Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-12-19
THINK PRO-CERMAN
Responsible for Dyna-
hitting Residence Of
Governor Stephens of
California

sNdtIdIHeI4tp. tdlil., Dtt. To- 1cN CT :
nor William d. Stephens, whose Off
'ial residence here was damaged last
night by n dynamite explosion, char
:ictcrized the act in statement to-
night as probably having been done
with view to terrorism. the chief
\ aapon Of the alien enemy
throughout the day Governor
|;ephens had refrained from advanc-
.f@ any theory as 70 the probable mo-
l;.e FOR the explosion, which wrecked
'ic kitchen and laundry of the eXecu-
ii.c mansion and endangered the lives
- tie Governor. Mrs. Stephens and
t.rer members Of the household
Combined efforts of the police. the
S. cfiT's force and scores of individ-
>u,s failed during the day to produce
: Tangible clues as to the identity
II TIC persons responsible for the dy-
nit ~
Ti.r decoration of the explosion was
ard Ill over the city and windows
lcrc broken by the force of it. two or
'.'reC blocks away. 1t was believed
riat from 70 to ~ sticks Of dynamite
we're used
Governor ard Mrs Stephens We're
asleep in the wing of the house adjoin-
ing the spot where the explosion oc-
rurred. but beyond n nervous shock
;hcy were unframed.
The attempt occurred just as the
lizard was being changed. II. Claussen,
ono Of the watchmen, was the first on
tie scene. having passed the spot but
81 few minutes before the explosion oc-
'lrred. Claussen said lie 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 a distance of
about 40 feet from he porch upon
which the charge was set off.
A hole several feet in depth and at least
FIVE feet wide was torn In the ground be-
meath a bay window at the rear of the
structure and the entire wall up to the
second story was blown away. The entire
neighborhood was aroused and crowd
WAS on the scene a few minutes after the
explosion occurred. There was scarcely
a house in the block which was not ar
fccted.
y clew to the perpetra tors was Civ
on 10 the police by the Rev. Fr-=er Lang
ford, pastor of a church, who reported
that four months ago a man was noticed
ln:kiHS about the executive mansion and
that he continued to haunt the locality
IHtl a week ago, when he disappea red.
the police are Of the opinion that the at
tempt was made by pro-Germars.
According to my Judgment" said Gov
ernor Stephens, the bomb was thrown
from The alleyway about 40 feet to the
rear of the mansion. and did not light as
far under the house as its owner had in
tended. | am strengthened in this state
ment by the fact that the back gates were
both locked as usual and the Waterman
had visited the basement Just a few min
rt's before the explosion occurred He
says that when he passed the stems he
ia a"d his fiashlght on the place where
indications prove the bomb was placed
'H" at that time there was nothing
there"
.i:e g"Ncrnor wa probably the calm
s., 81 the group that surveyed the
W. Cied mansion and when his calm
hc-S was commented upon by the police
nc m@r"ly stated that the shock had
not at all disturbed him
tiNeS searched downtown room
ing houses without success for a man
said 10 have been seen in the neigh
hol hood of the mansion at an early hour
n the evening
Inr last person. admitted to the Ex
"cutNo mansion was a Chinese servant
who came in about H. 80 p. NJ
ihe police say the explosion occur
f'd between that hour and midnight.
\ reward of $1,000 for the arrest and
conviction of persons responsible for
Inc explosion was offered in resolu-
ION adopted by the Sacramento Boa I'd
~ city commissioners. .... ... ...
William d. Stephens became cover
} or of California last spring when Co,
cfnor Hiram w. Johnson assumed his
futies IS United States senator. Pre-
NiHuslT Stephens resigned as repre-
sentat!v" in Congress al the solicita-
flon of Governor Johnson. who appoint
cd him lieutenant governor to succeed
the late JOHN NJ. Eshlcman.
Last week Governor Stephens made
series of patriotic addresses in soutn-
"rn California dealing largely with the
duties of CalifornianS in supporting
the government during the war.