New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-04-17
OVERLAPPING CONSPIRACY.
RrNcu WARRANT OUT FOR MARTIN IRONS
OTHER PROMINENT KNIGHTS INpICihp-o'o ~
THE PLoT-THr RAILROAD BLOCKADE
Try TsIsGRApH THE TX BCSE.J


5 o'clock this evening four bench warrants were "e'
Inv Judce Van Waqopcr Of the Criminal Court lot 'ne
arrest OF Martin Irons A. C. Coughl'n' "'o'Se W. '"
son and $ W. Nichols. indicted for tampernG WIZ" 80
graph wires Martin Irons is The master "o' "D'
Assembly No lOl; A. C. Coushlan hoids the s""o -
in Assembly No. III; George NJ jackson Is p''''''
and Kuigut OF Labor. aud 5. W. Nichols Is All eA'e
teeeranh operator and a knight Tue Indictments a."
the resut OF the Grand Jurys investigation in'" VI"
cent overlapping conspiracy III "nio" ' - -, ,,r.
showed that the railroad company h'u 't',l .u,o,y
the Knights into the comniNs'o" VI -, u No
the witnesses before the Grand Jury were '''"s l.,
Kcishan the operator who is aeEeu - ""' .,, ,,s
.,uo,, nv ,,e comnany t. induce the knights 'o'aP NV
wire T. H. Brown, maDagcr OF the "eS'e'" =, :,
/ l. Richmond, an officer OF tho hh'eH'' " o.,
ucDonald assistant state attorney hnu d" "o'
o., a,ro.d company and Detective Thomas fuflone' "
.ho coph systen. The story developed py INC 'o''
Inv rims like this: Frank p McKcighan. telegraph
opertor employed by the Western Union ana num"er
of the knights OF Labor were Intimate Win l. L. h'ch
mond n prominent knight and wholesale ucaioI J"
sewing machines. About March 20 ne droppro i"'o
Rchmopu's store. and there introduced by kich-
popd TO L NJ Jackson. Richmond and jackson we're at
the time drafting resolutions to be submitted Dy the
Knights meeting of merchants to he held that gn'
on Change After the work was nnished JacAsoh
said he would take the resolutions TO Lieh'stone
Hail. where Irons aud Coushlan and the rest OF
the ioiut committee IN session Richmond
that McKeigh IN 60 with bin. 10 which jack
son consented Arrived at the hail. ne introduced
McKcghan to Irons and Coughlan Learning that Mc-
Keighan telegraph operator the SUBJECT VI us
patches up. ana Irons and Cohghiah ASK" "
wasn't possible the wire connecilng inc Western
Union Office with the Missouri Pacific headquarters.
Irons SAID he had already tapped wire at harshaii
and had received considerable nforuaton. Mckeighah
re Piled that plan feasible and was instructed 10
find the the knights would furnish man To 40
the work. McKelshau fond that the WIRE was III
cable and reported TO Irons aud ConghIan that IL "o
take an expert to the JON properly Conghian Sad
i'm had n man and introduced McKclghan to s. W.
Nichols "A telegraph operator wno had como from
Nevada No. by or Ter OF the Knights. Mckeighan then
reported the scheme 10 General Manager Bro"n' OF
the Western Union, and was Instructed 10 20 Ahea'
and report progress McKeighan next informed irons
that the Missouri Pacific had requested the western
Union to make loop from the main Office to certain
drug store Mr. Hoxie could receive night mes
sages direct and in his estimation the loop w'niu "i'r
greater inducements 10 tap than tho caoe he was III
structcd lind the and did So tracing u from te
Office TO drug store, which is but few doors IRON
Mr. HoIe's house
Mcclellan about this time shown a telegram ny
Irons which he SAID had been intercepted along the
Missouri Pacific The operator took copy OF inc teie-
gram AMI submitted It to Manager Brown Inc la''er
took TELEGRAM. and calling On eN-Judge Porus gene
raj .oictor for the Could SYSTEM asked the CO..
operation Of the railroai company in discovering now
the dispatch was intercepted IL sthen tald Judge
Ports OF tho attempt about TO be made on the wires
| here and Judge Poris Immediately summoned hi'
detectives Furrnc and Nc Donald II decided that
should be Instructed TO 20 ahead ana ne nc
cordingly told Irons and Couenan that he mad fonhd
the wire Jackson and Nichols next rec0nnoitred the
route and selected the house at No 1887 MrketS as
the place TO make another loop Mckeighen ana Jack
son then nhmber Of stores and Inspected eie-
graph Instruments and outfit consisting OF wres in-
sirumenis, etc. WAS purchased. room was reh'eu ID
the third story by Jackson and Friday night March 2t
was set for the accomplishment Of the work Meanwhile
Bro WI had reported operations TO the Missouri Pacihc
detectives decided 10 surround the house that
night by posse and arrest the men in the act The sig
nal for the raid pc lamp burning brightly Ia thc
winlO Of the third story. Nichols climbed inc pole ana
put insulaOr aud attacbcda wiz" from the "lno"
to the nsulator but when 1t to emitting the other
wire aud making the loop his nerve failed and he came
| down McKelghan then went up aud attempted TO cnt
the WIRE IA storm had drawn 1t SO taut thht
he feared could moi hold 10 after IL was cut lie came
down and advised the job be postponed for few
nights IL was agreed and Jackson and Nichols went
away, while McXeighsn went up to the ROOM
Al this point coincidence spoiled every
thing. Mrs. Smith. who occupied the seco"u
story 'front.' left a lamp in her window aud III minute
squad Of detectives burst into the rooin Frightening
her almost to death. They upstairs ana 1ouhd no
one hnt McKcighan The later then held consultation
with Detective FurOng and Attorney Mcdonald.
VINO were with detectives, and instructed TO ~
ahead again. lid report the raid TO the knlghs
second scheme advancing the city deiec
tyes arrested McKeighan and lie was taken before tue
chief and then made the confession already published
McKelghan stated before the Grand jury that he was
first approached by the KNIGHTS aud the reason he sAd
he WAS empoyed by the Missouri Pacific was TO protect
Manager Brown, who was acting as sort
Of middle man between the detectives and himself
l.. L. Eichmend gave his testimony with reluctance
bur said that he Introduced Mckrghan 10 Jackson as
stated The other Witnesses, intending MI bTo"n,
corroborated the fore going
When Irons Coughlan and Jackson heard OF the war
rants they had nsultaton with ther attorney, and by
an arrangement With the Circuit Attorney IL was de-
cided that should appear In the criminal court
tomorrow morning and furnish bonds FOR their appear
ance Nichols left the city two weeks ago and cannot
lie found The Knights indignant at the action Of
The Grand Jury, who, they assert, were
| Influenced by Assistant Circuit Attorney Nc
| Donald acting attorney for Could
Irons and Cou han say they have no fears OF the Iesn
deny ever having enteret into a conspiracy with
any 10 tap wires. he offence Is felony IL Is said
that score Of will be soon returned against
The militia are becoming home-ick ana Applications
feature Of tue stay s the napner IN which The seures
made targets OF by wouidbe a.sAssns AT 10 oeock
another scntiy IN tho Cairo snort Line yard
m mss CIV offered the ruari aoub cd at
dang crous points William Clawson and Hem! Bison.
two Chicago Burlington and Quincy men who went out
with ths real. but recently retained TO work were as
sAuted and bt aten III brutal manner THIS morning by
crowd of The roads stIl badly handicapped
and the ade almost great ever on the Cairo
Snort Louisville and Nashville, the Fandais and
the aud M ssissppl The bdrrJoius were all re-
opened to-day bul If any disturbance occurs General
Keece threatens to close them again.
The STRIKE SPR AIDING TO CHICAGO.
WAR ON NON-UhIOS MEN BALTIMORE AND OHIO
YARDMeN QUITTING wORY.
CHICAGO, April l6 (Spec,aD.-lt looks to-
night rs II Chicago is to nave an extended
In itnen and syif
men. The first sign OF trouble yester-
day, when the switchmen OF the Lake Shore
road demsn the discharge Of six union VINO
ba baen IA the 10Y years The