Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-05-09
THE COUNTRY HOME
CONDUCTED BY MRS. INHIBITION
Bombs Sent Through Postoff1ces

Bombs Sent Through FoSto1nces
The people of the United States
had a new ensation--perhaps
should call it an unprecedented, hap
pening-last week when a large
number of deadly bombs were. sent
to various persons, high up in legs
lative and financial ircles-bomps
intending murder, assassination ana
devilish vilainy. 1t is likewise, as
tonishing that the plot failed in
every known case, but one, and al
though distributed in various sec
lions of the union it was only in
Georgia that a blow fell direct upon
other innocent and InSuspectlng per-
sons.
1t is my good fortune to be &C
uuainted with Mrs. Hardwick, wife
of former United States Senator
Hardwick and she is a lady who IS
Her escape from horrible Fate
seems almost miraculous Whlle eN-
erybody is saddened to know that the
colored maid received the blow real
ly intended for Senator HardWlck.
If the bomb had been received at
his office the chances of his escape
would have been infinitely less; II
he had opened the villainous death
missile sitting at his desk he Wouid
a doubt and a horrible death. 1t is
difficult to find words that Will
properly fit a description or portray
ones indignation in describing the
attempt to kill scores of pubic men
in this awful manner.
The proper penalty for the would
nothing but the extremity Of sever
ity can satisfy ones indignation IN
considering the case.
The very worst punishment That
the criminal law sets down as pun
lshment seems tame and insufficient
y, off n
posture and rapid conviction the. pub,
lie mind will demand the utmost
possible penalty.
number of years ago gentleman
in New York City was the recipient
Of a handsome bottle containing an
silver holder with plain direction.
The recipient placed the bottle on
the dresser in his bed chamber. His
sister with an unmarried daughter
lived in the same house with him.
Having an attack of indigestion the
sister had the bottle brought to her
and took a teaspoonful dose of the
supposed aperient.
The poison was so quick in it's
work that she died in a short time.
Her bereaved daughter remembered
the bottle and also the dose. That
was the starter of one of the longest
and most exhaustive criminal prose-
cutions known to that era of our ma
TONS history. Fortunately the paper
wrapper with the city postmark had
inches, the prosecution toiled along,
| with only the postmark as starting
place, until they found the person
who sent it, himself a chemist, a
laboratory worker, and fully aware
of what the poison would or could do
in the human system.
This was his way of settling an old
grudge. The person to be destroyed
had also forgotten that any unpleas-
antness had ever eXisted-a trivial
affair to everybody but the man who
killed an innocent woman as surely
as if he had pulled a pistol in six
inches of her body. and killed her.
Nearly or quite two dozen promi-
| nent men have had similar bombs
like the one sent to ex-senator Hard
wick. By fortuitous circumstance
in the postoffce department before
they reached the persons thus
marked for destruction.
These deadly packages were
marked as sample copies-supposed
novelties from one of the largest
stores in the United States-a most
| innocent looking package.
I am so glad that Mrs. Hardwick
escaped this horrible death and so
sorry that the colored maid has been
unlucky-perhaps even to death.
If the government agents do their
duty. the guilty parties will be To-
Gated. One package might escape
detection but two dozen will afford
better opportunity for successful dis
covery.
1 have more than once visited the
Gimble store in New York City. 1t
is a mammoth establishment, located
in the very heart of the city, near
the largest hotels and within a short
distance of the magnificent Pennsyl-
vania railroad station. The assassin
| hide theid identity for their YillainY.