Omaha daily bee., 1909-02-17
ROBDER ARMED WITH BOMB
Attempt to Extort 81 900 from Kansas
City Merchant Fails.
HOLDS WHOLE FAMILY AT BAY
Lawrence NJ. Jones of Jones Dry
Goods Co.. Intended Victim, over
powers Bandit, who Says He
Came from Omaha.

KANSAS CITY Feb. l6-Armed with
revolver in one hand and dynamite bomb
in the other a man. apparently about 20
years OF age. today entered the home of
Lawrence NJ. Jones. president of the Jones
Bros Dry Goods compan. of this city, and
demanded 5000 BY ruse Mr. Jones over
powered the man. who was arrested. At
the police station the bomb thrower gave
the name OF c. Fl. Garnett He said he was
40 years OF age.
The man appeared at the Jones home. 26Is
Troost avenue, shortly before noon and
asked for Mr.. Jones' He was shown to the
library. Mr.. Jones. who was in another
part Of the house. upon entering the library
was confronted by the intruder's revolver
The man told Mr.. Jones to be seated. He
then drew from under his overcoat a dyna-
mite bomb. He expIaiDesf to Mr.. Jones that
unless the latter gave him sI,o00 he would
Immediately blow him into atoms.
In an endeavor to cssrass man Mr.. Jones
talked with him over haif hour. Mrs.
Jones, feeling apprehensive on account of
her husbands long interview. entered the
library at this point. The intruder ordered
her to be seated. The conversation was re-
sumed. Chester !. Jones. secretary OF the
Jones company, son, followed his mother
and he. too, was ordered TO be seated
Mr.. Jones then suggested that as he
did not have the necessary, funds in the
house the man accompany him to the
bank. This was agreed to. As the paf-
were passing through the lower hall. Mr.
Jones stepped suddenly back and, placing
his foot in front Of his visitor. hurled him
to the floor. Mr.. Jones and his son then
overpowered the man and. stripping him of
his weapons. called the police The bomb
did not explode when the intruder fell
Al the police station il was said that the
officers had not investigated the bomb and
would not.
Mr.. Jones is one OF the best known dry
goods merchants of the country. He Is
reputed to be worth over 100000.
Intended 10 Kidnap Jones.
At the police station the man said he
planned. after securing the money from
Mr.. Jones. to take him to Independence,
suburb, where he would have chained him
up in a house he had fitted up for the
purpose He said he had been planning
the scheme for several months.
With his arms folded and his SLOUGH hat
pulled down over his eyes, Garnett stood.
surly and defiant in his cell at the Flora
Am / sorry for what I've done?'' he
said. No, I'm not. The only thing I'm
sorry for is that I didn't Kill myself be-
fore the officers got me.
Three months ago I quit my Job in
On aha and decided that as soon as my
money ran out ia kill myself. came to
Karsa City January 2S.
Yes. I've had family troubles. and bust
ness troubles. too.
Garnett acknowledged that the name
given TO the police was fictitious. He said
he had no intention Of telling his real
name, even at his trial
Tried Suicide in Omaha.
Garnett continued;
About ten days ago when my funds got
low, decided that the time had come for
me to quit this world I took the revolver
had bought in Omaha and went out on a
bridge that spans the Missouri. Just as !
was about to kill myself the thought came
to me that l stin had one more chance-h
could get only a few thousand dollars.
The thought then came 70 me to make an
Internal machine. l went TO a hardware
store at Independence and purchased ten
sticks OF dynamite. Then I decided TO con-
struct a box. / believed this would scare
my victim I had no intention of harming
anyone. l simply wanted money"
Garnett said he rented a house in Inde-
pendence and constructed many chains
with which TO chain Mr.. Jones had he been
successful The police have been unable
10 find the house.
Mr. Jones said this afternoon that when
Garnett first presented himself az his door
he said his name was d. Jones and that
he came from Grand Island. Neb.
While no one in Omaha could be found
who knows c. H Garnett IL appears as a
coincidence that when James Fee at
tempted TO take 500 from Luther Drake,
president OF the Merchants National bank.
by the use OF a bottle OF Missouri river
water and told the same kind OF story as
Garnett told. was captured by the Omaha
police, the first thing he said was: II
came from Kansas city, where I was on.
OF work, and decided 10 kill myself"
Presfdenf's Name on Ballot.
DEs MONIES. Ia, Feb. Is.-Ths senate
OF the Iowa legislature passed a bill today
taking the name Of the prssidsnt and vice |