Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1892-12-12
STARTLING IF TRUE
The Story a Pittsburg Sunday
Paper Recites.
D .ABoLIOAL IF TAKEN EITHER WAY

If True There Are Fiends Among Us and
if False 1t Is UNANIMOUSLY Wholesale
Poisoning Charged Against the Strikers
at Eomestead-The Advisory Commit
tee Alleged To BE Implicated-Another
Allegation That the Chief Cook at the
Mill Has Confessed.
PITTSBURG, Dec, PA SUNDAY paper
published a startling story yesterday of a
conspiracy to poison by wholesale the nom
union men at Carnegie steel plant at
Homestead, and as a result it is alleged
several persons lost their lives while scores
of others are suffering from the effects of
poisonous drugs. Developments made, it
is said, implicate members of the advisory
committee, members of the AmaIgarnated
association, and officers of other labor or
ganizations sympathizing with the locked
ont men at Homestead. Yesterday nine or
more persons were under arrest, ostensibly
on less serious charges, but really for the
purpose of averting suspicion until others
in the alleged conspiracy could be appre-
hrnded. The only name given is Robert
Beatty, who was arrested at Louisville
Saturday night.
The Plot as 1t l. Reported.
1t is stated that the chief cook inside the
Homestead mills confessed to having
placed poison in the food prepared for non
union men; that he did so at the instica-
ton of the strikers committees. and that
he was also under pay from them as well
as from the Carnegie company. If he
caused deaths and sickness sufficient to
frighten the nOn-union men from the mill
and compel the closing of the mill he said
he was to receive 5000 Two assistants
whom he engaged to aid him in his plot. it
Is stated, became frightened and informed
Erick of the crime. This led to the arrest
OF the chief cook, and as stated above he
made full confession.
Confirmed by a Carnegie LAWYER
The matter was kept quiet. The work
men were instructed to get their meals
outside. The cook and two assistants were
kept in the mill under close Surveillance
During the time that meals were pl lepared
inside a number of workman became sick
and Charles Glossier died two weeks after
going to Homestead. Frick positively re-
fused to be interviewed on the subject last
night. L. /. Beck, counsel for the Carnegie
Steel company, was seen last night and
confirmed the story of the poisoning.
Killed Dog in Few Minutes.
He says his information is that at least
six deaths resulted from poisoning. A
Homestead druggist and a physician are
implicated The powder was given to A
dog, and it died in few minutes. A num-
Der of arrests will probably be made in a
few days. Coroner Mcdowell has not vet
been notified. He will go to Homestead.
however, today, to investigate the cause
Of the death of Isaac Juries, who died sud
denly about two weeks ago. Juries was a
witness in the Critchlow case. The coroner
is of the opinion that death was due to
alcoholism.
The Story Somewhat Discredited.
Superintendent Cowan, OF the West
Penn hospital, said last night that about
forty or fifty cases from Homestead were
received at that institution, but they We're
of men injured in the mills or victims of
diseases arising from natural causes. I'VE
had no cases whatever" said Superintend-
ent Cowin, in which there Were any indi
tiOns of poison having been used" At the
Homeopathic hospital DR.. Shields said
there was no evidence of poison in any Of
the cases received there during the Home
stead troubles.