Man held for clinic bombings

Press, 2 January 1985, Page 6

Man held for clinic bombings

NZPA-AP Pensacola A man who said that he was following "God’s law” was ordered held without bond yesterday after telling authorities that he had planted the bombs that exploded at four abortion clinics in Pensacola, Florida. Officials testified at the bond hearing that the suspect, Matthew Goldsby, of rural Cantonment, Florida, had told them he acted alone, but they were investigating whether a “secrettype organisation” had a part in the bombing. “He felt that God’s law was what he had to follow, not Man’s law." said Morris Pelham, of the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.

United States Magistrate Robert Crongeyer denied bond for Goldsby, citing strong evidence against him and saying he was a danger

to the community.

Robert Hofer, another A.T.F. agent, testified that a search of Goldsby’s home had turned up a half-dozen T-shirts, with a drawing of a mask and the slogan "protector of the,code,” from a “secret-type organisation” with “low membership.” He refused to identify the organisation, saying it was under investigation. Goldsby, aged 21, described as’ a regular churchgoer who had no prior criminal record, was arrested on Monday on charges of violating Federal gun-control and explosives laws for three bombings on Christmas Day and one last June.

Twenty-nine abortion clinics across the United States have been bombed or burned in the last three years, according to the A.T.F.