The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1883-04-14 00:00:00

THE ARRESTS IN LONDON.

The first arrest in L3ndon was made on Thursday
morning at one o'clock. The place of arrest was at
De la Motte's private hotel, Southampton-street,
Strand, a house the lower part of which is used as the
publishing office of the Court Circular. A man had
called in the middle of the day and engaged a bed for
a young man—a medical student, named Norman,
who was to come from Manchester. As a matter
of fact, the man who subsequently claimed a
bed in the name of William James Norman had
been watched from Birmingham. His luggage
was a travelling trunk, and he was conveyed,
with his trunk, from the railway station to the
hotel in a cab. Ihe trunk was carried upstairs
to a bedroom, and he stopped with it until an hour
after midnight, when Inspector Langrisb, with sevexal
of the London detective force and others, roused up
tholiotel-keepers, and arrested the man, and seized
his dangerous luggage. The box was opened, when it
was found to contain the explosive in indiarubber
travelling bags. The person thus arrested is about 26
years of age. He was conveyed to Bow-street Police.
station, and Superintendent Thomson placed extra
guards outside and inside the station. The material
was conveyed to Woolwich, a sample being kept,
while the bulk was taken to one of the " proofs 'on the
marshes. _ _

Another arrest was made twelve hours after this.
At midday, on Thursday, Inspectors Littlechild,
Dowdell, Roots, and Meredith, with Irish police de-
tectives, proceeded to No. 17, Nelson square, Black-
friars-road. A room at the top of the house had been
taken by a young man named Wilson for a lodging.
It had two beis in it. In this garret the police
arrested a man named Gallagher, who declared him-
self to be a physician and an American citizen. He
had in his possession nearly £9OO in English and
American notes. He is military-looking, cool in
bearing, has closely-cut hair, and is clean
shaven. He is about thirty years of age, and
is apparently of superior education. His com-
panion, who was called Wilson, is younger, and is
of less marked characteristics. In a trunk in the room
were found two indiarubber hip fishing leggings, such
as are used by salmon fisheis of the Devonshire and
the Irish salmon rivers by anglers who wade, and used
on the South of Ireland rivers. These two fishing
stockings were filled with an explosive of like character
to that found in the hotel at Southampton. street.
This material was also taken to Woolwich, and
declared by the experts to be an "unlawful explo-
sive '• " and part of it being kept for a sample, the
bulk was taken to a place of safety in the marshes.
The two men were placed in custody at Bow-street,
and tho striateet nrecaution4 were taken, under the
direction of Superintendent Thomson, to guarti
anittly.

A. man named-Henry Dalton was also arrested on
Thursday afternoon at Bowles American Reading
Rooms, No. 14, Strand, London. It is said that he
arrived in England in February last. The prisoner
first made his appearance in the news-room on the 19th
of February, when he made a few inquiries and asked
to see the American papers. He remained for a
short time and then left. On the 21st be
revisited the rooms, and paid a week's sub-
scription. It was noticed that he took little
interest in the American newspapers, preferring to
read the English ones, and being always evidently
anxious to see or learn the latest news. Dalton, who
is about 26 years of age, seemed to have few if any
friends, and was exceedingly quiet and reserved in
manner. His custom was on entering the rooms
simply to exchange greetings with those in attendance,
contenting himself with a brief ' Good morning' or
'Good day," and then he would ensoonce himself in
a chair and take up the newspapers. In stature
he was about five feet four inches, in figure
slim, and his face is marked with small-pox,
and he has small eyes. He usually wore a long,
light-coloured overcoat, and a hard, round felt
hat. Dalton had the appearance of a well-to-do
working man. After having been about the rooms
for a week, and scarcely speaking to anyone during
that time, he renewed his subscription for one
month. He used the rooms frequently, visiting
them usually once or twice every day. On Thursday
afternoon he entered the reading-room about
five p.m., his second visit during that day, and
took a seat in a corner of the room. About
twenty minutes afterwards a Scotland-yard detec-
tive entered the place and looked round to see if
Dalton was present. Mr. Bowles asked him who he
wished to see, and the detective answered he was
looking for a friend from Chicago whom he daily ex-
pected. Mr. Bowie told him that the gentleman was
not there. The detective went away then, but almost
immediately came upstairs again with three other
detectives. Going over to where Dalton sat reading an
evening paper, the detective who first entered said
to him, "You are arrested," Dalton looked up
and without showing any great surprise replied
"What for?" To this the Scotland-yard man made
no answer, but bade him "Coma on downstairs."
Without offering any resistance the prisoner rose and
followed them, a man placing himself on each side of
Dalton. At the doorway he suddedly stopped and
said, "Wait a minute while I put my paper down."
HeTwas allowed to put the paper back, and he then ac-
companied the detectives downstairs, and was con-
veyed in a cab to Scotland-yard.

In London, at Bow-street Police-court, on Friday
in last week, WILLIAM JOSEPH NORMAN, 22, described
as a coach painter; THOMAS GALLAGHER, 23, a
physician; and HENRY WinsoN, 22, a clerk, were
charged before Sir James Ingham with being in the
possession of an explosive substance with intent to
commit a felony. HENRY ileum, a/jai John
O'Connor, 39, a compositor, was also charged with
being concerned with the other prisoners.
Mr. W. Doveton Smyth, of Bow-street, was in-
structed to appear for the prisoner Norman. Superin-
tendent Williamson conducted the case for the pro-
secution. The prisoners when placed in the dock,
were acoommodated with seats. They were sur-
rounded by a cordon of police armed with loaded
revolvers.—We take the following account of the
proceedings from The Times of Saturday
The first witness called was John Langrish, In-
spector of Police, Scotland-yard. He said: From in-
structions I received on Wednesday, the 4th of this
month, I went with Inspector Mackie to the Euston
Railway Station. I saw the prisoner Norman arrive
by the five minutes past nine train from Birmingham.
He took a four-wheeled cab on alighting from the
train, On the top of the cab was placed a large black
box. He got into the cab which drove off. I fol-
lowed the cab to Southampton-street, Strand. The
prisoner alighted at the Beaufort Hotel. A man
assisted to take off the box, and it was taken
into the hotel. The prisoner went into the
house. He came out after a time, and went
to a refreshment bar in the Strand, and returned
to the hotel, At half-past 12 the next morning, ac-
companied ty other officers, I went to the Beaufort
Hotel, and gained admiision to his apartment. The
prisoner Norman was aroused and came to the door.
I told him we were police officers, and pointing to a
box asked what it contained. As far as I could judge,
it was the same box I had seen the day before. He
said, "I cannot say what is in the box' all I know is
I brought it from Birmingham, and that I did so at
the request of a gentleman who paid me for it. I told
him I had reason to believe that it contained some
explosive, and asked him again if he knew what it
contained. He replied, "I tell you I don't know,
and that's all about it." I told him I should
charge him with having the box with contents at
presait unknown in his possession, and not being
ai)le to give a satisfactory account of it. I took
him to Bow-street, and he was detained there.
I afterwards saw Inspector Mackie take away the
box for the purpose of taking it to Woolwich. I
searched the prisoner, and took from him three keys,
two of which opened the locks in the box; a £5-note,
stamped with mark, "1883, New York," some of his
own photographs, a map of London, an envelope bear-
ing the name of " Mr. 'Thomas Gallagher," and
printed thereon, "American Exchange, Europe."
Tn.-re was also a telegram from "Fletcher" dated
from West Strand, April 3, 1883, to W. Norman,
Edward's Hotel, Euston-square—" Call at Charing.
cross Hotel and ask for me." He told me he had
been staying at Edward's Hotel, Euston, and that his
portmanteau was there' and that if any one went up
they could get it. it was afterwards obtained by
Inspector Mackie.

By Mr. Dovetail Smyth : He subsequently eald Mr.

Fletcher had employed him to go to Birmingham to get
the box. He said at the station that Mr. Fletcher met
him at Boston, and that he (prisoner) had received that
telegram from him.

Mr. Smyth : Did he saw whom he was to give the
box to P—No ; he said he did not know anything about
the box, but that he was to go to the hotel as directed.
He did not say he was a chemist.
By Sir James Ingham: He did not say who Mr.
Fletcher was. He said he "knew nothing about
Mr. Fletcher." That was when I read the telegram
to him.

Inspector Adam Mackie, Inspector of Metropo-
litan Police, was then called. He said,—On the
evening of the 4th I went with the last witness to
Euston Station.

Sir James Ingham: Have you anything farther to
add to the evidence of the last witness?

The witness: Nothing, Sir, except that I after-
wards took the box to Woolwich. I confirm the
statement of the last witness. I was only in the pri-
soner's room part of the time. I heard Langrish say,
"Do I understand you to say you do not know what
is in the box? " and I heard the prisoner reply, " I
tell you Ido not know what is in it." On the same
day I conveyed the box to the Royal Arsenal, Wool-
wich, and handed it over to Colonel Lyons.
Sir James Ingham: Is Colonel Lyons present?
Chief Superintendent Williamson: No, Sir James;
but Mr. Brown, the chemist, is here.

The witness: The box remained in my charge until
I handed it to Mr. Brown. Inspector Langrish gave
two keys along with the box, and with them I opened
It.

Cross-examined by Mr. Smyth: The box was re-
ceived with two padlocks and two keys (produced).

Inspector John George Littlechild said: Yesterday
about half.past one, accompanied by other officers, I
went to No. 17, Nelson-square, Blackfriars-road.
Shortly after arriving there, from a communication
made, we went to a back bedroom on the top floor. In
answer to a knock, the door was opened by the prisoner
Wilson. We entered the room, and found in addition
to Wilson, the prisoner Thomas Gallagher. I said,
"We are officers of police, and for the present you
may consider yourselves under detention, until we
know what there is in this room. We have reason to
believe there is a quantity of explosive material here.
In the first place, we want to know what there is in
that portmanteau." The portmanteau was under the
dressing-table. I addressed myself to the prisoner
Wilson, and he said, "You had better look and see." I
then opened the portmanteau, the key being in the lock,
and on one side I found two indiarubber cases, each
about 2ft. long. They were apparently full of some.
thing. I said, "As this appears to be the explosive
matter, you will both be detained at present until a
specific charge is preferred against you later on."
Wilson made no reply. Gallagher said, "What am I
detained for? I know nothing about this business. I
only met this young man this morning for the first
time." I informed him that being found in the room
was quite sufficient reason for us to detain him. The
o rtmanteau contained the two cases referred to and
three indiarubber bags and some leggings, which the
prisoner Wilson said were his. I found-also a portion
cf a spring, which I have not been able to examine. I
asked the prisoner Wilson his name, and he said
Henry Hayward Wilson. I asked the other prisoner
his name, and he said Thomas Gallagher, and added
"Dr. Thomas Gallagher, address, 312 Room, Charm
cross Hotel." The portmanteau was then handed,
with its contents, to Inspector Dowdell. The prisoners
were taken to Bow-street. I subsequently searched
the room at the Charing.cross Hotel, and found some
correspondence, not yet examined, addressed to "Dr.
Thomas Gallaher," three photographs of the prisoner,
and the letter produced.

The prisoner Gallagher: May I ask your Honour,
as the letters have no bearing on this case, that they
may not be made public?
Sir James Ingham: Certainly.
._ _ _

(Sir James Ingham then read the letter and handed
it back to the witness.)
The Witness; I also found on him American and
English notes for a large amount, some indiarubber
bags, and two leggings similar to those found in the
portmanteau, a thermometer, a letter of credit, dated
New York, March 13, and other things not yet exa-
mined.

When asked if he had guy quessions to put to the
witness, Dr. Gallagher said: The bottle contained
hydrate of chloral. With regard to having explosives
in my possession, I can only say, if the indiarubber
bags are explosive, it is something new to chemistry.
All that the officer has said is correct.

The Witness: There is a box of hydrate of chloral
in the box. 'Shortly after six last evening I went to
Bowle'e American Reading Rooms in the Strand, an-
companied by other officers, and there saw the pri-
soner Dalton. I told him we were officers of police,
and he might consider himself arrested. He said,
" What for ?" I said, "The charge will be explained
to you later on." He was taken to Scotland-yard, and
on being asked his name gave it as Henry Dalton. I
had known him previously as John O'Connor. I ad-
dressed him as O'Connor, and he said, "My name is
Dalton." He had £5 165., with the exception of a
farthing. He refused his iv:dress! saying, "My only
address is 14, Strand." That is Bowles's Reading
Rooms. From information received I went, with others,
to 2, Eaton-place, Fulham-road. A search was then
made in my presence, and the thermameter produced
was found by Inspector Ahearne and a box of deto•

The prisoner Dalton: Your Honour, thoy &long to
A cigar-lighter.

The Witness:. A photograph of the prisoner was
found there. A diary was found in which there is a
description of how to prepare fulminate of mercury.
(The diary was handed to the magistrate.) The pd.
Boner Dalton was charged with being concerned with
the ocher prisoners, but he said he knew nothing about
them.

The prisoner Dalton said he had no questions to put,
and could only deny the charge.

Inspector Dowdell said: Yesterday, about two
o'clock, I took possession of the portmantane in the
room where Gallagher and Wilson were arrested; in a
small back bedroom in Nelson-square. I put it in a
cab, conveyed it to Woolwich Arsenal, and opened it
in the presence of Colonel Majendie and Mr. Brown.
They took samples from the bag, and I then conveyed
it to the magazine.
Mr. Edmund Ormond Brown, assistant chemist to
the War Department said: The portmanteau was
handed to me. It contained two indiarubber bags full
of liquid. I took samples from each bag, and gave
them to Colonel Majendie to examine. They con-
tained explosive material, but the examination is
not yet complete. I also examined the contents of
box ; there was explosive liquid in one indiarubber
bag. It was precisely the same kind of liquid as was
in the bags found in the portmanteau. I can give no
opinion respecting the thermometers.
Sir James Ingham, addressing the prisoners said:
The examination of the liquids is not yet complete.
Do you wish to ask any questions?
No questions were, however, asked.
Mr. Doveton Smyth applied for bail on behalf of
Norman, who, he said, had come to London to seek
employment, and met Fletcher casually. Beyond
what had transpired, he knew nothing of him.

Sir James Ingham declined to accept bail for any of
the prisoners at present.
The prisoner Gallagher asked that some money
found in his possesiion might be given back to him to
enable him to get legal assistance. He also applied
that his clothing should be returned to him.
Mr. Doveton 'Smyth asked that the money taken
from his client also be given to him.

After a short discussion, Sir James Ingham de-
clined to make any order respecting the money, but
said there would be no objection to Dr. Gallagher
having his clothes.
The prisoners were then remanded.

On Saturday another man was arrested in London.
His name is JOHN KIBTON, his age about 34. His
trade is that of a mechanical engineer. He is
said to be an Irishman, from America, and had been
staying at an hotel near Woburn-place, and it was
near that place that, at a quarter to eleven on Satur-
day morning, he was arrested by Inspector Little.
child. When arrested he threatened ta resist, but he
was at once forced into a cab and taken to Scotland.
yard, whence he was conveyed to Bow-street Police'
station. It was about three o'clock on Saturday after-
noon when the prisoner was brought up before Sir
James Ingham at Bow-street Police-court. On step-
ping into the dock he seemed perfectly self-possessed.
In reply ta the magistrate he answered in a short,
sharp tone that his name was John Kirton ; but like
the other men in custody he made no attempt to in-
terrogate the officers, though he scrutinised them
while giving evidence keenly. As soon as the accused
had been placed at the bar,
Mr. Superintendent Williamson proceeded to refer
to the charge against Norman, Gallagher Wilson, and
Dalton, and briefly stated the circumstances under
which it was contemplated to connect the prisoner
with them. It was proposed to found the charges
against him upon a compatison of hip handwriting
with that contained in a letter which had been
addressed to Gallagher at the Charing-cress Hotel.
On a future occasion the police would be in a position
to offer further evidence to substantiate the charge,
but it was proposed at present oftly to offer evidence
of a formal nature to justify a remand.

Mr. Williamson, having been sworn, said: I have
a letter in my possession addressed to "Thomas
Gallagher, Charing-cross Hotel, Charing-Cross, Lon-
don." Gallagher is one of the prisoners who was
charged at this court on Friday with the possession of
explosives, and was remanded until Thursday next.
The letter referred to above was handed to Sir
James Ingham for his private perusal, and was re-
turned to Mr. Williamson.
Sir James (to witness) : In whose handwriting do
you beli3ve the letter to be?
Witness: The prisoner's. I have oompared it with
handwriting which I know to be his.
In reply to the learned magistrate's formal inquiry
as to whether prisoner had any questions to ask, he
replied—" I have no questions to ask him."
Inspector Littlechild ; I have seen the prisoner
write. I now produce some of his handwriting, which
has been compared with the hand writing in the letter
produced and referred to above as having been ad-
dressed to Gallahger.
Sir James Ingham: Have you formed any opinion
as to the handwriting.

Witness: I have, and believe that they are the same.
There are characteristics in each which show them to
be the same.

This being the conclusion of the formal evidence it
was proposed to offer, the prisoner was asked whether
he desired to examine the witness. He replied in the
negative.

Sir James remanded him until Thursday.

At the Bow-etreet Police-court on Monday, before
Sir thllloll Ingham, who sat epeclally in the Beoond

Court to hear the case, a young man, who gave the
Mime Of WILLIAM AUSIIIIIIGH, aged 22, was charged
on suapicion with being concernerl with Norman,
Gallagher, Wilson, Dalton, and Kirton, in the pos-
session of explosives, with intent to commit a felony.
Mr. Superintendent Williamson, of Scotland-yard, said
that upon searching the prisoner Gallagher's luggage a
card was found. As a result inquiries were made at
Savage's Hotel, 33, Blackfriars-road, and the prisoner
now before the court was found there. He had been stay-
ing there for four or five days It appeared that he had
been visited by a man who had since been identified at
Mil!bank by two persons who had seen him at the hotel. It
was only proposed to offer formal evidence to this effect and
to ask for a remand for farther inquiries to be made.

Inspector Littlechild, of Scotland-yard, deposed that at
about twelve on Sunday morning he went, in oompany with
other officers, to the above hotel and saw the prisoner. Be
was requested to accompany them to the police station.
He asked why he was arrested, when he was informed that he
was not under arrest. He was conveyed to Scotland-yard
with his luggage, and was asked to give an account of him-
self. He stated that he came from America and Newcastle.
He Rave no further account of himself, but said, "If you
have got anything against me you had better make it." He
was conveyed to King-street, and detained. When charged
he said, " rhat's wrong. I deny the charge."

Rosa Eveline Prior, sister-in-law to the proprietor of
Savage's Hotel, deposed to the prisoner having lived there a
little over a week. He had been visited on two occasions by
a man whom she had recognized as the prisoner Gallagher.
The prisoner was formally remanded upon this evi-
dence.

On Saturday the men in custody in connexion with
the explosion conspiracy were removed from the
Clerkenwell House of Detention and taken to Mill.
bank Prison. The Clerkenwell House of Detention
being much overlooked, and its neighbourhood inter-
sected with small streets, it has apparently been
thought to be within the range of possibility that the
desperate conspirators who are in London might make
an attempt to free the prisoners or to silence them.

In order to make assurance doubly sure, so far as
the safe keeping of the men now under remand
in Mlllbank Prison is concerned, a detachment of the
Manchester Regiment has been sent to the prison on
protection duty. A Thames police boat, manned by
armed officers, will at night be kept near that portion
of the river which is front of the prison. On Satur-
day and Sunday special plainclothes officers watched
the arrival of all the trains from the North and the
Midlands at Euston, St. Pancras, and King's-cross
Stations; and the arrivals by the new express route
from the North by the Great Eastern line were also
watched at Bishopsgate Station. The Dublin and
Cork steamboats arriving in the Thames were
boarded by the police as soon as they came to their
moorings outside St. Katherine's Dock.

Dr. Thomas Gallagher made the following state-
ment on Monday :

"I am a physician, practising at Brooklyn, United States,
and I came to England on a tour. On the day I was arrested
I met Wilson in lratalgar-square. Wilson recognised me as
a person he had met in America, and after a few minutes'
conversation we went and had some drinks together. I had
nothing particularly to do that day, and, being somewhat
pleased at having met a fellow countryman whom I knew, I
walked with Wilson some distance eastwards. When we came
to Blackfriars Bridge I felt rather tired, and I suggested that
we should go into a tavern or restaurant and sit down. Wil-
son, however, said it was not far to his lodgings, and he pro-
posed that we should adjourn there. We accordingly pro-
ceeded to Nelson-square, and we had not been more than five
minutes in the house when Inspector Littlechild and the
other detectives entered and effected our arrests in the
manner already described."

Wilson declares emphatically that Gallagher was
absolutely ignorant of the contents of the portmanteau
seized at his (Wilson's) lodgings. Wilson is an Eng-
lishman, and be states that he has been until recently
a clerk. He corroborates Gallagher's story of the
events immediately prior to his arrest, and adds that
he first met Gallagher at Brooklyn, when that person,
then practising as a physician, attended him in a pro-
feasional capacity.