Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-09-17
Internal Device
Caused Blast.
FynnFinds.
PIECES OF METAL
FOUND BY POLICE
Time ConfriUance
Believed Set off
Ter1ificExplosion.

By de Associated Press.
NEW YORK, September 17.-Wn-
liam J. Flynn. chief of the bureau OF
Investigation, Department Of Justice.
tive that a bomb had caused the ex-
plosion IN Wall street yesterday which
took a toll of thirty-four lives. in
tured about 200 persons and caused
property damage running into the
millions
Chief Flynn made his announcement
shortly after Fire Commissioners
brennan had reported to Mayor Hy-
Ian his belief that a bomb was re-
sponsible for the disaster and the po-
lice had begun to swing to the bomb
theory as opposed to that of a col
hsion between a powder wagon and
an automobile.
There is absolutely no doubt that
it was bomb" said Chief Flynn. IAN
important development in the last two
hours has convinced us of this. The
bomb was apparently placed by per.
son who was within four blocks of
Wall and Broad streets when the ex-
plosion occurred"
Police Hunting Driver.
Certain at last Of the cause Of the
explosion. federal agents and city po-
lice increased their search for the
driver of a wagon drawn by one horse
which was blown to pieces. No trace
of him has yet been found.
The theory Of the Investigators is
that a time bomb was placed on the
wagon. and that the driver hurried
from the scene just after arranging
Tor the explosion to occur at noon
At police headquarters 1t was said
the first task would be to assemble
the fragments in an effort to recon-
struct the bomb and determine
whether It was made by skilled hands
Search of the wreclage near the
scene revealed. according 70 q high
official who requested that his name
such ss SsshsId ss g somonsy fs,smsnts 9
bombs. Three pieceS of curved metal
also were found beneath sthe surface
OF the pavement, in the hole caused
by the explosion. Another piece OF
body of Robert Westday. a sixteen
yA4r-old messenger, who was killed,
according to DR.. Charles H. Norris,
chief medical examiner.
Thirty-six persons are dead and
more than 200 injured from the ex-
plosion yesterday, declared by the
police here as probably caueed by an
internal machine. Discovery of parts
announcement by experts that the
trinftrotollous. or picric' acid, was
used in the bomb, il there was one,
have sent detectives and Department
pointing to bomb plots and radical
activities
Man Held In Canada.
\ Edward p. Fischer, former employe
of the French high commits ssion in New
York. who was detained by the police
in Hamilton, Ont. today after he is
alleged to have sent two postcards
Ing them not to be in Wall street at,
8 o'clock Wednesday, the 18th, win
be brought to New York to testify be-
fore the September grand jury. This
into the disaster.
Shortly before word of F1scher's de-
tentfon was received here a repre-
sentative of the district attorneys of
fce left for Toronto with subpoena
for him.
Six expert chemists attached to the
bureau of mines of the Department of
the Interior arrived at police head
quarters this afternoon from Wash
fngton and assisted in reconstructing
metal fragments believed to have been
part Of a bomb.
Chief Flynn said that the bureau Of
investigation hoped to know definitely
By tomorrow just what kind Of a
teal examination Of bits Of iron found
sin the financial district was hastened
with a view of obtaining this in
formation.
Mcrsans start Inquiry.
While a half dozen official investi-
cations were under way members of
the firm of J. F. Morgan & Company
Then they issued statement to the
effect that they had no knowledge as
TO the cause or motives of the ex-
piosion. Several members of the firm
have received verbal and written
communications in regard to the e1-
plosion, but they say that none has
thrown any light upon it
The Morgan firm began an investi-
cation independent of those conducted
by federal and city authorities.
I'VE have a thousand and one things
TO do" said Chief Flynn. who came
from Washington yesterday on being
informed of the explosion. but we'll
probably untangle the mystery
The federal agents awaited further
inetallurgical examination of speci-
mems of the hundreds of iron slugs,
like bits of mottled solid iron bars,
about an inch and one-half in diam
eter. which were found at the scene
of the explosion. A preliminary re-
any connection between yesterdays
affair and the countrywide bomb ex-
plosions of a year ago last, when the
homes of Attorney General Palmer in
Washing gton and residences of other
prominent men in different parts OF
the country were bombed.
Jn fact. the federal agents were in
ciined to the belief that if yesterdays
affair was planned by anarchists they
were of a new school. at least in their
destructive methods. Scores of agents
at the scene Immediately after the
explosion sought traces of the pink
paper circulars which were found
where bombs exploded in the out
RACES last year. None were found.
Scores Are Questioned.
Scores of persons seeking exemp-
ton from classification as enemy
aliens or desiring the wise Of the de-
partment on the passports Of friends
in Europe who desire to emigrate
10 the United States were questioned
al the bureau today as to whether
they had any information possibly
| hearing upon the explosion.
y At noon police investigators de-
clared they stood about fifty fifty on
the dyns mite wagon and time-bomb
0heories-"
sPolice INSPECTOR William Lahey. di-
lcantiaaeA on Haxez~ colmaA ..