Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-09-18
Federal Agents
Comb Country
for Radicals.
$40, 500 REWARDS
FORCONVICTTOlNS
Literature Found in
Mail Boz Furnishes
Important Clue:
By the Associated Press.

NEW YORK, September 1S--Ion-
vinced that the explosion which
snuffed out the lives of thirty five
persons and injured nearly 900 others
in Wall street Thursday noon was de-
\liberately planned by radicals, officials
of the Department of Justice, headed
by Attorney General Palmer. himself,
today spread a dragnet over the
country in efforts to trap its originators.
$2O,500, offered by the New York city
administration and an accident insur-
ance company. for the apprehension
and conviction of the person or per-
sons responsible for the tragedy, po-
lice, ex-service men and private citi-
Gems lent their efforts to the federal
agents in ferreting out clues.
Department of Justice officials were
certain that the disaster was not the
result of one persons inspiration or
eccentricfty. but that it was the pre-
meditated and fiendish plot OF radicals
bent on defiance. of law and organized
government. William ]. Flynn, head
of the bureau of investigation OF the
spokesman for this general opinion.
Attorney General Palmer corroborated
the statement.
Circulars Are Similar.
Chief Flynn based his opinion on the
finding Of radical literature in post Office
boxes near the scene of the tragedy
after it occurred. He pointed out d
peculiar similarity between the nature
of this literature and that found in con-
nection with the terrorist plots in June,
1919. Similar expressions and similar
y mispelled words characterized the lit
: erature found yesterday and in 1919. he
said
One difference between the two. how
ever. was that the literature found last
year was signed. 'sThe Anarchistic
Fighters" while that found yesterday
was signed American Anarchist
F5Ehtsrs;s " You can see. Chief Flynn ,
American to. their title now" 49,
Very little could be done to trace ths
authors of this literature or to ascer-
tain whether a general radical move
ment was contemplated, until definite
sponsible for Thursdays disaster. Chief
Flynn said. Those who distributed the
literature, he said, were careful not TO
send it through the mails. and were evil
IDENTIFY afraid to pass it about the
streets. so they concluded to stuff 1t inta
plosion occurred.
Hunt for Driver Of Wagon.
Primary Importance in todhys
search was attached to finding the
driver of the dilapidated rusty red wagon.
the fragments of which were found
nearest the crater of the terrific de-
tonation. Ohdcials believe appre-
hension of the authors of the tragedy
virtually hinges on this discovery.
Col. William Mead, chief clerk for
J. p. Morgan & Co. whose offices suf-
fered large share of the property
damage. declared the farrier who
Shod the horse that drew the death
wagon had been found, and that he
was reasonably sure OF the owners
identity. Peculiar markings on the
dead horses shoes, it was said. aided
in tracing the blacksmith, who
thought he could remember who
brought the animal to him to be shod.
No comment could be obtained at
police headquarters this morning on
the statement by Col. Mead.
Police officials also declined to
make known their plans concerning
ton, Ontario. 1t Is believed. however,
that he probably will be extradited
and brought here.
There were still about $50 injured
being cared for in hospitals today,
many of whom were said to be still
in a serious condition. Scores of those
who will recover will be MANNED for
life. it was said.
workmen were still busy repair
ing the damage to the Morgan bank,
the United States assay office and
other buildings that bore the brunt
of the destructive blast
Department of Justice officials at
tached relatively little Importance to
the detention of Edwin p. Fischer. at
Hamilton, Ontario, who yesterday ad-
mitted to Canadian authorities hav-
ing sent warnings of the disaster to
several friends here. However. At
torney General Palmer said he would
direct that Fischer be thoroughly ex-
amined in the hope that. despite the
belief that Fischer was mentally de
ranged, he might present valuable
leads"
1t also was expected that those who
received Fischer's warning missives
would be questioned during the day.
Special guards still were kept to-
day around all government buildings
here. the Morgan bank and the homes
of numerous men prominent in the
financial world. Attorney General
in vogue throughout the country, to
make sure of thwarting any possible
radical movement Of nation wide scope
Blacksmith Calls On Police.
A blacksmith called at police head.
quarters this morning and told Capt
Coughlin he had shod strange horse
last Tuesday and thought he would
be able to recognize the shoes II he
inspected them. 1t was arranged fol
him to look at the shoes later in the
day.
to the farrier's statement that he had
shod the strange horse Tuesday. tive
days before the explosion. as experts
examining the new shoes estimated
they had been on only forty-eigh'
hours.
Flynn. who yesterday declined to ex.
pand his cryptic announcement thai
the driver of the death wagon wal
four blocks away at the time Of tbs
explosion. today shed more light or
this mystery when he said he was con.
WINGED the driver was. the same mar
who deposited the anarchistic circu.
lars in the mail box. which was located
four blocks from Wall and Broad
streets.
Apparently more progress was being
made from examinations Of the horse
than the wagon. The horse-a straw.
berry roam of less than fifteen hand,
had been newly shod behind, but
had old shoes on his forefeet. The new
shoes bore the stamp H. S. /. u" Thi.
is a union mark-the Horseshoers' In.
ternational Union, which is reported
to have only one local in this city
The 500 members are being examined
Capt. Coughlin said he had beer
unable as yet TO establish the iden.
tity of the wagon or its owner. A con.
ference of detectives. however. will
be held at headquarters this afternoon
when il is expected there will bt
made public the first formal repo1,