Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-05-28
DYNAMITE OUTRAGE
AROUSES AUTHORITIES
POLICE ARE Determined TO
CATCH CRIMINAL
Opinions Differ as to Whether Explo-
sive Was Used by Personal Enemy
or Some One Affected by
His Testimony

BY Associated Press.
OAKLAND, May 27.-The wrecking
about midnight last night by means
of dynamite of three vacant houses in
this city recently built by James l..
Gallagher former supervisor of San
Francisco and the principal witness for
the graft prosecution, following the
partial destruction in a similar manner
of his residence here on April 20, has
aroused the authorities, who are de-
termined. If possible, to discover the
guilty person or persons.
Although no one was injured by last
nights explosion, one structure was
practically destroyed and the other
two seriously damaged. On the oc-
casion of the former outrage Mr..
Gallagher and his wife narrowly es-
capped death, the front of the house be-
ing blown away while they were in
an upper room. Since that time a
Waterman has been employed to watch
the Gallagher building. John Rawlins,
who had worked in that capacity was
taken i'll two days ago, when Frank
McVaugh was engaged in his stead.
McVaugh, who was knocked off box
| by the force of the explosion, said he
carefully inspected the premises at
80 p. m. and found nothing to arouse
his suspicious. Judging by it's effect
the police believe that the explosive
was placed in one of the houses, prob
ably under heavy supporting beam.
Access to the structure might have
been made without detection through
an alleyway. The police have been
furnished with the description of
man who is said to have been lurking
about the place and hope soon to make
an arrest.
Expected Trouble
| Captain OF Detectives Peterson said
k<I. Il
something of the kind to occur and
| therefore when he heard the explosion
he Immediately went to the Gallagher
house. There are conflicting theories
as TO the motive of the criminal One
| is that some one implicated in the ex-
posures of graft in San Francisco is
seeking revenge against the man who
has given the most direct evidence for
the prosecution. Others entertain the
| idea that the dynamiter is personal
enemy of the former supervisor.
The former attempt to destroy Gal
| laghers home, which nearly resulted
In his death, occurred on the evening
| of the day he concluded his testimony
| in the case then on trial.
Special Prosecutor Heney, Detective
Burns, District Attorney Langdon and
former Supervisor Gallagher. after
holding q conference with Captain of
Detectives Peterson for more than a
half hour this afternoon. went out to
the wrecked houses TO make an inves-
| tigation.
The Evening Bulletin has announced
the offer of reward of $1,000 for infor-
nation leading to the detection of the
party who caused the explosion.
| When Capt. Walter Petersen, chief of
the Oakland detectives, was asked to-
day what he meant by his statement he
| had been expecting something to hap
pen like the explosion which wrecked
the Gallagher houses" last night, and
that the public could "look out for
more" he replied:
Gallagher Marked Man
II meant exactly what said. / be-
lieve Jim Gallagher is a marked man
and that powerful influences are at
work to get him. He is living in San
Francisco and 1 would not be bit
surprised IL the next attack on him was
made there"
| Special Agent William j. Burns will
make an investigation of the premises
of James l.. Gallagher. wrecked by an
explosion of dynamite last night, and
endeavor to assist in the apprehension
of the parties guilty of the outrage.
| Before leaving for Oakland today he
said that he had no definite clew to
| work on, but was convinced that the
| wrecking of the Gallagher residences
was the work OF some one in the pay Of
the defense In the trolley franchise
bribery cases and that the effort is
being made to intimidate Gallagher and
compel him to refuse to give further
| testimony in the cases. Mr.. Burns said
that he Is convinced that the men who
have made the two attempts to destroy
property owned by Gallagher, and pos
sibiy to put an end to the ex-supervisor
himself, would stop at nothing, even
| murder