Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-09-17
Head of Justice
Department
Off to ". Y.
ROUzND-UPOFREDS
LLKEZYTORESUZT
Financial Centers of
Entire Country Put
UnderErtTu Guard.

Attorney General Palmer and Fran
els P. Garvan, assistant attorney gen.
eral. in charge Of the governments
anti-radical campaign, left here today
for New York to direct the fnvestiga-
ton of the explosion in the financial
district there yesterday.
1t was stated at the Department OF
Justice that the federal governments
inquiry would be directed largely to
determining whether the explosion
resulted from radical activities.
Officials of the Department of JUS
tice said this afternoon that reports
from William ]. Flynn. director OF
the bureau of investigation. had con-
vinced them that the explosion was
not due to an accident, but was a
premeditated crime.
This information has led the de-
partment to take every possible step
to run down the guilty person or per-
sons. The bureau of investigation has
the records of and information about
practically all of the radical leaders
in the country. If the department be-
comes convinced that the explosion
of the reds" there may be a general
roundup. But it was not indicated at
the department today that general
roundup of reds" was at present
contemplated.
Fischer Had Been Watched.
It was admitted at the department
that e. p. Fischer. who is said to
have sent a warning letter to New
York broker that there was to be
under the observation of its opera
tives.
Explosives experts of the bureau
of mines also were assigned today
to assist in solving the mystery OF
the Wall street explosion. George
S. Rice, chief mining engineer OF the
bureau. and recognized expert in ex-
ploSives, who was in New York yes
terday, already has begun a study
Of the nature of the explosion.
York BY Dr. Charles f. Munroe. consult-
ing explosives engineer, who took q
prominent part in the Investigation OF
the explosion OF IN internal machine
In the NATIONAL Capitol several years
ago. DR.. Munroe also aided IN tne at.
which was exploded In front OF the
home of Attorney General Palmer
about a year ago.
The financial centers of Americas big
cities from coast to coast are armed
camps today. with police and private
sentries posted to guard against ex-
plosions such as in Wall street yester-
day.
Chicago, Philadelphia. Boston. De-
troit, Baltimore, as far south as the
Gulf Of Mexico and west to the Golden
Gate, authorities announced heavy pa
trols of plain-clothes men and police
reserves in their big business districts.
and federal agents worked with state
and city officials to run down reports
Of widespread extremist plots.
in Washington by an official of the
Treasury who was talking on the tele-
phone to an Office in the Equitable build
ing in New York, at the time. The con-
versation was interrupted. he said. by
what sounded like the closing of a
rupted, and later he was called back.
He said he was told that he had not
been cut off, but that there had been
IAN explosion nearby"
Buildings Well Guarded.
Maj. c. 8. Ridley, the engineer off,
Ger in charge of public buildings and
grounds. said this morning that all
the buildings in his charge are well
guarded by a large force of trained
watchmen. who had served through
the exciting period of the world war
and that he did not consider yester-
days explosion in New York a suff1-
cient reason for increasing the force
for their protection.
He took it for granted however.
that following the panic In New York
every member of the government
watch force in this city would exer-
else extra vigilance in looking out for
all suspicious characters in and
around public buildings.
"All the buildings are well guard
ed by trained men at all times. by
night as well as by day." said Maj.
Ridley, "and there seems to be no oc-
70 ouin
He added that If different view
was taken by the heads of depart
ments. additional steps would be TAX
en- to insure their protection from
possible outside attack.
Inspector Clifford L. Grant. chief of
detectives, told a Star reporter today
that no request had been received
from the federal authorities to in
crease the police patrol in the vicin-
ity of public buildings. Federal agen-
cies, he stated. look after the federal
buildings. but policemen on the streets
are under explicit orders to do their
part in the protection of such struc-
lures.
Policemen have been on duty in the
vicinity of the several embassies
practically since the beginning of the
war. Inspector Grant said, but no re-
quest for an increase in such details
has been made since yesterdays ex-
plosion in New York city.
Discussing the explosion. Inspector
Grant said he was Of the opinion that
Il was premature. If not accidental,
and that it was the intention of the
persons handling the explosive to
wreck one or more of the big build
ines in New York's financial district
or to terrorize the wealthy there.
VIII watch Suspects.
Insuector Grant said that members
of his command are under orders to
Investigate all persons who are sus-
nected of being connected with any
nrpanization or band of men who are
likely to resort to the use Of ex-
plosives.
tion in New York yesterday resulted
from a premature explosion Of a bomb
that was intended for some particular
person or building" said the inspector
of such was the case he added
at was similar to the explosion at
the home of Attorney General Palmer,
where the bomb was exploded FIVE or
six feet from the building line"
Inspector Grant suggested that un-
idenfified bodies of persons found
among the debris may be those of the
narsons who handled the explosive
He pointed to the fact that the man
who exploded the bomb at the home
of Attorney General Palmer was
Co1fi1Ued- on. RNEa, &4o2INnn "a