Rensselaer Republican, Volume 20, Number 10, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 November 1887 — BOMBS IN THEIR CELLS. [ARTICLE]

BOMBS IN THEIR CELLS.

A Startling Discovery In the Chicago Jail— Oglesby Threatened. The cells of the seven condemned anarchists in the Chicago jail were searched, Sunday, and six loaded bombs were found hidden away in a wooden box which was concealed under a pile of newspapers in a corner. Some time ago Sheriff Matson decided to search and clean out. the cells of the seven distinguished prisonersand Sunday was set for the examination. Word was sent by the Sheriff to the friends of the condemned saying that no admittance would be given and the entire fbfce of deputy sheriffs reported at the jail for duty. It was shortly after 9:30 o’clock when Lingg and Engel were led from their cells to the consultation cage and the search began. Engel’s cell was first entered and thoroughly examined, but beyond a few empty cigar boxes, some fruit, books and papers, nothing was found. Then the deputy sheriffs entered Lingg’s cell, while its former occupant planted himself in a corner of his temporary prison and watched them with eager eyes. He was as pale as death and trembled like an aspen leaf as the searchers moved around in the little stone-walled room. Suddenly two of the three men inside jumped out to the corridor, while a third man held at arm’s length a small wooden box which he carried carefully to the jail office and laid it on jailer Folz’s desk. The box contained six pieces of gas pipe, each about six or seven inches in length, filled with some heavy substance and plugged at both ends. Jailer Folz picked up one which was closed at one end with a round iron stopper, and one of the officers pronounced it a veritable dynamite bomb. Just then Sheriff Matson arrived at the jail and ordered that the dangerous weapons bp replaced in the box and sent to a chemist tor analysis, though there was no doubt as to the result of the examination. Then the search was continued, but beyond a quantity of rubbish nothing was found. Then the eells of Fisher, Parsons, Spies, Schwab and Fielden were searched in the order named, but no contraband articles of any kind were found. It wM decided, however, that it wks best to change the cells, and accordingly four apartments in the lower tier were leaned out. Number 11, which is directly in front of the entrance to the jail, and between

two rows of iron gratings, in which space three men are on gu vrd night and day, was prepared for Lingg’s rei»ption, and there the bomb manufacturer was locked up. He was given his bed, books, table and writing material, but everything else was kept from him. He immediately sat down and began to write, keeping at work all day until it was too ’erk to see therifl Matson was seen on the subject during the afternoon. He was very reticent at first, but after consideration made a clean breast of the whole affar. “We had no reason,” he said, “to make the search at this particular time. That is, we received no intimation that anything was wrong. It was merely a precautionary measure decided upon some time ago by Jailer Folz and myself. We selected Sunday as a quiet day when the examination would make less disturbance than if it were made on a week day. For some time there was so much of this amnesty business going bn, that I did not care to interfere with the good citizens who were interested in the condemned men or place any obstacle in their way. But we felt as though the time had come to take extra precautions, and so decided to clean the cells out. Of course, in view of the developments of the search, the most stringent precautionary measures will now be taken. The prisioners will not be allowed to exercise as much as formerly, and the number of vis : tors will be restricted. No one will be allowed to visit any of the condemned in the cages, and if any interviews aro granted it will be only to near relatives and in .the presence of a jail official. I wont say that every visitor will be searched, but there will be no opportunity for any exchange of anything whatever between the prisoners and outsiders. As for Lingg, I don’t know that he will be allowed to see any one, but have not fully decided upon that point. Henceforth no victuals or baskets of fruit will be allowed to be sent from any of the prisoners’ friends to them, and no letters or dispatches will be received or sent until they are examined by a jail official.” The news of the finding of the bombs spread like wild-fire. A universal reaction of the amnesty sentiment was immediately apparent. Hundreds of citizens who had signed the petitions for clemency regretted their action and. wished they had never appended their names to the paper. Twenty of the officers of the Central Detail were in a squad room when a reporter entered and told them the news. Instantly there was a storm of indignation. The word “bombs” recalled to them the scene of the Haymarket, and there was but one expression of comment on the subject. One lieutenant sarcastically remarked: “Well, they ought to pardon Lingg, anyway.” The genera] opinion around the police stations was whatever might be the fate of the others, Lingg’s doom was sealed, and he would have to go to the gallows. It is doubtful if the condemned men will longer be allowed to enjoy the privilege of reading the daily papers. It was suggested to the Sheriff that the advertising columns might easily be as a means of communication in cipher between them and outsiders, and in all robability they will be deprived of their principal pleasure. The bombs were placed in the hands of Captain Schaack for examination and he reported that they appeared to have been designed for use by some of the condemned men as agents of destruction. He said that they differed materially in make up from any he had before examined, and he would be willing to have one of them exploded in an adjoining room, as they could do no serious harm to the surroundings. From his knowledge of the methods of making bombs for various purposes, Captain Schaack gave it as his opinion that the bombs found in Lingg’s cell were intended to be used only as a means of cheating the gallows. It was doubtless the intention of Lingg, as well as the other three, to put one end of the bomb in his mouth and light the fuse, just as he would a cigar. The resultant explosion, it was believed, would prove fatal. Before hearing the result of Captain Schaack’s examination, Sherifl Matson and some of bis deputies had reached similar conclusions. The Sheriff said the fact that there were four of the bombs seemed at once to be a reminder that four of the condemned men had refused to ask for a commutation of sentence.

BNGBL ATTBMPTB BUICIDB. Not ttie least remarkable phase of the bomb discovery is that it came about from the fact that George Engel attempted suicide Sunday night by taking an ounce of laudanum. About 11:20 o’clock Emil Zoener, who is on the night death watch, passed Engel’s cell and was attracted by groans coming from within. On stopping to enquire the cause, he found Engel breathing heavily and ~ lying prostrate on his back. He called him by name but received no answer, and on opening the cell door .discovered that the man was unconscious and suffering from the effects of some stupefying drug. After repeated attempts to awaken the sleeping man, Zoener became alarmed and decided to call in Dr. Gray from the insane ward in the same building. Dr. Gray was sent for im mediately. On going to Engel's cell the doctor soon discovered th? t Engel was suffering from poison. His eyes were dilated and rolled spasmodically. Dr.

Gray at once commenced active work on his patient. As soon as Engel came to his senses he raved and cursed at beiiig disturbed in his sleep, and asked the reason pf his being awakened. He protested that he had only drank a little whisky and was all right. His condition and subsequent events showed that Engel was deliberately lying, and that in the face of death. He was at once forced to take emetics and kept constantly walking for an hour until all danger had passed. From th it time on the surveillance oyer him was not relaxed for an instant. The attempted suicide of Engel is what led to the search of the cells in the morning. Besides the discovery of explosives among the effects of Lingg, there was fqund in Engel’s cell the bottle from which he had taken the laudanum. It was concealed in the urinal. Three or four drops of laudanum still remained <n the bottle, and Engel was confronted with the evidence of his intended suicide. He continued to denv but at last sullenly admitted the truth of the accusation. He had preferred death by his own hand, he eaid, to any carrying outof a sentence under the law. Engel stubbornly refused to disclose how he obtained the poison The bottle affords nd clue, and like Lingg’s dynamite the source of the poison is a mystery. THRBATENING THE GOVERNOR. It has just transpired to-night that Governor Oglesby has within the past few days received several communications threatening violence if he refuses to exercise executive clemency in behalf of the .condemned anarchists. This news only leaked out to-night, but comes from a source that is considered most re--1 iable. One of the anonymous letters dated from Chicago, is .said to boldly threaten the Governor with death in case he permits the anarchists te be hanged. Governor Oglesby has endeavored to keep this news from reaching the ears ot his iamilv, as he desires to spare them all alarm. The first of these threatening epistles was received some days ago and was the cause of the Governor deciding to refuse the press access to the correspondence and petitions in the anarchist case. It has been daily remarked by the friends of Governor Oglesby that ever since executive clemency has become the last resort of the anarchists the Governor has worn a somewhat careworn and anxious expression. While he is certainly not a coward, it is thought the receipt of these threatening communications and the consciousness of his temble responsibility has produced this alteration ip the Governor’s demeanor.