American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1916-12-28
BOMB FOUND AT HONE
OF GOVERNOR OF UTAH
Bomb Similar In Construction to One
That Killed Steunenberg--L. w. w.
Suspected.

A bomb of deadly proportions and
design was found at a corner of Gov
ernor William Spry's residence in
Salt Lake Christmas morning at 1880
o'clock.
1t was uncovered by R. F.. Neslen
OF 372 First avenue as he was sweep
ing path through the snow between
his own residence and that of the
governor, the two buildings being
slightly more than yard apart.
Later examination of the bomb by
Sheriff John S. Corless and State
Chemist Herman Harms leads to the
conclusion on their part that it was
not only of deadly construction, but
that 1t contained enough nitro-glycer-
In and other explosive material to
have blown both residences to atoms.
Governor Not at Home.
Governor Spry was not at home.
though his wife, son, daughter-in-law
and niece were in the house. The
governor was expected home at 4:45
O'Clock Sunday afternoon, returning
from the convention of governors in
New York, but because of the delay
OF trains by storms he did not arrive
until o'clock yesterday afternoon.
1t is believed by the sheriff and
police that the bomb was placed at
ii o'clock at the residence of James
+. Jennings, 425 East South Temple
street, in the immediate neighbor-
hood. The theory of the police is
that the explosion at the jennings
residence was provided to attract at
tention away from the residence of
the governor while the second bomb
was placed.
j. W. w. Are Blamed.
The Internal machine is believed to
have been placed by persons deter
mined to achieve revenge for the ex-
ecution of Joseph Hillstrom, who was
shot November 10, 1915, after Cover
nor Spry had steadfastly refused to
interfere with the course of the law,
though many therats had been made
, against his life should he permit the
execution of the notorious |. w. w.
member.
Hillstrom was convicted of the
Staying of John G. Morrison and his
son, j. Airing Morrison, at the Morri-
son grocery store, Eighth South and
West Temple streets in an attempt
to rob the place with a confederate.
The confederate was never caught.
Following the execution of Hill
strom, the governors mail was for
months filled with threats of ven
geance, most of them coming appar-
emily from members of the |. w. w.
for which organization Hillstrom had
been a popular song writer.
Chemist to Examine.
When he uncovered the bomb. Mr..
Neslen had just discarded a shovel
for broom. He had stopped shovel
ing snow to pick up a morning aper
and toss it upon the porch of the gov
ernor's residence out of the snow. Re-
suming work, he took up broom in
stead of the shovel, for which he was
afterward thankful when he learned
the nature of that which the broom
cleared of the concealing snow. 1t is
thought that a blow from shovel
might have caused the bomb to ex-
plode.
Two vials of what is thought to be
nitro-glycerin were extracted from
the bomb and turned over to the state
chemist for testing. A third vial, found
sealed, is believed to have contained
picric acid, designed to eat through /
a copper covering and until it should
come into contact with and explode a
Illuminating cap.