George P. Metesky

Biography
George Metesky (1903 - 1973 Inc.) terrorized New York City for sixteen years in the 1940s and 50s with explosives that he planted in theaters, terminals, libraries and offices. Bombs were left in phone booths, storage lockers and restrooms in public buildings. His most famous bombings were in Grand Central Terminal, Pennsylvania Station, Radio City Music Hall, the New York Public Library, the Port Authority Bus Terminal, the RCA Building and the New York City Subway. Metesky planted at least thirty three bombs, of which twenty two exploded, luckily only injuring fifteen.

When a section of Grand Central Terminal was blown up there was a group of German born businessmen who survived with no injuries at all which caught the attention of Warehouse 13 agents. Further research uncovered that Metesky used Claus von Stauffenberg’s Plastic Explosive here and at the bombing at Penn Station. One artifact wasn't enough to cause worry until it was discovered that at Radio City Music Hall along with several movie theaters Metesky used William Bickford's Safety Fuse. The McNamara Brother's Suitcase was discovered inside of the rubble at the Port Authority Bus Terminal. Luigi Galleani's Wagon Wheel was discovered leaning against one of the undamaged walls of the RCA Building. Metesky used normal bombs but obviously had vast knowledge of exploding artifacts. On trial Metesky obtained a family heirloom of his, James Hadfield’s Glass Bottle of Water. During the trial Metesky pled insanity and the court found him to be a paranoid schizophrenic and found him legally insane and incompetent to stand trial. Instead of prison he was committed to the Matteawan Hospital for the Criminally Insane at Beacon, New York.

In 1973, the United States Supreme Court ruled that a mentally ill defendant cannot be committed to a hospital run by the New York State Department of Correctional Service unless a jury found them dangerous. Since Metesky had been committed without a jury trial he was transferred to a state hospital. Doctors determined he was harmless and released him. When agents raided his home their was evidence that he was looking for yet another explosive artifact however his research was still in infancy and didn't lead to anything new.

Artifacts Relating To
James Hadfield’s Glass Bottle of Water

Claus von Stauffenberg’s Plastic Explosive

William Bickford's Safety Fuse

The McNamara Brother's Suitcase

Luigi Galleani's Wagon Wheel