Evening star., 1933-01-29
HUNT INSPECTOR
IN BOMB TRAGEDY
Philadelphia Police See Po.
IiticaI ReprisaIs in Blast.
ing of Home.
BY the Associated Press.


BY the Associated Press.
PHILADELPHIA, January 28.-Po-
lice tonight were seeking clues to an
inspector" who Is believed to have
planted bomb in the home Of John
M. Di Sylvestro, national head Of the
Sons Of Italy, destroying the house, kill
ing his wife and injuring 16 persons.
Authorities were convinced only q
bomb or dynamite could have torn the
house to pieces as did the blast early
today. A man. since learned to have
been an imposter made an inspection"
in the basement yesterday.
the prominent attorney, banker and
supreme venerable Of the Sons Of Italy
in the United States and Canada, ap-
parently died instantly as the three
story house collapsed.
FAN Two Floors But Live.
Four children and their governess
fell from the third story to the first.
but escaped death. They were injured,
as were also IL persons living in the
neighborhood.
Di Sylvestro was not home at the
time. Legal adviser to the Italian con-
sui in Philadelphia, he had been con-
ferring with an assistant United States
district attorney and was nearing his
home when the terrific blast shook
southern Philadelphia.
Police, recalling minor bombing at
the same place in 1927, favored the
theory that political enemies or rad
lcas attempted to destroy the Di Syl-
vestro family. The father, a friend Of
Benito Mussolini, has been an active
supporter OF Fascism, they said.
Di Sylvestro was In no condition IN
be questioned. authorities declared. but
a cousin, John j. Sabatino, talked with
him. "-'''
Sabatino said Di Sylvestro believed
the bombing to be the work of anar-
chlstS who oppose his support of Mus
solini"
Seven Hours Recovering Body.
The first police on the scene of the
explosion went through holes in the
wall OF an adjoining house to get out
the victims. They found the children
ana the governess, but it was more
than seven hours before flremen re-
Marie Guerino. 81. the governess. was
the most seriously hurt suffering a pos
slble skull fracture and conclusion of
the brain. Helen Di Sylvestro, IA, has
an injured ankle as we'll as cuts and
bruises. Anita and Gloria, l0-year-old
twins, and Arnold, 10. received super
ficial injuries. All are suffering from
shock. Three other children are in
school in Florence, Italy.
Susie Green, domestic, told police
that.a man came to the house at 1919
South Broad street yesterday and said
he was an inspector for the Philadel-
phla Rapid Transit Co. Because
OF subway construction under the street,
she said he told her, he wanted to in
spect the cellar for cracks. He was
down there sCme time. Miss Green said
she noticed no package when he en-
tered. A check of all such inspectors
showed that none was sent there, the
transit company said.
Perplexed as to Motive.
Judge Eugene v. Alessandroni of
Common Pleas Court, whose father was
one Of the II neighbors slightly injured.
said: we are perplexed as to the mo-
tive, but cannot help but feel it has
some political Implications. There was
nothing in Mr.. Di Sylvestro's private or
business affairs which would have
gcaded any one to such violence"
The judge, who Is grand venerable of
the Sons of Italy in Pennsylvania, said
that although his associate was known
as a pro-Fascist, there was little anti
Fascism in this region.
Five thousand dollars reward will be
paid, Judge Allesandroni said, by the
Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania for the
conviction and sentence Of the perpe-
traitors Of the Outrage"