Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-07-30
CAPITOL CLOSELY GUARDED
Other Government Buildings Are
Also Being Watched.
WILL USE DYNAMITE, HE SAYS
Letter Signed Zone Who Has Been
Abused" and Promises to
Shock Congress.

Threats to explode twelve pounds of
dynamite in one Of the public buildings
in Washington where Congress would
feel the shock have been keeping the
police of the city on the anxious seat for
several days.
Speaker Champ Clark of the House re-
ceived the letter making the dire promise
of destruction.
An investigation of the Washington
navy yard must be started by Thursday
of last week, the letter stated. if the
shock of the explosion was not to he
felt. The writer described himself as a
discharged employe of the local navy
yard, but did no; give further clues to his
identity other than to sign himself ''One
who has been abused"
Since the receipt of the letter members
of the Capitol police force and of the
city force guarding the Capitol buildings
have been specially assigned to watch
for suspicious persons Every visitor to
any of the buildings was scrutinized with
special care, and during the night, the
force of bluecoats and plain-clothes men
around the buildings was increased. Not
an entrance to the buildings was left
unguarded. and the policemen kept NOV
ing rapidly in patrollng the sides Of all
of the structures.
The letter did not reach Speaker Clark
personally. 1t was received by Private
Secretary Bassford. and as soon as he
saw its alarming threats he hurried 1t
over to the doorkeeper of the House of
Representatives. Joseph Sinnott
The chief of the Capitol police was soon
told of the threatened destruction. and
Police Chief Richard Sylvester was seen
at his office by Mr.. Sinnott.
After the conference between the
two officials, it was determined that
special precautions were necessary and
Maj. Sylvester stirred the police OF the
sixth and fifth precincts, in which re-
spectively are located the Senate and
House office buildings. by calling their
commanding officers by telephone and
ordering extraordinary protection around
the Capitol buildings
Special precautions were ordered for
Thursday night, as the letter mentioned
Thursday as the last day of grace to be
allowed for the beginning of the investi-
CATION When that night passed without
| incident. Capitol and police officials
| breathed somewhat easier, but their Wig
lance was not decreased one whit. Now.
officials are inclined not to take the letter
so seriously.
No Arrests Have Been Made.
Up to a late hour last night no ar
rests had been made by the police. Re-
ports from the officers doing duty around
the buildings indicate that they have seen
no suspicious persons lettering around,
and as no trouble of that kind has been
encountered the alarm is subsiding
AS no particular public building was
mentioned in the letter, 1t is understood
the captains of the watch of the several
departmental Office structures were eau
toned to be on the lookout.
Searches of the public buildings for
the explosive that the writer intimated
he had concealed in one of them have
so far proved in vain, and the reports
are that part Of the letter has no
foundation in fact.
Threatening Letter Received.
Many threatening letters are received
by the officials of the Senate and the
House at different times, but no special
attention is paid to the big majority
Of them, because they come from per-
sons who are not in Washington. But
as this latest epistle indicated that it
was from a Washingtonian it was
thought special attention should be given
to it.
ts the outgrowth of the investigation
which was started by one of the House
committees recently into affairs at the
local navy yard. Considerable feeling
was displayed during the inquiry, and 1t
is thought one Of the navy yard employees
interested In that probe may have writ
ter the letter.
In issuing his instructions for spe-
c,al precautions in guarding the Capt.
toI buildings during the last few days.
Maj. Sylvester did not give any rea-
son There were many con1ectures
among the policemen. Some thought
that members Of Congress had become
tired of annoyances on the part of per-
sons Interested in special legislation
now pending N Congress and had ask
ed the aid Of the police.