ATTEMPTED OUTRAGE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3097, 23 July 1913, Page 7

ATTEMPTED OUTRAGE.

CHRISTCHURCH, July 10. A startling story of an attempt to blow up the Kmjr Edward Barracks last night was made inis morning. The story indicated that some malevolent person or persons had planned to destroy portion at least of the buildings attached to the barracks in Cashel street. The attempt appeared on investigation to have been the work of amateurs, but had it succeeded it is difficult to say what damage might have been wrought not only to the portion of the drillshed selected but to the roadway and the houses in the immediate vicinity. About 10.30 last night Mr L. Campbell was walking along Cashel street on his way home with his wife. When passing the orderly rooms near Montreal street he was somewhat astonished on noticing a light under one of the wooden buildings He suspected that an attempt was being made to set fire to the buildings, and at once investigated matters. On looking under the building, which stands on stone piles about 18in clear of the level of the footpath, ho found a candle burning inside a biscuit tin. He was considerablystartled when he found that attached to the candle was a fairly long length of fuse, to the other end of which were secured three plugs of gelignite enclosed in a length of bicycle tubing, which formed a md; cartridge. Mr Campbell promptly disconnected t lie fuse, au-d waited at the spot while his wife went round to the police station in Hereford street. Sergeant Clarkson at once went to the scene and took charge of the gelignite, together with the fuse, candle, and biscuit tin. There are no further developments, but anti-militarists are suspected of being responsible for the attempt. July 11. There arc no fresh developments to-day in c-onnection with the attempted gelignite oiitea.'io at King Edward Barracks on Wednesday night. ami the identity of tiro miscreants who planned the affair is so far unknown It is understood, however, that indications point in a certain direction. No finger-prints were obtainable, as the biscuit tin which was used us a screen for the candle was old and rusty. This morning Mr W T. Horne called at the Evening News office and stated that he wished, on behalf of the anti-militarists that lie represented, to disclaim ail knowledge of the’ gelignite affair. It was not true, ho said, that the anti- militarists had threatened damage to the King Edward Barracks.