AN INFERNAL MACHINE.
About nine o'clock one morning recently one of the vans of the Parcels Delivery Company was taken to the door of Mr William Larkin, of North-ampton-square, Clerkenwell, a chronometer maker and watch dial engraver. A box addressed to him was delivered to the servant. The latter, having given a receipt, handed it to Miss Larkio, who shook it in order to ascertain what it contained. Hearing nothing rattle, she conveyed it into the workshop, and handed it to ber father. Mr Larkin is in the habit of receiviog boxes containing dials for engraving, and at onoe proceeded to open the box by prising up the lid with a chisel. A Blight click inside was followed by a terrific explosion, blowing out the windows, wrecking the shop and its contents, and hurling Mr Larkin against the wall. The box was blown into atoms, small pieces only of the wood and the infernal mechanism being found. The volume of flames which accompanied the explosion set fire to the clothing of Mr Larkin, who was fearfully burnt over the arms, hands, and . face. The flames having been extinguished he was put to bed and placed under the care of a doctor. The servant who took in the b_x gave it as her opinion that it was about eight inches long by five broad, something like aa ordinary cigar-box. An Inspector of Police went into the work shop, aad made a minute examination of the premises. The box waß found to- have been of deal, with an inner lining of tin, portions of which were found allover the room. Some of the pieces of tin bad been driven into tbe •walls. The smell of the various pieces of wood led to the belief that the agent employed was gunpowder. The police also picked up pieces of spiral spriogs nnd nipples indicating that there had been aa arrangement by which the mere opening of the box should cause an explosion. Up to the present time
the police have no information as to the perpetrator of the outrage. Mr Larkin is recovering from his injuries.
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Bibliographic details
Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XI, Issue 169, 8 July 1876, Page 4
Word Count
352AN INFERNAL MACHINE. Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XI, Issue 169, 8 July 1876, Page 4
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