
trio suction fan In the rear of the gall
! lery caused flames to burst out alarming
the gallery patrons.
Was Packing His franks.
| At the alarm of fire Jepson. who was
waiting In his dressing ROOM began hur-
| riedly packing his costumes, taking ad-
vantage of the respite promised by the
hardness of the flames approach to save
his property. Jepson. weighing o6O
pounds, was overcome by the excitement
and died as he was closing the trunk lids.
LIT. .. ". aannum was called. but the
actor was dead. Mrs. Jepson was sum-
! moned from her hotel to direct the re-
moval Of her husbands body
Meanwhile. out on the stage Carolyn
Delmore continued the singing of her
song. See Saw" Manager H. A. Daniels,
formerly assistant manager of Keith's
| Theater in Philadelphia, and Ned Hast
| ings the house press agent. stepped to the
| front of the stage. Mr.. Daniels in an
even conversational tone. told Herman
| Biringer. the orchestra leader. to continue
playing. and then to the strains Of the
music he told the audience in the lower
part Of the theater that the fire was next
| door and under control.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-06-02

1t pays to read the want columns Of
The Star. Hundreds Of situations are
filled through them.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-06-02

Sir for twenty-six to6) piece
~" sets and $3.50 for twenty
Tour CAD piece sets. Each bears
the honored mark of Community"
silver.
CT - for six teaspoons. $3.50
for six tablespoons, $3.50
for six dinner forks, $1.9S for six
dinner knives
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-06-02

$50 for sets comprising fifty
seven go beautiful pieces
of silver. all with the Oneida
mark and guarantee.
SO7 for sets containing thirty
w. two (32) massive and beau
tiful pieces, all guaranteed.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-06-02

Washable Bands. in
white and liner colored
grounds: with Persian
and solid colored fig-
ures. 1 and II: inches
wide. IT,
yard ~