Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-05-08
BOMB IS FOUND
UNDER CHAIR IN
FANEDST.PAUL' S
Internal Machine Wrapped
in Suffrage Paper Placed
Near Bishops Throne in
Ancient Cathedral.
DEFECTIVE CLOCK
SAVES THE EDIFICE

Failure Of Mechanism to
Explode Charge at Mid
night as Timed, Prevents
Great Damage.
london, May An attempt to
wreck the ancient st, Paul's cathedral
by bomb early today is attributed
to the militant suffragettes. The
verger who conducts sightseers
through the massive edifice was max
Ing his rounds at about o'clock this
morning when he heard ticking
sound near the high altar. Upon In
vestigation he found hidden a heavy
parcel done up in brown paper. He
Immediately placed it in water and
handed 1t over to the police. who
found sufYragette newspaper wrap
ped up with bomb.
This attempt and the placing Of
two other bombs in other parts of the
city this morning made it appear that
the militant suffragettes had entered
anew on their havoc-working CAM
paign following the defeat Of the wom-
an suffrage bill in the house of COM
mons last night. Shortly after the
discovery at the cathedral the police
found similar bomb-like package on
the steps, Of q newspaper Office in
Fleet street. and tin canister, be-
lieved to contain explosives, was pick
cd up on the steps Of a wholesale
drug establishment near st. Paul's.
No arrests were made following the
discovery and 1t is doubtful II the
police have clues to the identity Of
the bomb throwers. The i various
parcels are awaiting examinations by
experts.
Bomb Filled With sslues.
The bomb from the cathedral was
examined at the Bridewell police sta
ton and later at the horne Office by
government experts
The bomb was painted black and
contained two detonators attached
to an electric battery. It was filed
with slugs Of a hard black substance
resembling coal. There is no doubt
tthe police say, that it was placed in
position by militant suffragettes or
persons in their employ.
ID The general public is admitted to
fhe choir. Of st, Paul's between II
o'clock in the morning and half past
Three In the afternoon. The cathe-
iral was closed entirely at 6 o'clock
Vast evening and 1t appears certain
HAT the bomb was deposited before
S4at hour It was found beneath a
Ichair beside the bishops throne at
the head Of the choir The dean con-
Quoted even.song near the bishops
throne last evening but neither he
nor the verger then noticed the pack
age or heard the ticking.
Plain clothes policemen have been
on duty in ST. Paul's for several
weeks for the express purpose of pre-
venting militant sufiragette outbreaks
but they observed nothing wrong last
night.
Several parts of the cathedral, U.S.
ually opened to the public, were
closed today.
Accident Saved Edifcs.
Small but fendishly powerful" is the
police officers description of the bomb
found near the high altar of st. Paul's
cathedral this morning. When the ma
chine was taken to pieces 1t was dis
midnight but arrangement Of the
clock works retarded the explosion. APP
parently only this accident prevented
.ntolI damage to the cathedral.
A number Of brass scews. nails and
coarse metal slugs were found among
the contents.
Arson Squads are Active.
Suffragette larson squads" were
also busy early this morning They
burned down pavilion on the
cricket field OF Bishops Park, Full
ham, In the west end of London and
also set fire to an unoccupied house
1t Finchley in the north OF London.
Sufiragette placards and quantities Of
chemicals were found in the vicinity
of both fires.
Another mysterious fire broke out
ct q timber yard at Lambeth today,
the fourth, Of this kind in London
within a few days. 1t was extinguish-
ed before much damage had been
done.