The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-07-20
SENSATIONAL ARRESTS.
Blk Knights of Labor in Jail at Wyandotte,
Charged with Train Wrecking and Murder.

KANSAS Cry, July 19.-Six men are in jail
At Wyandotte, Kan, charged with having
wrecked Missouri Pacific freight train, between
Wyandotte and this city. at 8 o'clock on the
morning of April &c last. during the great South
western railway strike, and by which Ben Hor-
son, fireman, and George Carlisle brakeman,
we're killed The alleged wreckers are members
pr the executive board of the local lodge of the
Knights of Labor there, and Hamilton, the
man who is represented as the ringleader
10 the crime is chairman of the board. The
prisoners are George Hamilton, recently a spe-
cial policeman Robest Gesrs, Mike Leary, Fred
Newport (marriedl, y car-repairer 0. j. Lloyd,
also car-repairer, and William Vossen, en-
plo5e of an ice firm. The case has been worked
mp by the company's detectives, and the evidence
against some or all of the prisoners is strong
Besides this. it is stated that Lloyd. and proba-
bly, two others. have made full confession Of the
crime to the officers. The latter are very close
mouthed, and the matter has been kept
quiet until to-day, though most of
the men were arrested during last night
From matters made public it appears that one
of the detectives got into the confidence of 0. j.
Lloyd, who was recently arrested on another
charge Of ain-wrecking The detective sue
ceeded in bailing Lloyd and took him to St
Louis, ostensibly to get him away from the of
fcers. He then wormed confession out of
Lloyd. and, bringing him back here, secured the
arrest of thezothers last night. Another clew
was worked up and a wig secured which il is
supposed Hamilton wore on the night of the
wrecking This is one of the several cir
cumstances which go to show that the guilty
parties are now in custody. Though the con-
fession of one or more of the prisoners Is kept
secret, publication will be made to- morrow of
what purports to be their substance. This is.
that the six men left the meeting of the lodge at
their hall at o'clock on the eventful night and
repaired to the river where the Missouri Pacific
track skirts it; that there three of the men
drew the spikes, while the other three who led
In the nefarious plot held drawn revolvers over
them TO force them, if necessary, to the work
The trio who were thus in measure coerced
are said to be the men who have confessed.
There was quite fiutter of excitement here
tonight among the knights of Labor over the
charges thus reported and imputations against
their order. A meeting of various lodges was
held at Sixth and Main streets, this CITY, to-
night Several of those present were inter
viewed after the meeting. They asserted that
the meeting had no reference to the matter of
the wrecking. As members Of the order, how
ever, they condemned such acts, and expressed
a desire to see the perpetrators, whoever they
might be. brought to justice. There are rumors
of other arrests pending, but nothing positive
can be learned as to whether or not other per-
sons than those now in durance are implicated.
Further developments are awaited with great IL
terest.