The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-09-13
WOULD MURDER
THE GOVERNOR
Internal Machine Put in the
Mails for Executive of
New Jersey.
HELD UP IN POSTOFFICE
OUTCOME OF RECENT LAW AND
ORDER CRUSADE.
HELD UP IN P0ST0FFlcE

Seasirt n. j.. Sept. IAN attempt to
assassinate Governor Fort of New Jer-
sey has been thwarsed by the watchful-
ness of postoffice employees. who discov-
cred In the mall an internal machine ad-
dressed to the governor. The package was
der. bullets and matches which had been
SO arranged that had the governor opened
II In the ordinary way there is little DOUBT
II would have killed him.
That the death-dealing package was in
tercepted before il bad reached its desti-
nation was due to the vigilance of the
postal officials who have scanned the
governors mail with unusual care since
the executives recent crusade against vio
lation Of the law at Atlantic City.
Close Watch Kept.
The attitude taken by the governor
when he directed that the excise and
other similar laws at\the great seaside re-
sort be strictly enforced and even threat
ened to order out the militia If necessary
aroused resentment in some quarters. TO
guard the governor as much as possible
from any annoyance arising from that ar
fair, unusual watch was put on his mail.
several days ago when a package of
somewhat unusual shape was found TO
pear insufficient postage 1t was taken b.
clerk to one of the postal inspectors.
The inspector became more Impressed by
the shape and condition of the package
than by the shortage of stamps. and at
that a package of suspicious appearance
addressed ID him was being held at the
office. The inspector asked for permits
sion to open without forwarding it to its
destinat ton.
Real Internal Machine.
The permission was given at once Ex-
ercising the greatest care. the inspector
and his assistants removed the wrapping
from the package to find that their worst
fears were confirmed. 1t was a real in
fernal machine. crude but so ceverly
constructed that it was capable of doing
tremendous damage. 1t contained q1an-
tity of powder and bullets with matches
so arranged that a hurried opening of the
package would have set off the powder
and hurled the bullets In all directions.
That the sender of the machine had a
grim sense of humor became apparent
from an examination of the contents o.
the package On bit of paper he had
written a message to the governor which
read:
please notify us promptly of any
change in your postoffice address,"
| Another read:
You will know me better after we are
| acquainted"
Foe of Government.
Another line by Which 1t is believed the
sender sought to give the impression that
| the machine was sent by zoe of consti-
tutionai government instead of a personal
enemy of the governor reads:
And the gun against this rotten gov
eminent"
| Governor Fort said todav that he did
| not care to discuss the matter in any way.
| 1t speaks for itself" was the only COM
ment ne would make when he was cues
toned about his narrow escape Pieces
! of. the wrapper from the package are now
! in the possession OF the governor, hav-
| ing been forwarded to MIN by the post
officer inspector who intercepted X TX
| was learned here today that the officials
| of the Philadelphia postoffice have ar
! ranged TO make a close examination In
| the future of ell packages addressed TO
| the governor Every package of any
| kind which reaches the Philadelphia office
bearing the governors address will be
| submitted to inspectors and officially
passed before il Will be permitted to reacn
| the governor.