The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-12-18
Executive Escapes; Whole Side
of House Blown Out.
Governor. Wife and Servants
Asleep in Rooms at Time.
BLAST SHAKES ENTIRE CITY
Police Believe 1t Was Result OF
PrO-German Plot.
Incendiary Fire Destroys Rock
efeIIer Mansion in Cleveland.

Sacramento, Calf, Dec. 18.-What
is believed to have been an attempt
to kill Governor William D. stephens
by means of a powerful explosive
bomb at midnight last night, resulted
in the wrecking of the executive man
sion, the entire rear end of the build
ing being blown out. The governor
and Mrs. Stephens, as well as the
household servants were asleep at the
time and all escaped injury. Two men
were seen fleeing from the house i'm
mediately after the explosion.
The detonation of the explosion was
heard all over the city and windows
were broken by the force of it two or
three blocks away. 1t was believed
that from twenty to twenty-five sticks
of dynamite were used. Governor and
Mrs. Stephens were asleep in the wing
of the house adjoining the spot where
the explosion occurred, but beyond a
nervous shock, they were unharmed
The explosion took place just as the
guard at the mansion was being
changed. H. ClausSen, one of the
watchmen, was the first on the scene,
having passed the spot few minutes
before the explosion occurred. He ex-
pressed the opinion that the explosive
was thrown from an alley which runs
along the rear of the house at a dis
tance of about forty feet from the
porch under which the charge was
set off.
Tore Great Hole in Ground.
A hole several feet in depth and
five feet in breadth was torn in the
ground beneath an overhanging win
dow at the rear of the structure and
the entire wall, up to the second story
was blown away. There was scarcely
a house in the block which was not
affected.
The Rev. Frazer Langford. pastor
of a leading church, reported to the
police that four months ago a man.
evidently a German, was noticed lurk-
ing about the executive mansion. The
man continued about the locality un-
til a week ago, when he disappeared.
The police are of the opinion that the
! attempt was made by pro-Germans.
William D. Stephens became COVER
nor of California last spring upon the
resignation of Governor Hiram w.
johnson, who went to Washington to
assume the duties as United States
senator. Previously Stephens resigned
as representative in congress from the
tenth California district at the So
licitation of Governor johnson, who
appointed him lieutenant governor to
succeed the late John NJ. Eshleman.
No One Entered Premises.
Henry CIaussen, night watchman,
said he made an inspection at the cor
ner of the building where the explo-
sion occurred just a few minutes be-
fore the blast was heard, and found
nothing. He said a scheme he had
devised for detecting whether the
gates had been opened indicated plain
: ly that no one passed thru them
/ The last person admitted was a
/ Chinese servant, who returned to the
mansion about 1880 D. m Police
say the explosion happened between
that hour and midnight. No motive
has been conceived yet for what is
thought to have been an attempt on
the life of the governor. It was
I pointed out by friends that his Off
cial life as governor since he sue
ceeded United States Senator johnson
( has been entirely free from threaten
ing letters, even from persons who
may have had fancied grievances.