The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-06-07


bomb outrages were Pittsburgh, Pat
erson, NJ. j., West Philadelphia, New
York and Sewtonville, Ma. West
s Philadelphia and Pittsburgh Were
. subjected to two separate explosions
Washington, June 2.-Radical agl-
fators tonight apparently attempted to
:inangrate another reign Of terrorism
tlroughout the country through the
planting OF Internal machines near
$ the residences Of prominent men.
Within a few minutes after the ex-
: plosion of a bomb at the door of AT
torney General Palmer's residence
here, With the killing Of one man
evidently the person planting the
bomb, reports were received from Bos-
ton, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Patterson
N. 3, Philadelphia and New York OF
similar attempts.
The similarity of the reports re-
ceived from the various cities recalled
to authorities the May day bomb plot
-of a month ago. The bomb planted
under the steps of the home Of At
tcrney General Palmer, 2132 r. Street
OF Washington wrecked the dwelling
smashed in the windows Of adjoining
houses for a block, but injured no one
within the Palmer residence.
An empty suit case found near the
entrance and hand bill signed sAThe
Anarchistic Fighters printed on red
paper, worded in inhammatory fash
ion aed serving notice Of intent Of its
authors to begin general war on lead
ers Of society was. the only clue avail
able at a late hour tonight.
The remains of the man killed Were
literally shredded over the block and
driven into the asphalt pavement.
The only wayI can reconstruct the
incident, said Major Pullman. super
intendent of the capital police, at the
end of his preliminary investigation,
is on the theory that the explosive
blew up just as it was being deposited
In the doorway It is possible, but un-
/. likely that it was a passerby involv-
ed. !" Instantly upon receipt Of the
news Of the attempts on the lives Of
other leading men in other communi-
hes Major Pullman ordered special
guards sent out to the residences Of
cabinet officers and prominent men
In the government.
The explosions in the other cities
were followed at midnight by others
in New York City, where a, bomb ex-
pioded in the house of Charles C.
Mott. Jr.. and in Newtonville, Mass.
where the house of State Representa-
tive Leland w. Powers was wrecked.
First reports stated that no one was
injured in the Newtonville explosion.
Mr. Palmer and other members Of
the family were at home at the time
OF the explosion there. but escaped
any injury, though the front of the
residence almost collapsed with the
force OF the explosion. They were on
the second floor preparatory to retir-
ing at the time.
So thoroughly was the corpse Of
the man killed scattered that surgeons
had difficulty in ascertaining wheth-
er one or two persons had been in
volved. Pieces Of two weapons were
also located, one an automatic pistol
and the other a, revolver.
The suit case was of cheap con-
strucsion The handbill which was
grease spotted. was headed in large
type, "P!ain Words" 1t opened with
the statement:
seThe powers that be make no secret
of their intention to stop the world
vide revolution in America" and con-
Guided after announcing its accept
ance of some kind Of war with a
printed signature, 1.-The Anarchistic
Fighters
Besides tearing away the residence
front, the explosion jolted out OF
place the stone steps leading up to
the first floor level.
Remnants Of shabby clothing worn
by the man killed were scattered, sec
tions being found over a radius of 100
feet and plastered on an automobile,
which happened to be passing at the
moment Streets near the Palmer
home were cleared with difficulty by
the police and soldiers pressed into
service. One or two persons near the
spot claimed to have heard two
explosions, but most people reported
only one. 1t had, however, terrific
force. Members of Attorney General
Palmer's family, while shocked, the
police said. escaped entirely. Mr..
Palmer said that he could assign no
reason for the attack upon himself.