INFERNAL MACHINES AT EDINBUGH

Dunstan Times, Issue 1043, 14 April 1882, Page 3

INFERNAL MACHINES AT EDINBUGH

A few days ago two explosions occurred a’most simultaneously in different ports of Edinburgh, wliicli show that a deliberate outrage has been carried out. A parcel, about 14 inches long by 7 in breadth, and 2 in depth, and wrapped in brown paper, was delivered at the residence of Mr Alevander Macdonald, police-court agent, Hillplace. On taking off the wrapper, a box covered with pictures was found inside. The box contained three drawers, and an effort was made to open these at the ends, but as they were stilf the centre drawer was next tried, when, as it came away, a frightful explosion occurred. Mr Macdonald was severely burned, and one of his eyes is, it is feared, permanently injured. His mother, a girl about four years of age, and a woman residing in Dock-street, Leith, who was on a visit to the family, were also sevcrly burned, and Sir Macdonald’s father, who was in the act of coming into the room at the time of the explosion, was knocked down the lobby and rendered insensible. The interior of the dwellinghouse, which is on the street flat, was considerably damaged, and the window shattered. A window at the back of the Iloyal Princess theatre, which is close upon the house, was also blown in. In the other case, the explosion occurred in South St. James-street, in a house occupied by Mrs John B irron. She received a box of similar description, and on its being opened she and a sou and a daughter-in-law were all injured. Two windows of the house, which is on the third flat, were blown out, and the clothes of the three persons caught fire. They all rushed out of the house while in flames, which were extinguished by the neighbours. Their injuries were attended to at a neighbouring apothecary’s, am! from thence they were removed to the Pioyal Infirmary. The police have a clue to the perpetrator of the outrage, and are busily engaged making the requisite investigations. Trace has been obtained of the delivery of the boxes from the AVaverley station, at which they arrived by the train from Glasgow, as they a e believed to have been sent from there by a person belonging to Edinburgh hi revenge. The boxes, which have been taken possession of by the police, are each divided into two compartments. The back compartment seems to have been tilled with powder and pieces of gas tubing, and conducted to the front, were matches were so fixed that on the drawer being pulled out they were sot on fire to hy the friction.