Easter Presents

Into Wilkes-Barre, Pa. parcel-post boxes one evening last week were dumped six cigar boxes, neatly wrapped in white paper. Each was labeled "Sample" and addressed to a local citizen.

First to receive one was Thomas J. Maloney, district president of the now disbanded United Anthracite Workers of Pennsylvania. He cut the strings, beamed: "Well! Well! An Easter present." He pried open the lid. The Easter present tore off his left hand, mangled his right, shredded his face.

Second to receive his gift was Michael Gallagher, cemetery caretaker, who two years ago gave important testimony in a dynamiting case which grew out of the fight between the United Anthracite Workers and the United Mine Workers of America. After decorating graves for Easter, Caretaker Gallagher went home to lunch. His box blew him to bits.

Third box, addressed to Judge Benjamin R. Jones, was intercepted by postal officials. Former Sheriff Luther Kniffen's box had a defective fuse. Harry Goul-stone, superintendent of a local colliery, doused his in a bucket of water. Sixth, apparently intended for Gorman, onetime umpire of the Anthracite Board of Conciliation, was intercepted at Hazelton before it reached another James Gorman. That evening fire, supposed to have been started by an incendiary bomb, gutted the first floor of St. Mary's Rectory of Wilkes-Barre.

Few hours later State police calmed the terrified city by cutting off parcel-post service, arrested one unidentified suspect for what appeared to be a disastrous follow-up to the bitter fight three years ago between the defunct anthracite union and its more powerful conqueror, United Mine Workers of America.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.