Warning Prevents Tragedy

Horowhenua Chronicle, 29 April 1931, Page 3

Warning Prevents Tragedy

BOMBS SENT TO SYDNEY BUSINESS MEN.

MANIAC OR POLITICAL PLOT ?

Received Tuesday, 7.0 p.m SYDNEY, April 28. The Sydney Sun discloses to-day the sensational discovery and frustration of crude bombs composed of gunpowder in small tins, arranged to explode when opened. They were sent through the post last week to five well-known city men, Sir Adrian Knox, former Chief Justice of the High Court; Sir Samuel Hordern; Sir Alfred Meeks, Legislative Councillor; Mr. A. C. Davidson, manager of the Bank of New South Wales; and Mr. Warwick Fairfax, managing proprietor of the Sydney Morning Herald. A hint to the police enabled all to be warned not to touch their mail on Thursday morning, and officers intercepted the deadly packets. The strictest secrecy was maintained in the meantime while tlffi police endeavoured to ascertain the origin of the bombs.

Hints were given that the outrage was the work of an international organisation, but though it is not known whether the affair was the outcome of political plotting or the act of an unbalanced criminal, the police believe it will prove to be nothing very fantastic.

It is stated that a man called at the Herald office .on April 22 to warn Air. Fairfax. When interrogated by the bank because of the widespread dispoliee, .he declared that he had been asked by a representative of a secret society which he had joined abroad to deliver the documents to give to the nien named. When he discovered that the documents were bombs he refused, and was assaulted for threatening to tell the' police.

Clumsy Attempt at Blackmail

Received Wednesday, 2.0 a.m,

SYDNEY, April 28. The police now regard the bomb affair as -a rather clumsy attempt at blackmail.