Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1888-07-19
SENSATIONAL ARRESTS.

Prominent Ofsicers of the Engineers' snt
Fireneb's Brotherhood Arresbed-Th<
Charges Against Them.
CHICAGO, July 10.-Chairnan Hoge, Of
the grievance committee OF the Brother
hood of Locomotive Engineers and Chair
man Murphy, occupying the same position
in the Firemen's Brotherhood, were ar.
rested at their rooms in the National Hotel
this morning. The prisoners were taken
completely by surprise. Both men were
taken 70 police quarters and locked up.
The two chiefs are charged with conspi.
r8cy. The much talked-of circular ID
which Hoge is alleged to have requested
Brotherhood men 10 hire themselves Sc
cretly to the 90" road and then disable the
engines, is said to be the bssis of the charge
against Hoge. Chairman Murphy is
charged with being an accOmplice.
General Manager Stone swore out the
warrants last night and they were given to
the officers to be served early this morning.
Attorney Collier, of the 20" road, said this
morning that the prisoners would be ar
raiened before justice and a continuance
taken. as the company was not ready to
push its case. He asserts, however, that
the evidence in the possession of the coIn-
pany was conclusive.
Hoge and Murphy were taken before
Justice r. H. White, but asked for change
Of venue. Upon the prisoners being
brought to Justice Lyon the railroad attor-
new demanded continuance. The Justice
was about to fix bail at Il 600 piece, when
the company's lawyers protested and after
some parley the amount was increased to
81 800 for each of the men. Bonds were
promptly furnished and Messrs. Hoge and
Murphy released until Saturday. Unlike
the other strikers arrested they are ar
raigned under State, not Federal statutes.
Their arrest was made under the recently
enacted Merritt conspiracy law. IT con-
victed the penalty is a term at hard labor
In the penitentiary.
Two other names were on the list with
Hoge and Murphy for arrest-John j.
Kelly and John S. McGillivary. \ mid
night consultation of the officers of the
company led to the arrests. Two or three
detectives, Manager Stone, Freight Agent
Paul Morton and Attorney Collier were
working all night on the evidence against
the alleged conspirators and it was not IN
Ill at an early hour this morning that they
decided to arrest Hoge and Murphy. Then
the little party broke up, the warrants
were procured and the officials retired for
few hours rest. Then they arose to
watch the result of their work.
The most sensational development in the
alleged conspiracy is the confession OF
John J. Kelley and John H. McGillivary,
clerks respectively to Chairman Hoge Of
the striking engineers grievance commit
tee and chairman of the fremen's commit
tee, who were arrested this afternoon.
Said Inspector Bonfield late tonight:
"When arrested they sent for me. went
to see them at the armory, where they had
been taken, first sending word to Mr.. Stone
that presumed they wanted to talk. He
came over, bringing attorney Collier with
him. We consulted with them. They APP
peared to be very nice young men, in
telligent and honest. They told US fully of
their connection with the circular. Then,
as the result of the conference, they wrote
out ali they knew and / can say that their
statement was perfectly satisfactory to
Mr.. Stone and Mr.. Collier. / had to leave
before the statements were fully COM
pleted, but understand that they settle
satisfactorily and beyond the possibility
of doubt the authorship of the sal soda
and emery circular. 1t also settles who
John Sewers is-the man none of the re-
poTters could find. According to this
statement Sewers is Hoge. When the cir
culars were sent to the different divisions
inquiries as TO its authenticity were re-
ceived in numbers from chief engineers who
doubted whether such radical circular
could be sent out by Hoge, and asking if it
were genuine. Both these young men
answered number of these inquiries in
variably saying by the direction of Hoge
that the circular was all right. Letters adj
dressed to John Sewers and left at the
National Hotel We're taken by Hoge to the
committee rooms at the Grand Pacific and
there answered by these men under Hoge's
instructions"
''Where are these men nowf"
They are not in Jail, but have gone into
voluntary retirement" answered the in
spector.