Los Angeles herald., 1908-09-13
MAKES ATTEMPT
TO ASSASSINATE
GOVERNOR FORT
NEW JERSEY EXECUTIVE HAS
NARROW ESCAPE
CLEVER INTERNAL MACHINE is
FOUND IN MAIL
Death-Dealing Package Contains Lett
ter with Grim Humor-odd
Shape of Bundle Arouses
Suspicion
[By Associated Press.1

{ CEAGIRT, N. j., Sept. 12.-An a.
~ tempt to assassinate Governor
~ Fort of New Jersey has been
thwarted by the watchfulness of post
office employees who discovered in the
mails an inf, nal machine addressed
to the governor.
The package was cleverly contriyed
combination Of powder, bullets and
matches which had been so arranged
that had the governor opened it in
the ordinary way there is little doubt
it would have killed him.
That the death dealing package was
intercepted before it had reached its
destination was due to the vigilance
Of the postal officials. who have
scanned the governors mail with un-
usual care since the executives recent
crusade against violation of the law
at Atlantic City.
Cause of Attempt
The attitude taken by the governor
when he directed that the excise and
other similar laws at the great seaside
resort be strictly enforced, and even
threatened to order out the militia il
necessary, aroused resentment in some
quarters.
TO guard the governor as much as
possible from any annoyance arising
from that affair, unusual watch was
put on his mail.
Several days ago when a package
Of somewhat unusual shape was found
to bear insufficient postage it was
taken by a clerk to one Of the postal
inspectors.
The inspector became more Inn
. IL. ftf
the package than by the shortage OF
stamps and at once wrote the COVER
nor informing him that a package OF
suspicious appearance addressed TO
him was being held at the office. The
inspector asked for permission TO open
it without forwarding it to its des-
tination.
Package Is Opened
The permission was given at once.
Exercising the greatest care, the in
spector and his assistants removed the
wrappings from the package to fnd
that their worst fears were confirmed.
1t was real Internal machine, crude,
but so cleverly constructed that 1t was
capable of doing tremendous damage.
1t contained quantity of powder with
bullets, with matches so arranged that
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 appar-
ent from an examination of the con-
tents of the package. On bit of paper
he had written a message to the gov
ernor which read:
please notify us promptly of any
chance in your postohice address"
Another read: You will know me
better after we are acquainted"
Another line by which it is believed
the sender sought to give the impress
sion that the machine was sent by a
foe of constitutional government in
stead of a personal enemy of the gov
ernor reads;
Against Government
"And the gun against this rotten gov
ernment."
Governor Fort said today he did not
care to discuss the matter in any way.
1T speaks for ITSELF" was the only
comment he would make when he was
questioned about his narrow escape.
Pieces on the wrapped package are now
n the possession of the governor, hav-
ng been forwarded to him by the post
,ffice inspectors who intercepted it.
1t was learned here today that the
officials of the Philadelphia a postoffice
nave arranged to make a close exam
nation in the future of all packages
addressed to the governor.
Every package of any kind which
caches the Philadelphia office bearing
he governors address will be submit
ed to inspectors and officially passed
before it will be posted to the gov
rnor.