Omaha daily bee., 1912-03-18
Explosion in Home OF Judge Rosal-
sky Similar to One that Killed
Helen Taylor.
INTERNAL MACHINES ARE ALIKE
Dirt Clogging Mechanism Saved the
Intended Victim.
INSANE MAN PENETRATEs GUARD
Creates Sensation When He Insists
on Seeing Judge.
THREATENING LETTERS SENT
Police Inspectors Busily Engaged in
Searching for Postmsn who De-
liyercd Package Inspector
Egan Has Narrow Escape.

liyercd Package Inspector
Egan Has Narrow Escape.
NEW YORK, March 1.-THE home OF
Judge Otto A. Rosalsky Of the court OF
general sessions. where bomb delivered
him exploded last night, was the scene
today Of renewed excitement caused by
the appearance of man who wildly
kicked at the door and demanded ad-
mittance.
The stranger was a shabblly dressed
man who forced his way past the hall
Attendants in the apartment building on
Riverside drive and climbed six flights
Of stairs to see Judge Rosalsky, about
some fancled grievance Of persecution
by the tobacco trust" Police were
called and the man was taken to Belle
vue for observation as to his sanity. He
gave his name as Wolf Berman and his
business as that Of cigar maker.
The police believed him TO be insane.
bue harmless. and in no wise connected
with the attempt made on Judge Rosal-
sky's life with the bomb.
Inspector Owen Egan OF the bureau of
conbustibles who was injured while ex-
amining the bomb in the judges library,
insisted on leaving the hospital today. al
though he suffered pain from a mangled
hand and torn face. With face and
hands bandaged, he Joined a score OF the
best detectives in the police department
In investigating the bomb mystery. II
was, intimated that the detectives were
working on important clues suggested by
further talks with Judge Rosalsky.
Judge viii Not Talk.
To newspaper men the Judge would not
express himself more fully than he did
last night, when he declared he had no
particular suspicion Of any one, but ad-
mitted that he had received many threat
ening letters, one at the time he sentenced
Carlessi, forger. TO twelve years In
prison two weeks ago. This threat was
10 blow up the criminal courts building.
As to any suggestion that the bomb
sending might have any connection with
the Folke Il. Brandt case. In which Rosal-
sky sentenced the former valet Of Mortl-
net j. schlff 20. the .thirty-yssr .trrp
over which there has lately been such a
controversy, the judge would say nothlne'
Postal inspectors have Joined detectives
in the search for the letter carrier who
delivered the bomb yesterday,
similarity In Bombs.
Another feature Of the investigation was
a comparison OF the Rosalsky bomb with
one which killed Helen Taylor in her
home on February 3. The police never
cleared up that mystery.
Similarity in the construction OF the
two bombs is said 10 be remarkable In
some particulars.
Both bombs bore typewriter addresses
on white paper pasted on to a manila
paper wrapper The boxes were about Of
the same size and each contained two
tiny electric batteries and a spring ar
rangement designed to produce an electric
spark when the cover was removed. That
this did not work when Judge Rosalsky
opened the box last night is believed to
have been due 10 small particles of dirt
which had accumulated about the spring.
Inspector Egan. who was examining the
bomb when 1t exploded. believes he owes
his life TO the fact that the inside pockets
of his coat were stuffed with heavy docu-
ments. Without this protection he be-
leves some OF the slugs fran the bomb
would have torn into his body. His coat
was torn and several slugs were found
lodged against the papers,
Comes by Mail.
The bomb came by mail and was de-
livered by a postman to Judge Rosalsky' 8
apartments on Riverside drive at about
40 o'clock this afternoon. II was ac-
cepted by the colored maid and placed
on the table in Judge Rosalsky's library
to await his coming. There was nothing
of suspicious character to the package.
Its dimensions were about sxlx4 inches,
and IT was neatly done up in brown
wrapping paper bearing the picture OF
a department store The address was
typewriter An hour later Judge Ro-
salsky reached home and unsuspectingIy
began to open the package while talking
TO his wife. He took off the wrapper and
found plain, white pasteboard box.
Judge Rosalsky's own story Of what hap
pened follows:
Il took the cover off without the slight
est care. My first glimpse at the contents
Of the box was enough. backed out
of the room as quick as my feet would
carry me, calling out to my wife and
brother Why. It's bomb. Its bomb
I ordered that no one go near the library.
Some one suggested that we put the bomb
In water.
Il said: No. no one but an expert shall
handle it. there are some machines that
go off when submerged in water
Il telephoned police headquarters a spe-
cisl request for an expert on bombs Egan
came with David /. Kelly. superintendent
OF the bureau Of coTnoustIbies.
Be careful told Egan. as be picked
up the open box, you have the real thing
there. Why take any chances by tinker
ing with 1t here? Have Il taken where
you can make the usual expert tests
on IL.
Explosion Follows.
But Egsn went to work. examining the
bomb cautiously. He took out a little
wad, Of tissue paper which l believe con-
talned Illuminating mercury. l was called
out TO the telephone and a moment later
heard the bomb go off. rushed in and
found Egsn staggering about. bleeding
profusely. The index finger Of his right
hand had been blown off and the whole
hand mangIed. His face was full Of
Continued on Second fSge.)
Y