Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-10
An Anarchists "Bomb"
Under the White House

OF the locally interesting BOOKS
published during the year just
passed was Fun and Pathos OF
One Life from the pen OF Mr. James T.
Dubois OF the State Department. Mr.
Dubois, who has made Washington his
home for many years. and is one OF tho
best known citizens OF the capital. I'm
this entertaining volume sketches n life
experience with enjoyable cleverness and
humor. The career OF young man who
starts by vending Bibles In the neighbor-
hood of his home ard later enters the
United States consular service is outlined.
A particularly interesting chapter is that
called "A Dandymite Clock at the White
House. in which Mr.. Dubois tells of an
occurrence during the administration Of
President Grant as follows:
After graduating Jack Stanley went TO
the National capital TO finish his law
studies, and I'm order to meet expenses he
secured a position daily newspaper.
One night during the time he was EN-
ployed as night editor a reporter, labor
ing under excitement, rushed into his
room and handed him sheet Of paper
upon which was written, y, Edwin b.
Screvin, do hereby certify that the box
containing the dynamite clock has been
placed under the White House timed to
explode at II o'clock tonight, for which
according to agreement, by the man In
the red sweater"
The Mysterious Stranger.
MY brother was sitting in the read
ing room OF Wizards Hotel this even
ing" said the reporter. when a man en-
tered, sat down at one of the tables and
commenced writing. His nervous manner
attracted my brothers attention, for he
wrote something. read it, and then tore
it up, then he took another sheet, wrote
something hurriedly. read 1t, and instantly
destroyed it. He wrote again, looked II
over, pushed the sheet aside, and it slip
ped under a newspaper that lay upon the
table. He then took the fourth sheet.
wrote again. read it over carefully sealed
it in an envelope and left the place ap-
parently under marked excitement. My
brother went TO the table, lifted the
newspaper, found this document, and
gave it to me-"
The managing editor was consulted, and
instructed Jack to probe the affair to
the bottom, as it was known that several
letters containing threats and warnings
had recently been received at the White
House. visit to the hotel proved that
Screvin had registered there and taken a
room in which was found the card of an
anarchist suspect Screvin had disappear
ed. Jack FASTENED to the White House,
as it was nearing midnight and presented
the mysterious document TO Marshai
Sharpe who read it carefully. stepped into
the Presidents room, and returned in
moment with Gen. Grant who looked the
document over grimly, smiled and sald
that he did not think an investigator
necessary, as he was used 10 sueh ie.leis.
But" he said to the marshal. whatever
Won do / would not like to have SEN
sational think like this published in the
newspapers" The marshal insisted on
making an investigation and the general
smiled and said: "All right, do as you
please: but if the dynamite goes off don,
60 with it, as l need you in my business.
Thought Bomb Had Exploded.
The male personnel on duty was then
summoned and ordered to make careful
search of the basement. 1t was grim
and gloomy place in those days. In one
of the rooms an old messenger who had
made similar searches before picked up
unnoticed a small paper bag, inflated IL
with his breath, and just as a colored
man, who was carrying lantern pusneo
over an empty wine cask he exploded the
bag The lantern went one way ana inc
colored man another, crying. Lord.
mercy dat dar dandymite clock done gone
struck"
| when the basement had been searched
without further results than tils ep
ROOM which was the only one on the Iirst
floor that had been opened TO the pupliS
that day. Jack tested many dark anu
secluded spots with his walking SUCK.
and. while standing at the south end or
| the room in the act of pushing ms cane
under heavy curtain whose 1oios Ies.e este
| on the floor, President Grant ehtefeu.
and, with an amused expression on ms
| face silently watched the scene. Pres
entity Jacks cane struck something ma
den beneath the curtain which gave fortn
ST hn
a sharp metallic sound; ne stepped r par
quickly and the President said, Don't
! let it go off before you do, and, stepping
up. he lifted the curtain and there on
| the carpet, empty and alone, lay d
whisky hottie of the CommoneSt SORT
The President looked at it a moment ana
laughingly said: We'll, the dynamite IN
that clock seems to have gone off with
the anarchist that brought IL.
Caught Their Man.
This ended the search at the White
House, but the marshal insisted that the
man who wrote the letter must be found
Detectives were put on the tran. lhey
discovered that Screvin had taken cap
to the railway station soon after lie lett
the reading room, having inquired about
the train TO Baltimore. This was clue.
The detectives obtained a description or
the cuIprit ard FASTENED to Baltimore 10
find their man. Early in the dawn the
keen-eyed sleuths entered the bar OF a
small hotel near the railway station.
stepped quickly up to man who was
putting himself on the outside or three
| fingers of gin. and. tapping him On the
shoulder. said:
"Screvin, you are wanted in Washing
| ton"
| What for" cried Screvin. in surprise.
You are the author Of this anarchis-
tic letter That's your writing, Is 1t mott?
and the detective showed him the docu-
ment.
| Yes" said Screvin, Its and faint.
| IF YOU look closely you will find two
different handwritings. l wrote i, Ed
| win B. Screyin, do hereby certify that
/ the box containing-- there my hand
writing ceases and the forger's begins.
| I wrote the first part OF that letter to
certify to a firm in New York that / had
deposited "A box containing some valu-
| able papers with Washington trust
company but. not satisfied with the
| wording. / threw it aside and some chap.
| for a practical joke. has done the rest
and the Washington police at the same
time"
A close examination proved the for
eerv and the detectives returned to
| Washington to run down the forger. He
was the brother of the reporter and had
left for the far south as soon as he found
| that his proposed newspaper sensation
had assumed such large official proper
tionS
Ancient Smart Sets.