Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-08-11
Roek IsIand Bridre Consplracy.

The great Rock Island RaIl Road Brldge
across the Mississippi costing half million
of dollars, has been the subject of much
controversy ever sincei it was erected, and af-
ter exhausting the law in vainly trying to re-
move it conspiracy to burn the Bridge was
apd ran naIugaIlUu IN Iue q lllI n .I-.r,Ir,u.
II is charged by the Chicago Tribune that the
ST. Louis Chamber of Commerce has been at
the bottom Of the persistent and unserupu-
lour war against the Rock Island Bridge, and
that Josiah H. BisseIl, Special Agent of the
Chamber Of Commerce, and Walter F. Chad
wick, Attorney of Rock Island, who has
handled fees as retainers against the bridge,
generally from raftsmen in quest Of damages.
cOnspired to destroy the bridge by FIRE. The
Tribune gives the following particulars of the
recent arrest and Indictment of the conspira-
tors: -1
Mr.. BisseIl is about thirty-fve years old.
a smooth spoken, plausible man, an architect
engineer and bridge builder by profession,
and by immediate anteeedent, as already
stated, the head and front of the st. Louis
raid against the great bridge. De has fam
ily in Rochester, New York. Chadwick is
quite a young man and has no family.
1t should be understood, fact many ofour
readers will remember, that most nefarious
plan to burn the bridge was narrowly de-
feated a twelvemonth since, when a large
quantity of combustibles ready placed for
firing were discovered by the bridge watch
man. From that tune to this, vigilant eyes
have been on the lookout. t
In April last Mr.. BisselI came to this city
and stopped at the Richmond House. He had
a business interview with Cyrus P. Bradley,
Esq, the well-know detective Of this city
and after finishing other unimportant matters
came plumply out with proposition to pau
hl1s S., 900 # he lOollld cause The bridge 10 Be
burned He paid Mr.. Bradley the compli-
ment Of saying that if be (Bradley) under |
took it it would be done. Bissell at the
same time lamented the previous failure last
fall, and that it must be done sure this time.
He said that lawsuits would never move
the bridge, " but let it be once burned and
we'll get out an injunction against rebuild /
ing it; do you see2' Capt. Bradley did. see
and took the bait Not long thereafter Su-
perintendent Tracy of the Chicago and Rock
Island Railroad, and Hon, B. @. Cook Of OF
tawa, Attorney of the Company, were ac-
quainted with all the facts, and from thai
time to day before yesterday, Messrs. Bis |
sell & Chadwick, with c. p Bradley, "silent |
partner Of this interesting MISUNDERSTANDING |
firm, have enjoyed plain sailing straight into |
the lions jaws. -- .-t.-
They have had conversations in this city /
in a room carefully prepared; with skillful |
shorthand reporter taking evidence behind |
the arras, and at times citizens wen chosen |
for standing and ptobity have been placed
. lually well to hear how it was to be done,
the burning Of the bridge. !
On Tuesday, by previous agreement, a |
package Of combustibies came by express to |
this city from st. Louis. Il contained ffy /
champagne bottles filed with highly COM
bustible treacle-like fluid known as SGreek /
hre." This was to be Capt Bradiey's stock
in trade among other combustibles. All /
seemed to be ready to reap the harvest. Of ]
feer Dennis took Mr.. BisseIl into custody at /
the Richmond House that evening, and Spe- |
cial Deputy Tim. Webster, Bridge Master of |
the r. K. Company at Rock Island, served the |
papers almost simultaneously on Chadwick in J
that city. Chadwick and Bissell Joined com
pany here under arrest yesterday. II Z
The warrant returnable TO Justice Milliken /
was, instead Of such return, made to repre-
cent transfer Of the hearing directly before
The Grand Jury Of the Recorders Court now
IN session. That body Of twenty -four men
heard the evidence, called for the City cham
oagne bottles, opened one and tried a saucer
uil Of the Greek fire. !" which we'll nigh
burned up the jury room. Theyindieted Bis
ell and Chadwick. 1s.-
The parties were arraigned before Recorder
wilson ct Z P. n. yesterday, Mr.. McAllster
appearing IS their counsel Their bail was
ixed at $1,000 for BisseH and $4,000 for
chadwick, in which sums they falling to re-
pond, were remanded to jail AVG