Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 143, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 June 1919 — W. B. AUSTIN’S LAKE SHORE HOME BOMBED. [ARTICLE]

W. B. AUSTIN’S LAKE SHORE HOME BOMBED.

The following is taken from the Chicago Daily News of iune 17th, and tells of the bombing or properties belonging to W. B. Austin, wealthy Chicagoan, and formerly of this City: The offer of a $2,000 reward today spurred police and private detectives to keen efforts to learn, the identity of the persons responsible for the bombing last night of William B. Austin’s home at 103 'Bellevue place and his property at 4807 Grand boulevard, tenated by negroes. Guards patrolled both places. No arrests have bees made and the police acknowledge that there is little on which to base a search for the bomb throwers. Home Badly Damaged. The Austin home was badly dankaged by the explosive, which was thrown in the front basement. Much of the basement and first floor was reduced to wreckage, and windowpanes and glassware were demolished. Several other houses in the neighborhood suffered broken windows. No one was 'hurt. Mrs. Austin was tossed irom her bed. Mr. Austin, who was on a rear sleeping porch, ( was not even shaken. Follows “Race” Bombs. The Grand boulevard house, the center of the trouble, has been occupied by Richard B. Harrison for several weeks. Shortly after the family moved in neighbors requested them to move. They refused. In a few nights a bomb was thrown under the rear porch. The tenants retaliated by placing armed guards at the front and rear of the property. In a few days another bomb came—this time x>n the roof, thrown, presumably, from a vacant flat overlooking the -house. The colored family prepared against further attacks from this direction by posting an armed guard on the roof. Sunday Mr. Austin was called to the telephone and was asked whether he would put the colored tenants “That’s my business,” he replied. “,I own the property and I can do what I Choose with it. The tenants are highly respectable.” Offers $2,000 Reward. Yesterday Mr. Austin placed a newspaper advertisement r iil^ SSOO for the men wiho bombed the Grand boulevard property and SIOO for the man who telephone him bunday. Last night, following the attempt on his own home, he increased each reward to SI,OOO. The Austin residence is in a group ,of homes of wealthy residents. Among the families living m the immediate vicinity are those of Harold F. McCormick, John Borden, T. J. Jeffries, Bryan Lathrop, William H. Scriven and Mrs. Jacob Baur. Mr. Austin is a private ban. ker i -with offices in the Tribune building. He is a member and former president of the Hamilton club.