New-York tribune., 1920-09-21
Soldiers MAY
Guard Custom
House To-day
Troops Ready to Prevent AT.
tempt at Outrage if Their
Services Are Required,
Commander Announces
No Precaution Neglected
''Warning'' Thought To Be
Joke, but Care is Taken
to Prevent Any Attack

A mysterious warning" postcard
mailed at the Grand Central Station
Saturday evening was received yester-
day by William H. C"Big Billp Ed
wards, Collector of Internal Revenue
for this district. The writer said:
There is q plot to destroy the Custom
House Tuesday, September q, 2
o'clock"
Collector Edwards turned the card
over to Byron Il. Newton. Collector of
the Port, who is custodian Of the build
ing. Both officials were inclined to
think it the handiwork cf crank, or
possibly practical joker.
Nevertheless, every precaution wi
be taken to-day to guard againsS repe-
t!tion of the Wall Street outrage. Col
lector Newton communicated the "warn-
ing" to the Police Department, the
Department of Justice here and the
military authorities at Governors
Island.
Detectives and secret service men
have been detailed to guard the build
ing, and IL is probable that a guard of
soldiers will surround the Custom
House.
The card was postmarked 5 p. m,
September Is, 1920, Grand Central
Station, and was addressed to Gus
Edwards, Collector of Internal Rev
enue, Custom House, Bowling Green,
The word "WARNING" was written
in scrawly lettering in blue ink upon
the back and UNDERSIGNED twice Tive
full text read:
"Citizen" Urges Precautions
There is Il plot to destroy tn~
= o'clock.
Have building we'll guarded and
watch all persons carrying parcels.
DO not admit any one into the
building with parcel unexamined.
(Signed) "A CITIZEN"
The fact that "Gus Edwards" to
wnom the post card was addressed, is
we'll known vaudeville comedian
lends support to the theory of Custom
House officials that the author may
simply be the psrpetrator of a cruel
practical joke. On the other hand, the
police say, he may have heen ignorant
or mlsintormed as to the collectors
first name.
The post card was received in the
first mornings mail. The news of it
was spread by employees before the
collector himself had read it. This
news travelled fast. 1t was transmitted
by elevator men to messenger boys
and carried by them to other Buildings.
BY afternoon fright had been com
municated TO workers in all of the
buildings in the Battery Park section.
1t is probable that some of these will
remain away from work to-day.
Message Carefully Written
That the card was carefully written
was commented upon by Collector New
ton. He called attention to the fact
that nowhere in it is reference made to
a threat to use explosives. He was Of
the opinion that the scrawly lines of
the script. which otherwise is unusu-
ally lcgible, may have been an attempt
to disguise handwriting.
lie also noted thai in the text there
were none of the absurd fantastic
statements common to Black Hand
literature.
Discussing the "warnnc." he said:
"ln all probability this thing is joke,
but these things are, as we we'll know,
epidemic from their suggestion. AS
custodian of the building 1 think it
matter of common prudence to take all
precautions, and anybody who gets in
here with Il A"~~N will have an inter
esting time of it,"
al >.-.>."ors Island the chief Of
staff of Major General r. l.. Bullard,
commanding the Second Corps area,
United States Army said last night
that troops could be supplied to pro-
tect any government property here in
le IS thar nalf hour after a request
is made. 1t was intimated by Custom
House officials that guard Of the cd
Infantry will be asked for this morn
ing.
MIR. Edwards Not Worried
Collector Edwards assured newspaper
men that he had no reason to fear that
any enc with grudge against him in
his official capacity would attempt to
Blow UP the building He was inclined