DASTARDLY OUTRAGE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19505, 5 February 1926, Page 7

DASTARDLY OUTRAGE

BOMB UNDER HOUSE TERRIFIC EXPLOSION WHOLE BUILDING SEVERELY SHAKEN. SLEEPING OCCUPANT NARROWLY ESCAPES. [Per Press Association.] AUCKLAND, Feb. 4. A dastardly outrage was perpetrated at Mission Bay early this morning, a bomb exploding with terrific force under a house occupied by two contractors and three others. Tho room was partially wrecked and strewn with splintered wood and glass. Tho sole occupant of the room under which tho bomb was placed had a narrow escape from serious injury. For the past few months about 60 men have been employed in forming streets and carrying out drainage work on what is known as Mission Bay Estate, more familiarly known as the old Now Zealand Flying Schoo], which was for many years conducted by Messrs Walsh Bros. Tho contractors arc Messrs Gossc and Mullan, and both those men, who are in charge of the road-forming operations, reside in an old six-roomed house situated about 100 yards from the roadway near Kohimarama wharf. Tho house is partially surrounded by trees and is only twenty yards from the beach. Mr. Gosse’s Ordeal. Mr. Phillip Henry Gossc occupied the front room on the south-west corner, while his partner had tho other front room. Three others employed on the job resided in other rooms. All retired about 9.30 last night. Shortly after 12.30 this morning a terrific explosion occurred right under Mr. Gosse’s room. This caused tho whole house to tremble. A hole about five feet square was made in the floor of tho room, the inch thick flooring boards being torn as if they had been made of paper. Mr. Gosse was awakened by the explosion, and although somewhat dazed and shaken, he got out of bed to investigate. Mr. Mullan and the others in the house rushed in to Mr. Gosse’s bedroom, which was full of smoke and cement dust. The windows were shat tered, small pieces of glass being distributed all over the room. Fortunately for Mr. Gossc he was sleeping about seven feet away from the gaping hole in the floor, under which a bomb had been placed. A Fruitless Search. Assisted by some of the men on camped on the settlement, Messrs Gosse and Mullan immediately searched the vicinity, but were unable to obtain a clue as to the identity of the criminal responsible for the dastardly act. An examination of the premises showed that a portion of tho woodwork which covered the brick piles supporting the house was torn away, enabling the miscreant either to crawl several feet under the room or else to push the bomb into the desired position with the aid of a long stick. Although there arc no less than 12 | tents, each containing several men, a dozen paces to the westward of the damaged room, none of the occupants heard a sound until the bomb exploded. Several sharp missiles used in the. construction of the bomb shot out in all directions, some tearing holes in the tents. Mystery of the Crime. “I cannot account for the outrage at all,” said Mr. Gosse in conversation this morning. At first I thought that the house had collapsed. The building shook and trembled, and dust and smoke filled my room. The force of the explosion dazed me for a time. I cannot suggest any motive for the thing at all. I have paid a few men off from time, to time, but I have not quarrelled with anybody and do not know why any person should attempt such a thing as to injure me.” One of Mr. Gosse’s employees said that he had worked for Mr. Gosse for a long time and had always found him “a decent sort of boss.” “While rather a strict man, who will not stand I any nonsense. He is a very fair chap who pays high wages.” Detective’s Investigations. Immediately information of the outrage reached the police station this morning Detective Barling went to Kohimarama to investigate the matter. Under tho house he found about eight feet of fuse and the tangled remains of tho bomb. This contained, besides other things, a fair quantity of cement.