, 1888-07-06
A CONSPIRACY.
Alleged Brotherhood Men Ar
rested IN Chicago,
Charged With Conspiracy to
Destroy Property
Belonging to the c., B. 6 @.
Railroad.

CHICAGO, July 5.-Thomas Il. Roder-
lex and j.. A. Bowles, members of the
Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers,
and a man named Wilson were arrested
on a Chicago, Burlington & Quincy rail
road train near Aurora this afternoon.
They had dynamite in their possession
and are charged with conspiracy to de-
stroy the railroad company's property.
They are in the county Jail, each under a
bond of s.. 1000.
1t is stated that the Burlington COM
pany has had a large force of detectives
for some time past watching the
movements of the strikers and it was dis
covered that dynamite was used in sew
eral unsuccessful attempts TO wreck trains
in the past month.
Officials of the road state that positive
information was received to night that
to-day was the day chosen for a grand
attack upon the company property.
The officials are ~reticent regarding their
sources of information, but the plot is
known to them and they admit that be-
sides the definite plan to blow up trains
upon the tracks by mean of dynamite
cartridges. that it includes the probabili-
lies of an attack upon the depot property
and the magnificent office buildings there.
The officials say that had the danger
not been so imminent they would have
allowed the conspirators to go on and
criminatc themselves further, but the plot
had reached a stage where IL was neces-
sary to take decisive steps to prevent the
great destruction of property, not to say
loss of life.
When the men were arrested to day one
of them took from his pocket a letter and
threw 1t out of the window. The train
was stopped and the letter picked up. 1t
is now in the hands of District Attorney
Ewing. He refuses to reveal its contents,
but General Manager Stone intimated
that 1t gave important information re-
Garding the plot.
The men appeared greatly excited when
arraigned in the United States commits
%sioner's office here, and demanded that
Chairman Hoge be sent for. When he
arrived they recognized him at once, but
he claimed not to know them.
The detectives found on the seat in the
train when they arrested the three men
several sticks OF dynamite, and on open
ing the vallse found a number of dyna
mite cartridges. The men disclaim all
knowledge of this property and say it
don't belong to them. One of them was
very much agitated, while the others were
more composed.
None of the three would tell their
place of residence. They have been
travelling about on the 20" system for
some weeks past.
District Attorney Ewing arraigned the
men under section 5253 of the United
States revised statutes, which relates to
the carrying Of high explosives on passen
ger trains. 1t is supposed that this
charge will be brought temporarily until
the Burlington officers can perfect their
case. Commissioner Hoyne held them in
5000 bonds each for examination on the
18th.
Hoge and Vice Grand Master Hanna
han of the firemen' brotherhood informed
the men that they could do nothing for
them to night and they were sent to jail.
General Manager Stone of the Burling
ton when interviewed would tell no more
than is given above, but said he believed
thai high officials of the brotherhoods are
connected with the conspiracy.
Il don't know any of those men,, said
Chairman Hoge to n reporter. They
may be members of the brotherhood, but
| don't remember them. If their case is
found worthy of investigation we will help
them and get them bail.
On Broderick's person was found a
brotherhood membership card declaring
him a member of the Pottsyille division,
No. 90. Bro1erick and Wilson had iu. t
come on from Urestoa, Ia, where he was
closely identified with the strikers, Will
son is supposed to be a striking fireman.