Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-07-20

The Confessions of Detectiye-spy on
Iron Workers.

| Iron WOrkcEbs
CHICAGO, July 19.-Blank astonish'
ment was visible on the faces OF the
iron-workers on trial for conspiracy
when John Collins, co-defendant, TOOK
the witness stand in Justice Fosters
court yesterday morning and proclaimed
himself detective.
After dinner a second surprise flashed
on the court and spectators when Alex
ander Sullivan appeared On the scene
and took charge of the iron-workers'
case. Interest at once increased ana IL
was heightened to high pitch when
the detective told the plot for burning
non-union iron-workers with iron heat
ed to white heat, which he had been In
structed to do by certain members OF tne
union. Efforts TO elicit the names and
motives of the proposers were baked
by Attorney Sullivan. who preferred to
defer the explanation until later stage
of the tr ial.
The nine defendants were in conrt
when the case opened in the morning,
Collins among the rest. Among the
other defendants there was apparently
not the slightest suspicion that bury
John Collins, the loud-spoken black
smith, who was the hottest and most
defiant in the ranks of the strikers, was
other than a friend.
When he took the stand and under
the soothing influence OF Winslow Bros
attorney told the court that his real
name was Max Dittberner, and that he
was detective in the employ Of Mooney
g. Boland pin could be heard drop on
the floor. Chances were shot at him
that were far from friendly. But Col
Inns, or Dittberner, or whatever his
name may be, stood it all without finch
ing. Apparently he was quite at home
in the business, for he pulled out big
bundle of notes and waited for QueS-
tions. He is burly looking fellow
with coarse features and short hair.
Previous to the product on OF the de-
tective several other witnesses were ex-
amined, including two officers, but they
told nothing material to the conspiracy
case. DttDerner's evidence in the
morning consisted in telling how he had
gone among the strikers early in the
struggle and had won their confidence.
After he had been detailed to his work
he went to Winslow's shop and worked
there as blacksmith. He had been ac-
costed on returning from work by the
strikers and after some persuasion quit
work and joined the union, where he
represented himself as having recently
arrived from Pittsburg, Pa.
Dittberner gave evidence at some
length about the meetings and the ap-
pointment of pickets to patrol the vari-
Gus factories. A legal battle took place
over the admission OF speeches made by
Richard Braunschweig and M. Mulra-
ney, outside labor men, at a meeting
held in Columbia hall on July 6.
August Spies, and the anarchists
trial figured for quotation, after quota
ton, but Justice Foster ruled the |
speeches out and the case went on.
Another decision made the evidence of |
the morning inadmissible, except in the |
case Of defendant OSmund.
The detective told of various CONVEX
sationS he had with the defendants and |
read them fully from notes made few
hours after the conversations took
place. All of them went to prove that
1 strike was on and that the defendants
we're anxious to get as many non-union
men into their ranks as possible. Vio-
ent expressions were used by some
among them, but the detective acknowl-
edged that with one exception the Off
,ers were singularly peaceable.
This exception was Treasurer II. ].
fastes ebgtn Ifr est EafftA Eue ftG5reesf5es
notes, made the remark that he saw
lothing inflammatory in 1t.
A sensation was created when the
witness told of conversation he had
with the treasurer outside Desplaines
street police station on Tuesday last.
a week before that the detective,
pursuant to instructions, made GER
tain proposition to the treasurer. NO |
notice was taken of it at that time.
"What happened on tuesday," said
Winslow's attorney to Dittberner.
ST was at the trial of the assault cases
at the court when dMr. Gates called me
aside and asked me if had mentioned
the proposition / had made to him the
week before to any one else.
81 said no, and then he said he was
glad. as that was the only thing they
could bring against him II the charges
of conspiracy came to trial"
"What was this propositions" inter-
jected Alexander Sullivan.
Quite coolly the detective replied: II
had gone to Nj Gates and asked him
what he would do for three or four of
the boys if they went and got work at
Winslow's as blacksmiths and then
heated iron bars red hot and used them
to burn the 'scabs' out OF the works"
Mr.. Gates had then said that so long
as no murder was done he wasn't par
ticular what measures were taken.
State your reason for making this
proposition" said Winslow Bros at
torney.
81 object" said Alexander Sullivan in
lev tones, ''to permitting the witness to
relieve himself of the infamy OF such
brutal proposition. Let him wear the
honors he has won"
Justice Foster took this view OF 1t
and no light was thrown on the point
just then.
The detective gave day and date
for particulars relating to the in
Vulnerable arrests which were
of daily occurrence during the
strike. In some of them he even took
part himself. He identified some OF the
defendants as having been present on
more than one occasion. President
Dorm and Treasurer Gates were present
once, but beyond talking to the men
took no part in the row.
The attorney for Winslow Bros. hopes
to prove by the evidence of this detect
i've and four others of the same pro-
fession that the defendants were part of
conspiracy to prevent Winslow Bros.
from opening up their works.
Got a Warm Reception.