Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-11-08

mak.pa ran, or Tbsir Arrest but ss
asyssus.

osv In their cells this morning, anu 70
wsts ,;ght Of their arrest. When seen
.hsr we're all "kicking" about the
ssrs A. breakfast. They declared they
had ONLY smclled at it. and that they
Couldn't +" stomach It," Later they were
each visited by friends, who gave them
good breakfast, money, cigars,
and everything they needed for comfort
AN were intensely anxious to know
what the charge against them would DC,
nd.what punishment would be allotted
70 them. Each aired his knowledge OF
the law, saying what the court could 40
and what it could not. They were all
in for il, they believed, but just to what
extent they were anxious to learn.
There was a unanimous desire to throw
the responsibility Of the crimes on With
row. who, they said, bad turned States
evidence. Byrns said be would be will
ing to do term just for the satisfaction
Of knowing that Withrow would 90 up.
The five men under arrest are all
Knights of Labor, and three OF them
hold offices in lodges of that order
NJ. w. Weathers, the chief conspirator,
Is a member of the Executive Commit
tee of Cleveland Assembly, Knights Of
Labor. lie was photographer before
he came to this city, and had been
driving Washington-ayenue car only
n short time when the strike occur
red. Fred. Pinkerton, who knew
of the conspiracy, but took no
active part in it except to furnish the or
der for the money necessary to purchase
the explosives, is master workman oil
Cleveland Assembly. Walter P. Sears,
who introduced Weathers to Byrns and
Withrow as ga man who knew how to
handle dynamite is judge-adyocate
of Cleveland Assembly. David kee-
nan. who was silent accomplish in
the plot, is treasurer Of Cleveland AS
sembly. and cashed Pinkerton's order
for the $50. P. S. Byrns is a member
of the Executive Committee of Cleve-
land Assembly, and was one Of the
most active workers in the strike. 1t
is said that Withrow turned States
evidence, and that he is wholly respon-
sible for their arrest.
The story Of the conspiracy, as told
briefly by Withrow, is as follows
About October 10Th NJ. W. Wea-
theirs made proposition to P. S. Byrns,
David Keenan,, and G. B. Withrow to
blow up the street-cars with dynamite.
The proposition was communicated to
Master-Workman Pinkerton, of Cleve-
land Assembly, who consented to it and
made out a warrant for $50 on the trea-
surer of the Assembly. The money was
given to Weathers, who left the city and
returned soon with dynamite sticks and
caps. which he said he had purchased in
Louisville. Meanwhile dispute had
arisen over Pinkerton's communication
of the plan to Isaac Dryden, room
mate of Withrow. This was smoothed
over, however, and Weathers went to
work placing the dynamite where, in
his opinion, it would do the most good.
His method, as explained to Withrow,
was to drop his hat, and when STOPPING
to pick it up to place the dynamite on
the rail. There was enough dynamite
for twenty cars, but some of it failed to
explode, and after four cars had been
blown up two Of the sticks of the ex-
plosive remained.
Withrow was the first arrested
When Weathers and Sears were ar.
rested on Wednesday night they were
found, with the valise which held the
two sticks of dynamite, at No. oil!
Lucas avenue. Soon afterward Pin
kerton and Byrns were arrested at theil
homes. When confronted by Withrov
ON Thursday morning they at frs
. stoutly denied the statements
Byrns was the first to weaken, an,
then Weathers acknowledged the trutl
, of Withrow's statements. lie sal
that Byrns gave him the ego on Thurs
day, October 18th, at 6 p. NJ. He wen
i, over to Louisville and purchased on
: dozen dynamite sticks and one doze
= CABS at a hardware-store on Main street
claiming that he wanted them to blo'
i up stumps. On his return he took tn
. dynamite to the room occupied by hin
: self and Sears in Lucas avenue. III
q object in using explosives, he said, Wa
i to throw the cars off the track and M
a to iniure any one.
- The story Of the arrests shows th'
- they were entirely due to Chief Harr
\ gan. 1t is said that yesterday, after Il
- men were arrested, the case looked pc
~ fectly hopeless. Each man, when e.
a amined by the Chief, denied that
~ knew anything about the dynamite gu
% RACES or that he knew of any one wi
1s did know anything about them. Ea'
n of them lied with strength and per-
nacity that could not be shak
or weakened. Finally the Chi
called in Withrow and then hi
Byrns brought in. Byrns was to
m. what WithrOw had said about him, b
made no reply at all. Then Byns W
ne taken out and another man brought
In. Then Withrow was sent out and Byr
lse ushered in again. The Chief got up
on dispute between these two men,
on which some facts came out, and tn
lar began to use these facts. lie had
les guard of detectives at the door, and
NO fast as he would complete the examir
a ton Of one man he would have anotf
in brought in. As each was disposed
nd he was sent to o cell distant FRI
INT those of his fellows. Thus the Oh
to. kept changing men, confronting o
the with the other, and having each char
,rd what one had said, or deny what b
ow been said by another, until all were
ere thoroughly confused that they talk
the out boldly for self-defence. The Oh
raw made no examinations to speak of,
civ sat back in his chair ard listened
, at ordinations and determinations. L
lasted for over six hours, and wheI
lrs, was finished enough evidence had b'
ing secured to make, as the Chief sa
les. good cases against all five of the m
had The warrants against the prison
en- will be for assault with intent to k
in, and the next grand jury will be char
two with the investigation of the conspiri
Ids, and the finding Of the indictmer
snt. None of the prisoners seem TO hi
old any hope that his late companions v
here do anything for him. In fact, the Il
men seem to be of the opinion that they '
evil be left to their fate unaided. The o
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