The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-07-28

useless for further work. In view of these cir
cumstances they have been recalled, within the
past few weeks. until the trial Is concluded. when
they will return In 1S79-S0 Thomas Sweeny,
an active ward politician of the city OF Ottawa.
Ont, and trusted worker in the Conservative
cause, frequently commissioned to important
private service by Sir John Macdonald, occupied
the position of Canadian Immigration agent
travelling constantly between Chicago and the
international boundary line at st. Vincent on
the Manitoba road. His duties were to prevent
as far as possible the loss of emgrants bound for
the Canadian Northwest through the instrumen-
tality of land agents in the Northwestern States,
and to report to his government the nature of the
schemes adopted to capture such immigration.
While in this position he made the acquaintance
of number of Chicago Anarchists, learned
their designs, and communicated the same to Sir
John Mac Donald. Soon after Mr. Sweeney was
promoted to the position of land guide in the
province of Manitoba. but he frequently came
East to meet immigration parties, and in that
way kept up his connection with the schemes Of
the Chicago Anarchists. He also won the conf
dence of certain agitators in Manitoba, and was
enabled, in connection with an American named
Wilson, TO disclose a scheme to the Canadian
government for an insurrectionary uprising in
that province, 30 that it was nipped in the bud.
This he accomplished in connection with the
man Wilson, who is native of the State OF
Wisconsin. These disclosures enabled the Do
minion government to stamp out an embryo in
surrection in Manitoba at the time, and. what is
more served to put the Canadian detective force
on the track of a conspiracy brewing between
Riel and Dumont and organizations of Anarch-
lists in Chicago and New York. In short time
thereafter Thomas Sweeney and the man Will
son, through whose instrumentality the discov-
cries were made. left Winnipeg and took no
their residence in Chicago. This was in the
winter of 1884 From that date until within
few months Mr.. Sherwood chief of the
Dominion detective force, and the head
of the Canadian government have been
kept thoroughly posted concerning designs and
movements of the Anarchists, both in Chicago
and New York. Mr.. Sweeney, with Mr. Wilson
as assistant has ever since resided in Chicago.
The former left for Canada about the time of
the Haymarket massacre, or soon after, presuma-
bly, to prevent his being summoned as witness
against Spies, Parsons. Fielden ct al. Some
time in 1885 Sweeney is said to have been ad-
mitted at the same time the Danish Pnkerton
detective named Jansen was installed an
armed Socialist, to an armed group of the same
body. Being expert he became drill-master.
A large quantity of dynamite, shipped from Chi
cago to the Lake Superior region, ostensibly for
mining purposes, or about to be shipped, having
been paid for by Chicago or New York Anarch-
ists was discovered the day 1t was to have been
dispatched. having been purchased in assumed
names, and withheld at the instance of
Sweeney or his associate, and the Chicago firm
still holds the money for the same over $l00,
together with the affidavit of the detective
making the disclosure The firm referred to is
designated as a Chicago agency of an Eastern
concern Sweeney is also held to be the man
who notified the Dominion detectives at Ottawa.
two years ago, of the departure from
this city of one Decors, who had been
formally commissioned il the West Lake-street
den, to go to the city of Hull adjoining the
Canadian capital. and organize branch of the
Anarchists some of whom had been in CORE
spondence with Chicago dynamiters, asking that
man be sent down to give them proper instruc-
tions and put them on regular footing as a
branch of the International organization. De-
corsis mission was known to Chief Sherwood be-
fore his arrival in the city. and he was shadowed
from the hour of his arrival until enough had
been known to warrant the latter in writing him
to leave the town on the next train, which he
did. The hot-bed of Socialists which he organ
ized was closely watched from that day until it
was raided, about month ago. Sweeney is also
supposed to be able to give the names and num-
bers, especially the latter. of those who were de-
tailed to throw bombs on the Sd and 4th of May
in different sections of the city, but this may not
be correct, he was distrusted for some time
before that date. He was mo. 12' Of the Amer
lean group of armed men, and was therefore in
Abe same company with Jansen. Sweeney is
now supposed to be in Canada.