Tilney Street Explosion

[Robert]

I'm sure that Debs does not have any facial hair whatsoever, and the fact that 'Debra' is an anagram of 'beard' is pure coincidence.

[TradeName]

From the Old Bailey Online, anarchists tried for inciting violence against Justice Hawkins and others.

DAVID JOHN NICOLL, CHARLES WILFRED MOWBRAY, Royal Offences > seditious libel, 2nd May 1892.

493. DAVID JOHN NICOLL (32) and CHARLES WILFRED MOWBRAY (35) were indicted for unlawfully, in a newspaper called the Commonweal, inciting, soliciting, and encouraging certain persons unknown to murder the Right Hon. Henry Matthews, Secretary of State for the Home Department; Sir Henry Hawkins, one of the Justices of the High Court of Justice; and William Melville, inspector of police.

[...]

The ATTORNEY-GENERAL read several extracts from the "Commonweal" of various dates. The following, of 9th April, is the one upon which the indictment is framed:—

THE WALSALL ANARCHISTS "CONDEMNED TO PENAL SERVITUDE."The Walsall Anarchists have been condemned—Charles, Battola, and Cailes to ten years' penal servitude, while Deakin has been let off in mercy with five. For what? For a police plot concocted by one of those infamous wretches who make a living by getting up these affairs and selling their victims to the vengeance of the law. Surely we ought not to have to warn Anarchists of the danger of conspiracies; these death traps; these gins set by the police and their spies, in which so many honest and devoted men have perished. Surely those who desire to act can do as John Felton did, when, alone and unaided, he bought the knife which struck down the tyrant. Are there no tyrants now? What of the Jesuitical monster at the Home Office, who murders men for taking a few head of game? What of the hyena who preys upon bodies of hanged men, and whose love of the gallows a few years ago won him the title of 'Hangman' Hawkins?—this barbarous brute, who, prating of his humanity, sends our comrades to ten years in the hell of the prisons. What of the spy Melville, who sets his agent on to concoct the plots which he discovers? Are these men fit to live? The Anarchists are criminals, vermin, gallows carrion; well, shower hard names upon us; hunt us down like mad dogs; strangle us like you have done our comrades at Xeres; shoot us down as you did at Fourmies; and then be surprised if your houses are shattered with dynamite, and if people shrink from the companionship of officials of the law as 'dangerous company.' Justice has been done. Has it, gentlemen of the middle classes? 'Justice!' Was it justice that was done in your Courts of Tuesday, when a cruel wretch belonging to your class bearing the likeness of a woman was let off with one year's imprisonment for torturing her own child to death, while men who loved the suffering people so much that they dared all things for them are condemned to ten years' penal servitude? Justice it may be; perhaps, too, it will be just when the oppressed strike back at you without ruth and mercy; only don't whine for pity in these days, for it will be useless.—D. J. NICOLL."

[...]

W.R. CUPAR. I was in Hyde Park on Sunday, 10th April—I heard the whole of your speech, from beginning to end—I did not hear you say, "The, Jesuitical Home Secretary Matthews, Inspector Melville and Coulon are the principal conspirators in this plot; two of them must die"—I heard you say that someone had said that it must be very uncomfortable for Mr. Justice Hawkins to meet so many persons in the street who he had condemned to death, but I do not remember your having added anything of that sort that is added to it—I heard nothing like an incitement to murder either of these men, decidedly not.

Cross-examined by the ATTORNEY-GENERAL. He made a long speech—he began by giving us some particulars about Auguste Coulon, and he suggested that the Walsall affair was very likely to be a got-up plot, and very likely it was done with a political intention, to show the connection between the Anarchists and the Social Democrats, and the Fenian Society and the Radicals, towards the Liberal party—that the uncomfortableness caused by the Walsall plot would reflect upon the Liberal party—and further, he denounced, in pretty strong language, the action taken by the police, and Justice Hawkins and Mr. Matthews, and Inspector Melville—I don't remember anything particular about it—as to Justice Hawkins, he characterised him as—I don't know whether he used the expression as his own, or as somebody else's, but he certainly used the expression, "Hangman Hawkins"—I am not quite sure about "Butcher Hawkins"—he might have, but I don't believe it—he said nothing about the Home Secretary which might be taken as inciting to murder—he spoke about his action in the case of the poachers at Aylesbury—he did not call him a murderer; he simply let it appear that Mr. Henry Matthews, at any rate—let me see—no, I can't remember what he said about it—I only heard one speech from Nicoll that afternoon; I can't tell the time exactly, but it must have been between four and half-past five, I think nearer five—I am a Dutchman.


[...]

MOWBRAY— NOT GUILTY . NICOLL— GUILTY .— Eighteen Months' Hard Labour.

--end

Another anarchist case with Hawkins presiding.

GUISEPPE FARNARA, FRANCIS POLTI, Damage to Property > other, 30th April 1894.

434. GUISEPPE FARNARA (44), and FRANCIS POLTI (18), were indicted for having in their possession and control certain explosive substances, with intent to endanger life and property; other Counts varying the mode of charge.

[...]

GUILTY .—Sentence on

FARNARA— Twenty Years' Penal Servitude. On

POLTI— Ten Years' Penal Servitude.

The COURT highly commended the conduct of the witness Thomas Smith, and also that of Inspector Melville, Sergeant Quinn, and Constables Sweeney, Maguire, and Cann. The GRAND JURY had also made a similar commendation.

--end

An anarchist airship lays waste to London:



Hartmann the Anarchist: Or, The Doom of the Great City (London: Edward Arnold, 1893), link
by Edward Douglas Fawcett
illustrated by Fred T. Jane [the "Fighting Ships" guy]

[lynn cates]

informant

Hello Trade. Thanks for posting this.

Later on, it was supposed that Mowbray became a police informant.

By the way, have you read "The Slow Burning Fuse" by John Quail?

Cheers.
LC

[TradeName]

I haven't read the Quail book. I notice it's listed in the catalog of a local library so maybe I'll be able to consult it in the near future. Thanks.

[TradeName]

Important Outrages and Attempts, 1881-1900

Sessional Papers, Volume 9, 1901
By Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons

Twenty-Fifth Annual Report
of
Her Majesty's Inspectors of Explosives
Being Their
Annual Report for the Year 1900

Pages 130-138

APPENDIX P.

A List of the more important Outrages and Attempts, and suspicious cases of Discoveries of Explosives (exclusive of scares), which have engaged the attention of Her Majesty's Inspectors of Explosives during the Period 1881-1900, inclusive.


1881


14 January.—An attempt to blow up the barracks at Salford by dynamite. The injury to the barracks was insignificant, but one boy was killed and another injured. (See Annual Report for 1881, page 46.)

16 March.—An attempt to injure the Mansion House, London, by a box containing from 15 to 20 lbs. of gunpowder. The touchpaper by which the gunpowder was to have been fired was extinguished by a policeman. (Ibid., page 47.)

16 May.—An attempt to blow up the police barracks at Liverpool with gunpowder in iron piping. The damage to the building was inconsiderable, and no one was hurt. (Ibid., page 48.)

10 June.—An attempt to blow up the Town Hall, Liverpool, by an infernal machine, probably filled with dynamite. A great number of windows were broken, and some iron railings were destroyed, but no one was injured. The two perpetrators were captured. (Ibid., page 47.)

14 June.—A piece of iron piping filled with gunpowder exploded against the police station at Loanhead, near Edinburgh. Some windows were broken, but no other damage was effected. (Ibid., page 50.)

30 June.—An importation of six infernal machines at Liverpool from America in the " Malta," Importations concealed in barrels of cement. They contained lignin dynamite, with a clockwork arrangement for of infernal firing it. (Ibid., page 50.)

2 July.—An importation of four similar machines at Liverpool in the "Bavaria." (Ibid., page 50.)

15 August.—A large sandboat moored in the Tay at Perth, blown up with dynamite. The perpetrator was convicted and sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment. (Ibid., page 47.)

8 September.—An attempt to produce an explosion at the Barracks, Castlebar. A canister containing gunpowder was thrown over the wall, close to the magazine. The lighted fuze which was rattached fell out, and no harm was done. (Ibid., page 47.)


1882.


18 February.—Boxes fitted up as infernal machines sent to various persons in Edinburgh, by a man who was afterwards convicted of the offence and sentenced to 20 years' penal servitude. About eight persons were injured. (Annual Report for 1882, page 47.)

26 March.—An attempt to blow up Weston House, Galway, with dynamite in an iron pot enclosed in a sack. Five persons were afterwards convicted of the outrage. (Ibid., page 49.)

27 March.—A 6-inch shell charged with explosive thrown into a house in Letterkenny. The explosion caused considerable damage. (Ibid., page 47.)

2 April.—An attempt to destroy the Police Barracks in Limerick by firing some dynamite on the window sill. (Ibid., page 47.)

12 May.—A discovery of a parcel containing 12 lbs. to 20 lbs. of gunpowder, with lighted touchpaper or fuze attached, at the Mansion House, London. (Ibid., page 47.)


1883


*20 January.—An explosion of lignin dynamite at Tradeston Gasworks, Glasgow, doing considerable damage. (Annual Report for 1883, page 48; Special Report, No. L., dated 14th March, 1883.)

*21 January.—An explosion of lignin dynamite at Possil Bridge, Glasgow. Two or three persons passing sustained slight injury. (Ibid.)

*21 January.—An explosion of lignin dynamite at Buchanan Street Station, Glasgow, in a disused goods shed. (Ibid., page 48.)

*In connection with these three explosions, 10 persons were subsequently convicted. (See Annual Report for 1885, P. 48)

15 March.—An explosion at the Local Government Board Office, Whitehall, causing considerable local damage. (Annual Report for 1883, page 48; Special Report, No. LI., dated 27th Board, April, 1883.)

15 March.—An abortive explosion of lignin dynamite outside a window at the "Times" office. (Ibid.)

27 March.—Two infernal machines, containing 28 lbs. of lignin dynamite (probably home-made), discovered at Liverpool. Four persons were convicted and sentenced to penal servitude for life. (Annual Report for 1883, page 49.)

5 April.—The discovery of a factory of nitro-glycerine at Birmingham, and of a large amount of nitro-glycerine brought thence to London. The occupier of the house and others were subsequently convicted and sentenced to penal servitude for life. (Ibid., page 7.)

30 October.—An explosion in the Metropolitan Railway, between Charing Cross and Westminster, unattended with personal or serious structural injury. (Ibid., page 49; Special Report, No. LV., dated 17th November, 1883.)

30 October.—An explosion in the Metropolitan Railway, near Praed Street. Three carriages Underground sustained serious injury, and about 62 persons were cut by the brokenglass and debris and otherwise injured (Ibid.)

22 November.—Two infernal machines discovered in a house in Westminster, occupied by a German named Woolf. Two men were tried, and in the result the jury disagreed and a nolle prosequi was entered on behalf of the Crown. (Annual Report for 1883, page 50.)


1884.


16 January.—The discovery of some slabs of Atlas Powder A (American make) in Primrose Hill tunnel.

26 February.—An explosion in the cloak-room of the London, Brighton, and South Coast Railway way stations at victoria Station of Atlas Powder A (American make), left in a bag or portmanteau. (Annual victoria.: Report for 1884, page 37; Special Report, No. LIX., dated 8th March, 1884.)

27 February.—The discovery of a bag containing some Atlas Powder A, with clockwork and detonators, at Charing Cross Station. (Ibid., page 37.)

28 February.—A similar discovery at Paddington Station. (Ibid., page 37.)

1 March.—A similar discovery at Ludgate Hill Station. (Ibid., page 37.)

11 April.—A discovery of three metal bombs, containing dynamite (probably American make), at Birkenhead, in possession of a man named Daly, who was afterwards sentenced to penal servitude for life. (Ibid, page 38.)

30 May.—An explosion of dynamite at the Junior Carlton Club, St. James's Square. About 14 persons were injured. (Annual Report for 1884, page 38; Special Report, No. LXII., dated 10th June, 1884.)

30 May.—An explosion of dynamite at the residence of Sir Watkin Williams Wynn, St. James's Square. (Annual Report for 1884, page 38.)

30 May.—An explosion of dynamite in a urinal under a room occupied by some of the detective staff in Scotland Yard. It brought down a portion of the building, besides severely injuring a police man and some persons who were at an adjacent public-house. (Ibid., page 37.)

30 May.—A discovery of Atlas Powder A, with fuze and detonators, in Trafalgar Square. (Ibid., page 38.)

28 November.—An attempted destruction of a house at Edenburn, near Tralee, occupied by Mr. Hussey. The injury, which was doubtless accomplished with dynamite, was less serious than was intended, and no one sustained bodily harm. (Annual Report for 1884, page 38; Special Report, No. LXVIIL, dated 5th December, 1884.)

13 December.—An explosion of a large charge of dynamite or other nitro-compound under London Bridge. Bridge, fortunately doing very little damage. (Annual Report for 1884, page 38.)


1885.


2 January.—An explosion in the Gower Street tunnel of the Metropolitan Railway, caused by about 2 lbs. of some nitro-compound fired apparently by a percussion fuze. Damage inconsiderable. (Annual Report for 1885, page 58.)

24 January.—An explosion in the Tower of London, caused, beyond all reasonable doubt, by about 5 to 8 lbs. of Atlas Powder A (American make). Three or four persons were slightly injured, and considerable damage was done to the Armoury. (Ibid., page 59.)

24 January.—An explosion of a similar amount of Atlas Powder A (American make), in Westminster Hall. Three persons were injured severely, and others slightly, and very considerable damage was done to the Hall and surroundings. (Ibid., page 59.)

24 January.—An explosion in the House of Commons (probably caused by a similar amount of the same explosive). No persons were injured, but very considerable damage was done to the Houses of Parliament. (Ibid., page 59.)

In connection with these three last-named outrages two men (Burton and Cunningham) were afterwards convicted and sentenced to penal servitude for life. (Ibid., page 59.)

10 February.—A discovery of dynamite (of American make) in a house in Harrow Road, Paddington. (Ibid., page 59.)

9 March.—A discovery of Atlas Powder A in the roof of a sawmill at Bootle. (Ibid., page 60.)

23 April.—Explosion of an infernal machine, containing gunpowder, at Admiralty, Whitehall. Mr. Swainson, in whose room the explosion occurred, sustained severe injuries, and the room and leighbouring apartments were much damaged. (Ibid., page 59.)


1886.


24 March.—Attempted injury with blasting gelatine to the house of Mr. Tyzack, manager of the South Medorasley Colliery, Durham. (Annual Report for 1886, page 41.)

23 June.—An attempted injury, by explosion of dynamite, of new reservoir in connection with some new waterworks at Callington. {Ibid., page 41.)

12 July.—Bottles filled with gunpowder thrown among the crowd at an Orange demonstration at Londonderry. (Ibid., page 41.)

1 September.—Two attempts at Limerick to injure residents by means of an iron pipe charged with powder and fuzed. (Ibid., page 41.)


1887.


1 January.—An explosion maliciously effected (by means probably of guncotton or dynamite) in the streets of Harlech. (Annual Report for 1887, page 46.)

27 January.—Injury to three shops at Dudley by malicious explosion of gunpowder. {Ibid., page 45.)

17 February.—Attempted dynamite outrage at Paradise House, near Kildysart, Co. Clare (the residence of the Recorder of Galway). (Ibid., page 44.)

8 March.—Attempted injury by tonite to canal near Preston. (Ibid., page 44.)

20 March.—Injury to a man at Walton, near Preston, by an infernal machine. (Ibid., page 45.)

21 April.—Malicious explosion of gunpowder at a house at Newcastle West, occupied by Mr. John Murphy. {Ibid., page 45.)

4, 21, and 24 May.—Three outrages with explosives at Hebburn, Durham. (Ibid., page 45.)

27 July.—Attempt to injure the police station at Llanerchymedd by means of gunpowder. (Annual Report for 1887, page 45.)

16 August.—Attempt to injure railway bridge at Ennis with dynamite. (Ibid., page 45.)

23 October.—Malicious explosion at the house of County Inspector Ridge, Royal Irish Constabulary, at Cavan. (Ibid., page 44.)

20 November.—Discovery of conspiracy between Callan and Harkins to commit an outrage or outrages by means of dynamite. (Ibid., page 46.)

6 December.—Attempt to injure the residence of the High Sheriff of Kerry, at Listowel. (Ibid., Listowel. page 45.)

16 December.—Explosion of an infernal machine on the premises of a person at Macroom who had offended the Land League. (Ibid., page 45.)

16 April.—Explosion of gunpowder on the premises of a Mr. William Maddocks, contractor, Birkenhead, probably intended to cause alarm rather than real damage. (Ibid., page 45.)

August.—An outrage was perpetrated at Bodvain Rectory, Denbighshire, by exploding some substance against a window. (Ibid., page 46.)


1888.


18 and 23 February, 18 September, and 6 December.—Five minor ontratges or suspicious circumstances suggesting intended attempts at explosive outrages in Ireland—at Ennis, Listowel, Letterkenny, Coleraine, and Skibbereen. (Annual Report for 1888, page 44.)

29 April.—A. small charge of gunpowder exploded close to a new small-pox hospital, Trooper's Hill, St. George, Gloucestershire. (Ibid, page 44.)


1889.


7 September.—Explosion of an infernal machine in Mr. Smith-Barry's office, near Tipperary, (Annual Report for 1889, page 41.)

18 November.—Attempt, by means of an infernal machine, to blow up the police and bailiffs engaged in carrying out evictions on Lord Clanricarde's estate near Woodford, Co. Galway. (Ibid., page 40.)

28 November.—Attempt to explode an infernal machine at Rochdale School Board Office. (Ibid., page 41.)


1890.


27 January.—Explosion of an infernal machine in main street of Macroom. (Annual Report for 1890, page 41.)

22 March.—Destruction of a hut at a railway crossing near Toome Station, Co. Antrim, by malicious explosion. (Ibid., page 41.)

17 July.—Attempt to do injury or to create alarm by means of an infernal machine at the Falmouth Custom House. (Ibid., page 41.)

25 September.—Explosion of a stone jar filled with gunpowder on window-sill of a surgery occupied by Chairman of Town Commissioners, Tipperary. (Ibid., page 42.)

9 October.—Attempted outrage, by means of blasting powder, on the premises of a baker at Templecombe. (Ibid., page 42.)


1891.


15 January.—Malicious injury, by explosion, to the Dawsholm Gasworks, near Glasgow. (Annual Report for 1891, page 40.)

3 July.—Personal outrage, by the explosion of a detonator, to a woman in the streets of Sunderland. (Ibid., page 40.)

25 October.—Injury to offices of "National Press" in Dublin, by means of an explosive thrown into the building. (Ibid., page 40.)

5 November.—Malicious explosion of tonite in the house of a police constable and other houses at Croscombe, Somerset. (Ibid., page 40.)

31 December.—Malicious explosion in the offices of the Chief Secretary, Dublin Castle. (Ibid., page 39.)

December.—Discovery of a packet of dynamite, with fuze, in the Dublin Post Office. (Ibid., page 40.)


1892.


29 January.—Explosion of an infernal machine at private residence near Bristol. (Annual Report for 1892, page 53.)

24 March.—Conviction of anarchists at Walsall for being in possession of explosives for unlawful purposes, under Explosive Substances Act, 1883. (Ibid., page 53.)

5 April.—Explosion of an infernal machine during Durham mining strike, at house at Castle Eden Colliery. (Ibid., page 53.)

5 June.—Explosion of dynamite or gelatine cartridge in doorway of house at Inverkeithing. (Ibid., page 54.)

5 August.—Explosion of a quantity of gunpowder on window-sill of an hotel at Rathkeale. (Ibid., page 54.)

12 August.—Explosion of a quantity of gunpowder in a miner's house at Low Spennymoor. (Ibid., page 54.)

24 December.—Explosion of an infernal machine outside the Detective Office in Exchange Court, Dublin. One detective officer was killed. (Ibid., page 53.)


1893.


19 April.—Discovery of a tin can containing about 10 1/2 lbs. of gunpowder, with an arrangement for exploding it, on the line at the Newport end of the Gair tunnel. (Annual Report for 1893, page 62.)

6 May.—Explosion of an infernal machine at the Four Courts, Dublin, situated on the north bank of the Liffey, at Inn's Quay. (Ibid., page 62.)

22 July.—Death of a man at Broadstairs [, Kent], from the explosion of an infernal machine which had been sent to him by post. (Ibid., page 62.)

28 July.—Explosion of a detonator in a public-house at Great Bridge [, Staffordshire], causing serious injury to three men. (Ibid., page 63.)

27 August.—A cartridge, probably of tonite, was thrown into the garden of a farm house at Euxton, Chorley causing damage to windows. (Ibid., page 63.)

17 September.—The house of a colliery fireman at Parr was wrecked by the explosion of some probably roburite. (Ibid., page 63.)

1 October.—Explosion, without injury, of some unknown substance during the service at St. George's (Roman Catholic) Cathedral, London. (Ibid., page 63.)

20 October.—Explosion of roburite on window-sill of a house occupied by a colliery fireman at Broad Oak Broad Oak Road, Parr. (Annual Report for 1893, page 63.)

27 October.—Explosion of some substance placed on the window-sill of a house occupied by a gamekeeper, at Ovingham. (Ibid., page 63.)

26 November.—Discovery of a tin box containing dynamite, with fuze attached, at Aldborough, Barracks, Dublin. (Ibid., page 64.)

10 December.—An explosion of a malicious character outside the dwelling-house of a gasman, in Cowies Square, Craigneuk, Dalziel. (Ibid., page 64.)


1894.


15 February.—Explosion of a bomb near Greenwich Observatory, killing the man who was t. (Annual Report for 1894, page 64.)

—April.—Discovery of two tubes filled with gunpowder near the stained glass window of the village church of Bunwell [, Norfolk]. One man was arrested, tried, and acquitted. (Ibid., page 65.)

3 April.—A bomb containing gunpowder, nails, and scrap iron, with burning fuze attached, was found on a window-sill of the Conservative Working Men's Club at Great Yarmouth. (Ibid., page 65.)

14 April.—Discovery of a metal bomb, in connection with which two men named Farnara and Farnara and Polti were afterwards sentenced, the former to 20 and the latter to 10 years' penal servitude. (Ibid., page 65.)

20 June.—Explosion of dynamite, placed in the cellar of the Dunraven Hotel, Bryncethin, by a drunken miner, who was arrested and sentenced to seven years' penal servitude. (Ibid., page 66.)

2 August.—Two tins containing gunpowder were exploded in a recess of the fines of the smoke-board of the "Kate," off Lerwick, doing slight damage. (Ibid., page 66.)

14 August.—Explosion of a packet placed in the letter-box of the Post Office at 177, New Cross Road London, S.E. (Ibid., page 66 )

27 August.—Discovery of a large Chinese cracker amongst collection of letters at the General Post Office. (Ibid., page 66.)

2 October.—Explosion of a tin of gunpowder in a house on the Clanricarde Estate, Galway. (Ibid., page 66.)

11 October.—Discovery of a gas tube containing gunpowder with lighted fuze attached, on the window-sill of the Metropolitan Bank, Walsall. (Ibid., page 66.)

4 November.—Bomb outrage in Tilney Street, Mayfair, at the house of the Hon. R. Brett. No one was injured. (Ibid., p. 67.)

15 November.—Two pieces of metal piping about 2" bore, and from 8" to 12" in length, filled with gunpowder, were placed on door-step and window-sill, and fired simultaneously, doing considerable damage. The author of the outrage, being unable to plead, was ordered to be detained during Her Majesty's pleasure. (Ibid., page 67.) East Ralston, Durham

18 November.—Some glass was broken, and a small hole made in the station yard, by an explosion, which was attributed to a person who had been recently prosecuted by the police. (Ibid., page 67.) Whittingham, Northumberland.

27 November.—Several attempts at outrages were made by, it was believed, some mischievous boys. (Ibid., page 67.) Yorksire, West Riding.


1895.


15 May.-A dynamite cartridge was found near a gate lodge at Ballydorlan, the residence of Mr. G. R. Mahon, in which an obnoxious herd lived. There was a fuze attached to the cartridge, which, from its appearance, had evidently been set fire to. (Annual Report for 1895, page 51.)

17 May.—Some explosive was placed on the doorstep of a dwelling-house at Haswell Colliery occupied by a miner, and fired. An explosion took place, but no one was injured, and only slight damage was done to the house. (Ibid., page 51.)

17 May.—An explosion took place in a railway carriage at Walworth Road railway station by which a man was slightly burnt. A piece of brass cylinder, about 10 inches in length and 1 1/4 inches diameter, was found on the floor of the compartment. The cylinder had evidently contained gunpowder. (Annual Report for 1895, page 51.)

4 June.—An explosion causing slight damage took place at East Burnham,and was due to someone having placed some gunpowder in the copper flue. (Ibid., page 51.)

6 September.—The roof of a house at Pontygwaith was damaged, and a boy slightly injured, by the explosion of some ammonite which had been placed on the roof and set fire to by two men, who were afterwards arrested. (Ibid., page 51.)

19 September.—An explosion of gunpowder took place in the house of Johanna Walsh, at Liffane, Rathkeale. whereby she was slightly injured, and the house and furniture were more or less damaged. (Ibid., page 51.)

11 November.—About 8 p.m., a number of men were sitting in the front room of a public-house in Muir Street, Motherwell, when an explosion occurred, slightly injuring two of them, and causing damage to the building to the amount of about £5. (Ibid., page 51.)

11 December.—Explosive dropped in tin letter-box secured inside the front door of a private Trent. dwelling-house, Burton-on-Trent. An explosion occurred, shattering the door and doing other slight damage. No one was injured. (Ibid., page 51.)


1896.


13 January.—Explosion of a packet placed in the letter-box of the Post Office, at 139, Lewisham Post Office, High Road, S.E. (Annual Report for 1896, page 49.)

25 January.—Explosion of a tin which had been placed on the window-sill of the house of the Relieving Officer in Egerton Street, Oldham. (Ibid., page 49.)

21 and 22 February.—Two bombs sent to two residents in Bath, one of which exploded, severely injuring the receiver; the other was handed over to the police. The sender of the bombs was tried and sentenced to 10 years' penal servitude. (Ibid., page 49.)

11 April.—Roburite fired outside a house at Lowca, near Whitehaven, in which a wedding party Whitehaven, was assembled. (Ibid., page 50.)

25 May.—Some boys placed "gelignite" on railway of Great Western Railway Company at Redruth. It was exploded by a passing train, but no damage was done. Three boys were birched for the offence. (Ibid., page 50.)

24 July.—Explosion of gunpowder, Aughaderry, in a bicycle inflator, embedded in a sod of turf, which was placed on the fire. (Ibid., page 50.)

20 November.—Explosion of 2 lbs. gunpowder at Spennymoor, placed on fire by drunken miner, who was sentenced to two months' imprisonment under the Malicious Injury to Property Act. (Ibid., page 50.)


1897.


3 January.—Unexploded bomb found in letter-box of Post Office, at 61, Trafalgar Road, East Post Office, Greenwich, S.E. A man was afterwards arrested and charged with causing the explosion at the Post Office at 177, New Cross Road, S.E., on 14th August 1894, and he was convicted and sentenced to seven years' penal servitude.

— January.—Railway station at New Radnor broken into and safe blown up with dynamite. A Railway man was arrested and sentenced to eight months' hard labour.

26 April.—Bomb exploded in first-class carriage of Metropolitian Railway at Aldersgate Street Aldersgate Station, by which two men sustained fatal injuries.

— April.—Shell found in second-class carriage of the Newhaven Boat Train. Newhaven

— May.—Infernal machine placed on a gate and so contrived that on opening the gate it exploded. Two men slightly injured.

11 August.—Gelignite cartridge exploded against wall of U. P. Church Hall, Kelsbourn Street, Kelvinside, doing slight damage to building. A lad was arrested and charged with malicious mischief.

27 August.—Explosive exploded on window-sill of a room of the Lanesborough Post Office, causing considerable damage to the house and breaking the windows of neighbouring houses.

4 October.—Detonators exploded by miners outside public-house at Abercanaid, doing damage to house.

20 October.—Detonators exploded by colliers at rear of Undenominational Chapel in Ivor Street, Ivor street, Dowlais, breaking several windows of chapel.

31 October.—Explosive fired on window-sill of house occupied by police constable at Netherton, Netherton, doing slight damage to building.

9 November.—Man blinded by having explosive placed in his pipe by two fellow-workmen, who were subsequently charged with common assault.


1898.


1 January.—Fire caused at 52, Liverpool Road, Canning Town, E., by a ship's rocket, which had been thrown through the ground-floor window of the house by some person or persons unknown.

11 May.—Small box containing gunpowder so constructed that an explosion would be brought about on the box being open ad sent to a foreman employed in H.M. Dockyard, Chatham. A similar box was sent to the same foreman about a month previous.

1 August.—A collier fired a Roburite cartridge in the street at Wingates, Westhoughton, causing damage to windows of houses in the vicinity. He was prosecuted and fined 20s. and costs.

28 September.—A box containing gunpowder and cayenne pepper was sent to the head-master of a school in the suburbs of London. The box was provided with an arrangement which would bring about the ignition of the gunpowder on the string being cut.

17 October.—Two men exploded a Tonite cartridge near the National Harbour Works, East Cliff, Dover, causing considerable damage to the windows of houses near. Proceedings were taken against the men, one of whom was fined £5 and costs, or three weeks' imprisonment. The other man was discharged.


1899.


13 January.—Some explosive was fired in a ventilator in the wall of a house of a bankrupt spirit grocer at Tullybrick, Draperstown, Co. Londonderry.

15 February.—An attempt was made by means of dynamite to wreck a house at Blakeney Hill, Forest of Dean. The occupier was injured. A man was arrested in connection with this outrage, but was released.

18 February.—Explosive was placed on the rails of the North Eastern Railway Company's line at Bridge House Cabin, about 1 1/2 miles from Durham, and was exploded by an excursion train running over it. No damage was done except slight injury to the permanent way.

23 February.—A box containing an explosive of the nature of gunpowder was exploded in a second-class carriage of a train on the North London Railway. One person was injured. near Kensal Rise Station.

26 July.—A paper bag containing explosive was placed inside one of the windows of an old disused school at Derrynanta, Swanlinbar, Co. Cavan, and exploded by means of a fuze lighted from outside. The building was slightly damaged.

2 November.—A firework was placed in the letter-box of a house in Cleveland Square, Bayswater, W., and exploded, blowing the box to pieces. A boy was charged with the offence, and was ordered to find one surety in £5 to be of good behaviour for twelve months.

20 November.—A quantity of gunpowder was thrown down an air-trough into a hovel fire by a collier, and injured a boy who was inside the place. The man was charged with the offence, and agreed to pay £2 compensation and £2 costs.


1900.


6 January.—Attempt to wreck a train by placing explosives on the rail near Cat House Pit, on the north side of Durham North Station. No damage done to train,

13 January.—At Cowpen New Town, near Morpeth, a man while drunk threw some explosive from a tin into the fire, which caused the remainder to explode, causing injury to a girl and slight damage to the house.

5 June.—During the rejoicings in connection with the occupation of Pretoria a charge of high explosives contained in a tin canister was fired in the street at Pollokshaws, near Glasgow, causing more or less serious injury to eight persons, and slight damage was done to windows of surrounding houses. Earlier on the same evening a similar explosion took place on the outskirts of the town. Some bad characters were suspected to have caused the explosions, but there was not sufficient evidence to convict them.

6 June.—At Bedlington a miner fired a gelignite cartridge in the street to assist in the celebration on account of the capture of Pretoria. Proceedings were taken against him, but on the hearing of the case before the magistrates he was discharged on paying for the damage done to adjacent property.

4 November.—At 203, Mount Street, Bradford, a labourer exploded a charge of gelignite in the house, causing slight injury thereto. The man absconded, but was subsequently arrested and prosecuted under the Malicious Damages Act, 1861, and discharged, sufficient evidence to convict him not being forthcoming.

[lynn cates]

Jubilee

Hello Trade. Thanks for posting this.

"20 November.—Discovery of conspiracy between Callan and Harkins to commit an outrage or outrages by means of dynamite. (Ibid., page 46.)"

I take it you know the complete story of this?

Cheers.
LC

[TradeName]

LC, "Cohen" the consumptive?

[lynn cates]

the cast

Hello Trade. Actually, I was referring to Millen, the informant and spy, and Lord Salisbury, the political opportunist.

Cheers.
LC

[TradeName]

LC, that would have been my 2nd guess....

The trial of the 1894 post office bomber, who seems to have been a bit of an anarchist. From the Old Bailey Online.

ROLLO RICHARDS, Damage to Property > arson, 5th April 1897.

321. ROLLO RICHARDS (36) , Feloniously causing an explosion by gunpowder on August 14th, 1894, likely to endanger life.

[...]

GUILTY .— Seven Years' Penal Servitude.

There were two other indictments against the prisoner or similar offences,

[lynn cates]

One in a Millen.

Hello Trade. Thanks.

Have you seen Millen's drawn likeness and read his description?

Cheers.
LC

[TradeName]

If I have seen a depiction of Millen, it didn't make any strong impression upon me.

[lynn cates]

Millen

Hello Trade. Try this. Post #430.

Cheers.
LC

http://forum.casebook.org/showthread.php?t=3835&page=43&highlight=astrakhan

[TradeName]

I do remember seeing this now. Thanks.