The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1887-11-26 00:00:00

THE PRISONERS AT BOW-STREET.

At Bow-street Police-court, on Monday, Thomas
Callan, alias Thomas Scott, aged 48, giving an ad-
dress at Lowell, Massachusetts, U.S., and 24, Baxter
road, Essex-road, Islington, described as an operative
stocking borer; and Michael Harkins, of
North Second-street, Philadelphia, and 9, Alfred-
street, Colebrooke-row, Islington, described as a
grocer, were charged before Sir James Ingham, on a
warrant, with unlawfully and feloniously conspiring
together to cause, by an explosive substance, an ex-
plosion in the United Kingdom of a nature likely to
endanger life and to cause serious injury to property.
Both prisoners were respectably dressed, and had
the appearance of very quiet looking men. Callan
had neither whiskers nor moustache. The younger
prisoner had a decided Irish-American appearance.
There were two constables in the dock with the pri-
soner 7, one standing between them, and the other at
the entrance to the dock, whilst other constables
stood near.

Mr. Chief Superintendent Williamson, who swore
the information upon which the warrant was granted,
entered the witness-box, and the document was read
as follows: "Two men, called Tnomas Scott, alias
Thomas Callan, and Michael Harkins, alias Scott,
alias Brown, are now in London, and have been in
London for several months. lam in possession of
information that these men and others came to this
country for the purpose of causing dynamite ex-
plosions. From inquiries made it has been ascer-
tained that Callan was in possession of a large tin box
which contained some heavy substance which I
believe to have been an explosive, and that he in-
tended to use it and cause explosions, by which the
lives and properties of her Majesty's subjects would
have been endangered. I further say that
Michael Harkins did conspire with the said
Thomas Callan to carry out this felonious
intention and purpose. I produce a letter signed
'Thomas Scott,' in which reference is made to the
destruction of 'tea,' meaning, as I believe, dynamite,
or some other explosive substance. Both these men
were in possession of revolvers, marked with the name
of an American firm, and had about 25 cartridges for
each revolver. Callan describes himself as a stocking
piercer, of Lowell, Massachusetts, and the other man
says he is a ' hawler ' on a railway, and that his home
is in Philadelphia, in the United St%tes. They have
not done any work since they came to this country,
and are here under false names. On Harkins was
found a paragraph cut out of a newspaper, referring
to a projected meeting at Birmingham, at which Mr.
Balfour, the Chief Secretary for Ireland, was expected
to be present. They have been in company together
on several occasions.'
Sir J. Ingham: You have not stated where the
letter was found. Mr. Williamson: It was found on
the prisoner Callan, I believe, but not by me.
Sir J. Ingham : Then you have been informed?
Mr. Williamson: Yes.
Continuing his statement, Chief Superintendent
Williamson said: Since that information was sworn
on Saturday the house in which Callan lodged has
been searched, and a quantity of substance has been
found, and since examined by Colontl Majendie, Dr.
Dupr, and pronounced Win dynamite. That ie all I
can say at present, and I now ask for a remand.
Sir J. Ingham: Would next Monday be conve-
nient P—Mr. Williamson: Yes.

Sir J. Ingham (to Callan) : Do you wish to put any
question to Mr. Williamson?
Callan No.
Harkins: It don't concern me.
Sir J. Ingham: Then you are both remanded till
this day week.
The prisoners were then removed, and were con-
veyed from the court in a prison van, with an armed
mounted escort

TREASURY CONSULTATIO.N.
On Tuesday, at the Treasury, the officials Leld
a protracted consultation, and the landladies of the
houses which have been brought into prominence by
the disclosures respecting the alleged dynamiters were
examined by the Solicitor to the Treasury.
One of the most important pieces of evidence yet
forthcoming is that of Mrs. Keys, of the Lambeth
road, who has identified the prisoner Callan as the
man who asked her to watch Cohen while he ran out
for two minutes, and who did not return. Cohen at
the time he was so left was dying, and Callan and
his supposed accomplices had removed, as they
thought, all possible clues likely to lead
to inquiries. It was in quite another part
of London that Cohen'a friends afterwards
resided. Harkins took up his abode at 9, Alfred-
street,.Colebrooke-row, Islington, one of a row of small
houses in a quiet thoroughfare, and, since the inquest
on Cohen, his movements have been closely watched
by detectives. Callan had hired a room at the house
in Baxter-road, Essex-road, Islington, of an old man
named Bright, who has other lodgers. A week or so
ago an incident occurred which, though it had no
serious effects, should have sufficed to warn Callan of
his danger. Some stuff which looked like old mortar
was found in his room and thrown with a lot of dust
into the ash pit in the back yard. A day or two
later the landlord's son asked for some sand or other
material to put in the bottom of a pigeon house. His
mother advised him to get the mortar and dust from'
the ash pit. He did so, and as it was wet put it in
the oven to dry. Fortunately he took but a very
small quantity of -theLsupphial mortar, hut ,there WM
quite enough to wreck the oven. Nu oue was, how-
ever, injured,