National Republican., 1883-10-19
DEADLY DYNAMITE.
Arrest OF Two Mysterious Strangers at Hall
fax, NJ s.,
For Having Packages OF Dcndly Ilzplo-
sivos in Their Possession.

HALIFAX, N. s., Oct. 1s.-Thcre was con.
siderable excitement in this city last eycn.
ing over tho arrest of two mon with a largo
quantity Of dynamite in their possession. In
May last information was received from OF
tawa by the authorities here, which informed
them that an attempt would probably be
made by Fcnians TO destroy public property,
and precautions were taken by the appoint.
ment Of extra police and other means to frus-
trato any such desperate work.
Nothing occurred and the matter was
laughed over. About month ago Lieut..
Gov Richey got warning from Ottawa sim
liar TO that received by his predecessor in
May last, informing him of tho departure
from New York for Halifax of suspicious
characters, supposed to bo connected
with tho dynamite branch Of tho
Feanian brotherhood. Tho detectives
here were informed of the expected arrival
but nothing occurred TO arouse their suspi-
cion until q few days ago Two men, giving
their names as VIM. BraclSen and James
Holmes, arrived here last Friday and put up
at u second class hotel, known as the Parker
house. in harrington street. It is believed
they came from tho United States. They
gave no names to the hotel people and paid
their weeks board in advance. Suspicion
Power, hearing of them, paid attention to
their movements. On Monday night, accom-
panied by policeman, the detective went TO
the hotel, and ascertaining that the strangers
were out, he visited their room. No luggage
was visible, but on searching the room two
valses were found hidden behind the bed
stead. Both were strapped, but tho lock of
one was broken open. On examining its
contents on ono side some clothing
was found, and on tho other side parcel
covered with canvas, which on being opened
proved to bo quantity of dynamite car
tridges He replaced the parcel, closed the
| vaise, and Immediately left tho room. The
hotel people wore directed not to mention
anything to the strangers Both valises
| weighed about 100 pounds. Nothing further
| was done until yesterday forenoon, when the
city marshal, with detective and police
man, went to the hotel and to the room of the
suspected parties. A cartridge was taken
| from the valise and sent to hardware store
where it was pronounced dynamite of pow
erful nature called triple charge" The city
| marshal then directed the arrest of tho two
mon. Detectives soon found James Holmes
on street near the hotel, he having just
como out of u barroom. Detective Power
charged him with having dangerous ex-
! plOsives in his possession.
Holmes denied this and also that he had
any friend rooming with him that he was i'm
| plicatod with. Holmes asked to show the
detective to his room, where they went
Power asked Holmes what the packages in
the valises were. He replied that he did not
know; they did not belong to him. Creel-
man, tho proprietor of the hotel on being
called, said that tho room was occupied by
Holmes and his friend, and that the valises
were brought there by them. Holmes was
taken in charge and o policeman left to wait
for his friend. After placing Holmes in the
police station the detective proceeded to
Il pfV ,,,ha l,n oh
in q barroom. On being arrested he de-
MED having any roommate at the
Parker house, or any dynamite there. He
was taken to tho police station. Holmes,
when searched at the police station, had two
revolvers one five chamber of largo caliber,
made by the HOPPING Il Allen Manufacturing
company, the other small four-chamber
revolver. made by j. Sharp & Co., Philadel-
phia. They were both loaded; and Holmes
also had copy of the Irish World, purchased
in this city, and about Sl2 in money. mo
weapon was found on Brackcn, but after his
arrest the keeper of the bar at which ho Was
arrested gavo tho police a Robin Hood
revolver that had boon left J, with
him. Bracken had in his pockets q
key opening ono of their valiseS
which contained ten dynamite cartridges.
With the key found on Bracken the other
valise was opened, and still more of the dan
gerous explosive was found. In both fOf the
valiscs was also small round clock, stamped
American Clock company" A city watch
maker says that connected with them was
machinery causing explosions. One of the
weapons found on Holmes, on being dis
charged at one end of wire, will ignite a
fuse at the other end and thus explode the
dynamite with which it would be connected.
Holmes and Brackon were in this city early
in July and put up at Lower Water street
boarding house, where they stated that they
had no money, but placed their baggage as
security for their board. After boarding
| there some days they said they had received a
| draft for 500. They paid their board regu-
| larly and remained about five weeks. They
shortly afterward turned up in boarding
house in the Spring Gardens, where they
| staid until about three weeks ago, and then
they disappeared. Both deny the charge
| against them and claim the protec-
tion of the American flag. They are evil
IDENTIFY Irish Americans Neither would admit
when arrested they knew each other. When
arrested they were clad in working clothes,
| Holmes looks to be 30 years Of age,a and Brackcn
| two or three years younger, and is five feet
eight inches high, with dark complexion,
and black moustache. Among tho articles
| found on Holmes was o baggage check, which
was presented ut tho railway station to-day,
and for it was returned a parcel covered with
canvas, which was stamped inside Gregg &
| Co., New York; and contained BoytOn
rubber swimming suit. Both men remain in
custody.
Bracken and Holmes were arraigned before
q stipendiary magistrate this afternoon. Both
men gave their ages as 80 Brackcn said
that he was born in New York state and was
q miner. Holmes gave his birthplace as st.
Joseph, Mo. He said he was laborer. They
pleaded not guilty to tho charge of having
explosives in the shape of dynamite in their
possession when arrested. They wore re-
manded until next Monday.
Pleasant Entertainment TO Gen. Long
| street.
A farewell meeting was rendered Gen.
Longstreet last evening, at the residence of