The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-09-13
Rv Associated Press.

Sea Gfrt. n. j., Sept. ian at
tempt to assassinate Governor Fort oil
New Jersey has been thwarted by the
watehfulness of post office employees
who discovered in the mails an infer
nal 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 il would have killed him.
That the death-dealing package was
interrupted before ii had reached its
destination was due to the vigilance
of the postal officials who have scan
ned the governors mali with unusual
care since the executives recent cru
sade against violation of the law at
Atlantic City. The attitude taken by
the governor when he directed that
the laws at the great sea side resort
be strictly enfor6sd and even threat
ened to order out the militia if neces-
sary to that end, aroused great recent
ment in some quarters. 1t was 10
guard the governor as much as pos
sible 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 in
sufficient postage it was taken by
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 once wrote the COVER
nor informing him that a package of
suspicious appearance was being held
&t the office. The Inspector asked for
termisSion TO open without forward
ing IL TO its destination. The permits
sion was given at once Exercising
the greatest care the inspector and
his assistants removed the wTappinSs
from the instrument to find that their
worst fears were confirmed Ii was a
real internal machine, crude, but so
rcleverly constructed that IL was cap
able of doing tremendous damage.
That the sender of the machine had
"a grim sense of humor became appar-
ent from an expressiop of the con-
tents of the package. On bit OF
paper ne had written a message to
the governor which read:
Please notify as promptly of any
change in your postoffive address"
Another read: 'TYou will know me
better after we are acquainted"
Another line, by which il is believed
the sender sought to give the impress
sion that the machine was sent by
foe or constitutional government IN
stead of a personal enemy Of the gov
'Srnor. read:
And the gun against this rotten
government"
Governor Fort said today that he
did not care to discuss the matter in
any way. II speaks for itself, was
the only comment he would make
when he was questioned about his mar
row escape. Pieces of the wrapper
from the package are now In posses
sion of the governor. having been for
varded to him by the postofice in
spector who intercepted it.
II was learned here today that the
officials OF the Philadelphia Postof.ice
have arranged to make a close exam
ination in the future of all packages
addressed to the governor. Every
package of any kind which reaches
the Philadelphia Office bearing the
GsverRor's address will be submitted
TO inspectors and officially passed on
before il will be permitted TO reach
the governor.