THE WHEAT KING

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 133, 3 July 1909, Page 6

THE WHEAT KING

FLIGHT FROM THE CITY. New York, May 8. The hurried exit from Chicago oi ames A. Patten, the -wheat king, ostcnibly to seek rest und to recuperate on he ranch of his business partner i:i outlicrn Colorado, followed closely on lie receipt in the Patten oiliccs in the .Y'cstern Union building of three dea*l'y nfcrnal machines and of a letter from i religious crank who wrote that he had eceived a commission from on high to ake the life of the multi-millionaire. The infernal machines, cleverly put ogethcr and containing enough exlosives to have wrecked the big suite if ollicea in which the firm of Patten lartlett and Co. does business, were eceived on three successive days, Tliej pparently came from the same man. The threatening letter of the man who ent word that he was coming to seel; he life of tlie mnu whose »inuipulatio:i----l the wheat murket may result in s'dnd:ig up the price of bread, followed closeI / on receipt of the infernal machines. I Then it was that Patten, harassed nd perturbed by the commotion which 116 wheat deals had called forth from .uess and pulpit, decided almost ou the pur of the moment that the clime of .uniiy Colorado would be most beneficial o him at this stage of his dealings' on .he Board of Trade. His plans fo r departure were made iu a few hours. He disappeared from the office, and until 'ie arrived in Trinidad, Colorado, ou Thursday, no one except the immediate members of his family and his partners i"ad the least inkling of which way he mis headed.

That disaster did not follow the to•eipt of the first infernal machine was Jue entirely to the carefulnes's with ivhieh the package, which came through the mail, was handled by a clerk in the Patten offices.

The first parcel was gingerly handled. When it was opened it was found to :ontain a clockwork arrangement, a ruse, and a big quantity of what is supposed to have been dynamite or some other high explosive. The machine was made in an ordinary cigar-box. It was quickly doused in .water and set aside. The next day a similar package in .ill respects was received. This package received its water bath first to make it harmless, and was then opened. The maeliinc was a duplicate of the one revived on the day previous. So was the I third machine. I

Patten by this time was in a highly nervous state. He attempted to make light of the letters that he had received until .the one from the man who evidently was insane on the suhject of religion was received. Then, his friend* say, he became thoroughly frightened.