The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-12-30
A STARTLING PLOT.
AllegedScheme to Murder Twenty
Prominent CalifOrnians.
Ares; Of Several Members Of a So
cialistic Organization

A San Francisco dispatch gives the follow
ing details Of an alleged scheme to assassi-
nate twenty prominent citizens of California:
A plot for the assassination of some Of the
most prominent men in this city came to
light last night. Some time ago the police
obtained information Of the existence OF an
organization called the "Socialistic Revolu-
tlOnary Association" which, it was asserted,
was composed of ultra-socialistic members.
A close watch was kept on their movements,
and the police finally succeeded in obtaining
the mlnuto IS of one OF their meetings held on
November %.
1t was learned that the intention was to
put about twenty men out Of the way by as
sassination, including w. T. Coleman, Con-
gresham W. W. Morrow, General w. H. L.
Barnes, Mayor Bartlett, United States Judge
Lorenzo Sawyer, Leland Stanford, Charles
Crocker, Governor Stoneman and the princi-
pal police officials. These names were put on
O "proscriptive list" and placed in the hands
of the executive committee. The committee
were considering the best means of accom-
plishing the murders when their work wa
brought to a sudden termination by the dis
covery of their headquarters at $40 Mont
gomery street.
The police arrested four men found in the
rooms. Their names are Julius G. Koosher,
Henry Weiseman. Charles Mittelstadt, and
Oscar Eggers. The officers found in the
Headquarters a complete laboratory for the
were taken to the city prison, where they
boldly asserted that they were dynamiters,
and that they proposed to get rid of the citi-
zens named and then raze Chinatown. The
prisoners are also members Of tho German
branch of the Anti Coolie league.
Tho leader Of the band is Henry Weise-
man, a Bavarian and a chemist. He was
induced to join Coroner O'Donne!ps Coolie
league, and finally became president Of an
s.was merely to aid in enforcing what O'Don-
nell told US was law against the Chinese.
He told us that the State constitution pro.
hlbited the Chinese from living with
in the limits of any incor-
porated town or city in the State. We had
n meeting on the sand lot on Thanksgiving
Day and resolved that we would cal on the
resign their offices. The only thing that
troubled me was that O'Donnell was always
saying that the Chinese were supplied with
superior weapons, and that they had arm
cries in Chinatown and were drilling every
night with Wincester rifles supplied by COL
onel Bee, the Chinese consul.
Most Of our people were w~orklngmen, and
had no arms I was afraid hat when the
Chinese were ordered to 60 they would resist
allu dUldCh OuI poOplc. We AoSO oSHA~
thing to meet them with, and | resolved to
experiment., and see if I could not invent a
superior weapon. I commenced my expert
ments about twelve days ago, and bought
some dynamite. My idea was to make
something that could be thrown like a
hand grenade. We experimental
at different times under the rocks near the
Cliff house, but the results were not s~atisfac.
tory. ODonnell knew we were experiment.
ing"
The prisoners have been charged with a
misdemeanor, in uulawfully storing giant
powder. The highest penalty for this is six
months Imprisonment, or a fine Of $1,000.
Koosher is a Russian. and speaks six Ian.
guages. According to his story he was tinall-
cially ruined byfrequ mt assaults made on the
Jews. He came to the United States and set
tied in New York city. He was appointed an
agent by the Jewish Relief society, and visited
Oregon and Washington Territory TO take up
land for his people. He asserts that Henry
Willard, the railway magnate, assisted him
in his labors. He recently came to this city,
and identified himself with the Anti Coolia
league, and the house in which the dynamite
was found was occupied by him. Ho paid a
monthly rental of $40.
Charles Mittelstadt is President of the
Third Ward Anti-Coolie Club and vice-presi'
dent of the German branch of tho same or
ganization. In his room tho detectives
found 300 badges bearing the letters I'D. a.
G.. L." Oscar Eggers isa peddler by occupa-
ton. He is a native of Germany, is about 81
years of age and speaks very little English.