The state herald., 1919-08-08
PROMINENT LOS ANGELES At.
ToRNEY VICTIM OF BOMB
PLOT.
OFFER $4,000 REWARD
PROBABLE CAUSE Is PRosEcU.
TIoN WHILE ASSISTANT U. 8.
ATTORNEY.
Western Newspaper Union New. Service

Western Newspaper Union News Service.
Los Angeles, Cal, Aug 4.-Itevengc
for the part lie played In the prosecu-
tiOn of u group of dynamlters In the
Middle West several years ago, was
assigned by the police here as the
probable motive for un attempt on
the life Of Oscar Lawler, former as
sistant attorney general for the
United States. Mr.. LAWYERS home was
practically destroyed by bomb and
subsequent fire here, and he and Mrs.
Lawler both seriously burned and
otherwise injured.
According to information gathered
by the police, n man driving an auto
mobile stopped In front OF the Lawler
residence Mt New Hampshire street
and Wiltshire boulevard. in an exclu-
sive residential district. He dropped
something, leaped into the car and
rapidly drove away. An explosion fol-
lowed almost Immediately. The house
burst into flames. Mr.. Lawler, his
wife and one child were trapped
within.
The Lawler home was large brick
and frame structure In the fashionable
Wiltshire district, in the west part Of
the city.
Mr.. and Mrs. Lawler were sleeping
on a porch In the south side of the
house. opening from second floor
room and screened from the street by
an angle of the building. Miss Bessie
Mills, nurse, and Oscar Lawler, Jr.,
were sleeping on screened porch at
the rear or east end of the house.
When the explosion came, u sheet
of flame at once rushed up the side
OF the house. directly below the porch
occupied by the Lawlers and cut off
possible escape toward the outside.
Mr.. Lawler and his wife went into the
house and tried to make their wny TO
the rear porch, where their son was
with the nurse.
They were cut off by smoke and
flame and when Mrs. Lawler realized
this she tainted Mr.. Lawler took her
In his arms. carried her through flames
to the front Of the house and dropped
her to an awning over the front vernn-
da, whence she rolled to the ground.
He then leapcd after her.
The young son and the nurse were
rescued from the porch by nelghbora
Another son and daughter were away
from home Mt the time.
A thorough investigation by city.
county. state and federal authorities
led to the belief that the bomb was
placed between two five gallon cans
filled with gasoline. or some other
highly inflammable liquid. Experts
working on the case found fragments
OF the bomb sufficient to reconstruct
II.
Not since the dynnmlting Of the
Times building Inns Los Angeles been
in such furor OF excitement IN It II
over the bomb Outrage against Oscar
Lawler, lawyer. banker ara one OF the
most prominent and respected citizens
of Los Angeles Relentless war Is to
be declared on anarchists Of every
kind. A reward Of 5000 offered by
the merchants and manufacturers was
not needed to spur police and people
to the hunt for the men who set off
the cans OF nitro giycerin under the
sleeping porch OF the I.awler home.
Suspicion is directed against n con.
Wet recently released from peniten-
iiary to which he was sent by Lawler
In the discharge OF his duty as prose-
cutor. No trace Of him has thus fur
been found