Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-12-19
ATTEMPT MADE TO KILL
GOVERNOR OF CALIFORNIA
Powerful Explosive Bomb Wreck,
Entire Rear End of Execu-
tive Mansion.
SOUND HEARD ALL OVER CITY
Believed That Twenty to Twenty.
Five sticks OF Dynamite Were
Fscd-Mcn Seen Fleeing From
House Following Explosion.
tBy Associated Press,

SACRAMENTO. CAL. December II
What Is believed 10 have been an
attempt to kill Governor William ID.
Stephens by means OF . powerful ex-
plostro bomb at midnight last night
resulted in the wrackinS OF the exccu-
tive mansion. the entire rear end of
the building being blown out. The Gov
ernor and Mrs. Stephens. as we'll as
tho household servants were asleep at
tho time. and all escaped injury.
Two men were seen fleeing from the
house Immediately after the explosion.
The defamation Of the explosion was
heard all over tho city, and window,
were broken by the force OF It two or
three blocks away. It was believed
that from twenty 10 twenty-five sticks
OF dynamite were used.
Governor and Mrs. Stephens were
asleep In the wing OF the house nd.
Joining the spot where the explosion
occurred, but beyond a nervous shock.
they were unframed.
The attempt occurred Just as the
guard was being changed. H Claussen.
ono of the watchmen, was the FIRST on
the scene. having passed the spot but
a few minutes before the explosion.
| Claussen said he was certain there was
nothing unusual occurring on the
grounds He expressed the opinion
| that the explosive was thrown from An
alley which runs along the rear OF
the house at q distance OF about forty
foot from tho porch under which tho
charge was set on.
ENTIRE WALL UP TO SECOND
STORY is BLOWN AWAY
hole several feet in depth and at
ground beneath bay window at the
rear Of the structure. and the entire
wall up TO the second story was blown
away. The entire ne!ghborhood was
aroused. and a crowd was on the scene
a few minutes after the explosion.
There was scarcely a house In ths
block which was not affected
A clue as TO the perpetrators was
given to the police by the Rev. Frazer
Lnngford. pastor OF a church, who re-
ported that four months ago q man was
noticed lurking about the executive
mansion. and that he continued to
| haunt tho locality until week aIo,
when no disappeared.
According to my judgment" said
Governor Stephens. the bomb was
thrown from the alleyway about forty
feet TO the rear Of the mansion, and
did not light as far under the house
as it's owner had intended am
strengthened in this statement by tho
fact that tho back gates were both
locked as usual, and the Waterman had
visited tho basement Just few
minutes before the explosion occurred.
He says that when he passed the steps
he turned his nash!ight on the place
where indications prove the bomb was
placed. and at that time there was
nothing there"
The Governor was probably the
caimest OF the group that surveyed the
wrecked mansion.
Detectives searched downtown room
ing houses without success for man
said to have been seen in the neigh
borhood OF tho mansion at an carly
''hour in the evening.
william ID. Stephens became Gov.
crnor of California last spring. when
Governor Hiram Johnson assumed hi,
duties as United States Senator.
Last week Governor Stephens made
n series OF patriotic addresses In South
ern California, dealing largely with tho
duties Of Californians in supporting tho
national government during the war.
The police had found Mother a mo-
tive for the explosion or definits
clue to its perpetrators.
They were inclined. however. to re-
ject the theory that the explosive was
thrown against tho building from an
alley. because Of a high fence, but
nothing has been shown to indicate the
bomb was planted"
The last person admitted to the
executive mansion was Chinese SER
want. who came in about 1890 P. NJ.
Tho police say the explosion occurred
between that hour and midnight