The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-09-12
Suspicious of the Postal Au.
thOrities at Once Aroused.
DID NOT GET TO HIM.
Opened by Inspectors in the
Philadelphia Office.
COntrivance Contained Powder,
Bullets and Matches.

Seaglrt, N. j., Sept. 12.-An attempt
to assassinate Governor Fort of New
Jersey. has been thwarted by the
watchfulness of postoff1ce employees,
who discovered in the mails an in
fernal machine addressed to the COVER
nor. The package was cleverly con-
trived combination of powder, bullets
and matches. which had been so ar
| ranged 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 inter-
cepted before it had reached it's 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
violation OF the law at Atlantic City.
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 to that end aroused great re-
sentiment in some quarters. 1t was to
guard the governor as Nuch as posi-
BILE from any annoyance arising from
that affair that the 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 be-
came more impressed by the shape and
condition of the package than by the
shortage of stamps and at once wrote
the governor informing him that
package of suspicious appearance ad-
dressed to him was being held at the
office. The inspector asked for permis-
sion to open it without forwarding 1t
to it's destination. The permission was
given at once.
Wrapper Removed.
Exercising the greatest care the in
spector and his assistants removed the
wrappings from the package to find
that their worst fears were confirmed.
1t was a real internal machine, crude
but so cleverly constructed that 1t was
capable of doing tremendous damage.
1t contained g. quantity 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 appar-
ent from an examination OF the con-
tents of the package. On bit of paper
he had written message to the COVER
nor which read:
please notify US promptly of any
change in your postoffice 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
foe of constitutional government in
stead of a personal enemy of the gov
ernor reads:
And the gun against this rotten gov
ernment."
Governor Fort said today that he did
not care to discuss the matter in any
1T speaks for ITSELF was the only
comment he would make when he was
questioned about his narrow escape
Pieces of the wrapper from the pack
age are now in the possession of the
governor. having been forwarded to
him by the postoffice inspector who in
tercepted 1t.
1t was learned here today that the
officials of the Philadelphia postofhce
have arranged to make a close exami- |
nation in future of all packages ad- |
dressed to the governor. Every pack |
age of every kind which reaches the |
Philadelphia office bearing the gov
ernor's address will be submitted to IN
spectors and officially passed before it |
will be permitted to reach the gov
ernor.
Mailed in Philadelphia.
Philadelphia, Sept. 12.-The postal in |
spectors in this city admit that they |
are investigating the mailing of an in
fernal machine in this city to Governor |
Fort, of New Jersey, but VIII discuss |
however, that the postal authorities
have little hope of catching the person |
who mailed the package.
The package was mailed on August |
rs, the day after Governor Fort issued |
his proclamation regarding the sale OF |
liquor on Sunday in Atlantic City. The |
device was contained in an ordinary |
two cent government envelope and the |
Philadelphia authorities had their at |
tention attracted to it because its |
weight required the placing of a two |
cent stamp on it. Becoming suspicious |
the postal inspectors were notified and |
after an examination of the package, |
w. D. Ryan, an inspector, wrote Gov |
ernor Fort as follows:
1--WE have in our possession a sealed /
package withdraw from the mails in |
this office addressed to you at Seagirt.
N. ]. Your name and address has ap-
parently been cut from a newspaper.
1t is supposed this package contains an
explosive of some sort and as it is
sealed 1 will thank you to advise me as
to the disposition you wish made of the
same. BY your permission I shall
open the package in question and
should it contain nonexplosive sub
stance and something of value I shall
forward same to you under official
cover"
Governor Fort replied that he wished
the authorities to open the package and
forward him the contents no matter
whether the contents were of value or
not.
rpso,,1o for tho VxTo1Ir,ov. l.