Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 41, Number 122, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 November 1909 — Catholic Church at Clinton Damaged by Dynamite Explosion. [ARTICLE]

Catholic Church at Clinton Damaged by Dynamite Explosion.

The Sacred Heart Catholic church at Clinton, Ind., was partially wrecked by dynamite Tuesday night. Some forty persons were in the church when the effort to destroy it was made. One hundred pounds of dynamite had been placed beneath the building and connected by a fuse. Fortunately the fuse leading to the greater part of the dynamite broke and only about 30 pounds exploded. The front part of the building was damaged to the extent of about SI,OOO. Rev. Father W. H. Maher is pastor of the church and says that there has been considerable friction among some of the foreigners who constitute a large part of the membership, but he can not think that there was any motive for the attempted destruction of the church and the apparent aim to destroy two score of lives. The council at Clinton called a special session and voted a reward of SI,OOO for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the guilty parties.