The Oskaloosa herald., 1909-02-18
MILLIONAIRE NABs
BOMB TERRORIST
WIFE AIDS IN DESPERATE BAT
TIE FOR LIFE.
PLOT TO ARDuoT FolLED
Lawrence NJ. Jones Of Kansas Cit,
Captures Man Who Threatens
to Blow Him to

/ oay Dy revolver and q dynamite
bomb In the hands of a determined
stranger who obtained entrance to his
home yesterday, Lawrence M. Jones,
president Of the Jones Bros. Dry Goods
Company, and one of the wealthiest
merchants in the city, was given the
alternative of death upon failure to
hand over $1,000. He overpowered the
man in a desperate struggle after his
wife and son had also been brought
to face death at the hands of the
blackmailer. .rsa
In the arrest of the man, who gave
his name as G. H. Garnett of Omaha.
the police believe a well laid plot to
extort money from several wealthy
men has been barred. Following the
confession of the prisoner, a house in
a lonely spot in Independence was
explored and found to have been pre-
pared as prison for the mans in
tended victims. Secret closets were
found in which heavy chains, fastened
to rings in the walls, were found.
along with strong padlocks and bars.
Garnett said that the house had been
rented and the prison like features
installed so that his victims might be
held until he had obtained what money
possible and made his escape. !
Garnett who, however, says that the
name is assumed, gained entrance to
the Jones residence shortly before
noon by saying that he was relative
of the family from Iowa. Mr.. Jones
was in his library attending to some
correspondence. Interrupted by the
opening of the door, he looked up into
the muzzle of the revolver in Garnett's
right hand. Coolly advising the mer-
chant to make no cutlery, Garrett took
deadly looking black box from be-
meath his coat and informed Mr..
Jones that it contained several pounds
Of dynamite.
| Gives Alternative of Death.
Il do not value my own life and
II you care to live you had better hand
over $1,000" the man told the mer-
chant. IF you do not / will drop the
bomb on the floor" ...#- -.
For half an hour the merchant en-
deavored to dissuade Garnett, playing
Tor time. Curious at the visitors long
stay, Mrs. Jones entered the library.
Tersely Garrett ordered her to a seat
and advised her against cutlery. A
few minutes later Mr.. Jones' son
Chester, secretary of the firm, also
came into the room, and was held at
revolver's point while Garnett reiter-
ated his demands for the money.
In apparent acquiescence Mr.. Jones
said that he would obey Garnett's com.
mands, but declared that he would
have to go to the bank for the amount.
Garrett agreed to accompany him in
an automobile. ,.
At the front door Mr. Jones sudden
" tripDed up Garrett and they en-
gagged In desperate struggle. The
bomb was dropped, but did not ex.
plode. Down the steps the two men
rolled. s..
Chester, the son, was upon the in
truder before he could recover. The
young man seized the mans pistol in
one hand just as the trigger was
pulled. The weapon failed to explode.
Mrs. Jones then ran In close and
seized the bag containing the bomb,
which she carried to the house. An
| examination of il showed that the
matches had ignited but failed to ex-
| plode. m....
Garnett says he planned to make
The late J. K. Burnham, also wealthy
Try goods man, his victim. At the
Brigham home he learned that Mr..
BL.nham had been dead two years.
Following Garnett's statement, the
police found the house where Garnett
proposed to imprison Mr.. Jones after
getting the money. 1t is a small
rame affair in independence, Mo-, a
suburb.
Heavy Chains in Prison.
A closet on the second floor OF the
house was rugged up as a prison. A
-arge screw ring was set into the wall
,bout four feet from the floor. A
,hain, with links OF one-quarter of an
nch in thickness was attached so that
about three feet of the chain fell on
,ither side. At each end Of the chain
was new lock. These were for Mr..
fones' arms On the floor, just inside
he door was the second chain,
zach end Of which had lock.
3arnett had made a bench that Just
lifted into the closet. 1t was Of sum
,ient height so that when the victim
sat down he could have been securely
,hained in place. The house is In a
secluded spot.
The amazing plot which may have
,ost the lives of Mr. Jones and his
amily, is being investigated by every
available detective on the police force.
t is believed that the merchant and
he late Mr.. Burnham were not the
,nly names on Garnett,s list, and that
IFS was scheme which was TO mum.
,er several of the clty's foremost citi-
lens among its victims.
Mr.. Jones is one of the best known
Try goods merchants OF the country.
he IL reputed to be worth over a mil
lon dollars. He was delegate to the
'ecent national waterways conven-
Ion at washington. He has been con
lpicuous In Republican political cir
laa IN Miaanurt w.