Perth Amboy evening news., 1924-03-24
BOMB THROWN
At TEA HOUSE
NEAR STELT TON
WatChman Fires at Man Who
Throws Dynamite Bomb
and Escapes
OCCUPANTS UNINJURED
Windows Shattered-Second
Attempt in Two Nights
County Detectives Probe

The county detectives are today
endeavoring to learn the identity of
the person or persons who early
this morning partly wrecked the
Washington Tea Room on the Lin
coin highway between Metuchen and
Highland Park by detonating a
package of explosives. This was the
second attempt in two nights to
dynamite the house, a package con-
tanning twelve sticks of dynamite
having been discovered by the
watchman at the house early yester-
day morning.
The man who carried the explosive
this morning was prevented from
reaching the house by the watchman
who fired two shots at the man, who
then threw the bomb at the house.
Seeing sparks emerging from the
package, the watchman aroused the
two women who conduct the tea
room and they fed from the mousse
scantily clad, to the garage, Just as
the explosive was detonated-
The explosion broke practically
every window in the house. made
hole in the lawn and wrecked the
= lighting system of the house. The
man, alter lHIOW bAiO bt->>N~%'~
containing the bomb. ran to the car
and was driven away. several shots
being fired by he occupants OF the
car at the house as they drove away
This occurred at 2:45 o'clock this
morning
This mornings occurrence was
one of a series of peculiar happen
ings at the tea room which is con-
Quoted by two women known as the
O'Brien sisters Their names have
been given to the authorities as
Catherine Burke, twenty-eight. and
Lillian Kane. twenty-seven. TWO or
three years ago these women con-
Quoted an esta blishment at 262 Nell
son sire ct. but this was partly de-
molished by an explosion which blew
out the entire front of the building.
Following this explosion the two
women gave up the house.
Last year they opened the Wash
irgton Tea Room, which is a white
colonial building setting back from
Lincoln Highway near the Stelton
crosg 1. A raid by federal agents
! in ~. sch whiskey was found in the
no resulted in a court order be-
ing issued ordering the padlockins
of the first floor of the establish
ment.
The women continued to occupy
the second floor of the house, using
the side door as an entrance. Inc
prosecutors Office has been receiv-
ing numerous complaints from per-
sons in that vicinity of high priced
cars driving up to and leaving the
tea house during all hours of the
night and the county detectives
have kept a watchful eye upon the
place.
About three weeks ago, 1t has
been learned by the authorities, an
explosion, probably caused by a
bonnb. occurred at the house which
damaged the side door. A night
watchman, John Scanlan, was en-
gagged by the women to keep prowl-
ers away from the place during the
night. steve Wolff. caretaker,. is
also employed at the place during
the day.
At 1870 o'clock yesterday morning
.ght noise at the door aroused
the watchman's suspicious \ and
opening the door he found pack
age which he opened. There were
twelve sticks of dynamite in it and
fuse which had been lighted but
' had gone Oul. IhC QJ hahhile W~1
4 turned over to Lieutenant Davis OF
the Raritan township police and he
In turn made a report to County
Detective Chief Ferd A. David, who
also took the dynamite sticks. -
At 2:40 o'clock this morning the
watchman saw a car stop and man
start to approach the house with a
tkage in his arms. Halt or
& win shoot" Scanlon shouted. The
naNn quickened his pace towards the
ne and Scanl6n fired twice al
apparently missing. as the man
pe'v the package towards the
asa and then ran back to the car
ing sparks coming from the
age Scanlon rushed into the
Hse. aroused the two women and
ned them of what he thought tc
another bomb They hastily rar
in the house to the garage, the
plosion occurring just as they ar
rived at the garage. After firine
several shots. the occupants of the
ear drove away towards New
Brunswick.
Tlt county detectives believe tn,
exfiosion to be the work of some
btt. rivals of the two women ant
the fac s9t the same method wal
\ used to drive the women from New
z Brunswick. Arrests are expected.