Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1892-12-12
NOTORIOUS HomEsrEaD.

Another Terrible TaIe-A Plot q
Poison Non-Union Men-Many Al
legged Victims-The Story Confirmed
by the Carnegie COmpany,s Counsel
PrTTsBURG, Dec. ia Sunday paper
had startling story of a startling plot tc
poison the non union men at the Carnegie
plant in Homestead. The developments
made, it is said, implicate members of the
advisory committee, members of the
Amalgamated association and officers OF
some of the labor organizations sympathiz.
ing with the looked out men at Homestead.
As 3 result of this conspiracy, 1t Ia
alleged that several persons have lost
are still suffering at their homes and in
hospitals from the effects of poisonou.
drugs administered to them with criminal
intent. To-day nine or more persons,
more or less identified with the strike,
are under arrest, ostensibly on less
serious charges. but really for the
purpose of averting suspicion until
all who are claimed to be in the
conspiracy have been secured. The
only name given of those charged
with administering poison is Robert
Beatty, who was arrested at Louisville last
night. Shortly after the arrival of the
militia at Homestead and the non union
men had commenced work in the mills,
complaints became prevalent about the un-
wholesome water supplied to the men.
Many cases of sickness were reported, but
were all attributed to impurity of the water.
The men were warned not to drink the water
and supply from other sources was Be-
cured. The sickness, however, continued.
A number of the sick were taken to the
hospitals and nearly all recovered, al
though many of them are still i'll. The
first intimation The officers had that the
men were the victims of q conspiracy was
obtained more than two months ago, but 1t
was not until yesterday that the violence
was declined sufficiently strong to warrant
arrest. A man who was in the plot has
told the details to a reporter. The in
formant said that one of the chief cooks at
the Homestead works met him and friend
here one day and said he wanted two as
sistants who could make big money.
The cook stated that he was not only
by the Carnegie company,
but was also in the pay of the labor
He told of plan to poison
the food of the men employed in the mills,
30 as to make them sick and render them
unfit to work. He asserted that nearly If
not all the sickness among the men was
caused by poisons he had placed in the
food. He said he was to get $5, 900 if he
succeeded in closing the mill. He urged
two men afterwards called on Manager
Frick and revealed the plot. The men
were instructed to go to Homestead with
The cook and did 30 and were installed in
their positions. The day after their ar
rival a number of the workmen were re-
ported sick and the cook told them how he
mad placed poison-colored powder-in the
food and told them also to use it in the food.
Pinkertons were engaged to keep watch on
The informsnts and the cook. The latter
became suspicious and discontinued the
use of the powders. Orders were then
given that the workmen should take their
meals at the restaurant outside the en-
closure. Later on the cook was placed
under arrest and made full confession,
IN which he gave the names of those who
money he Lad received and the
in which he had carried
out his part of the crime. He stated
also that he frequently visited camps of
,he troops and dosed the food in the cook
houses. His visits were always followed
BY increasing sickness among the military.
The cook was not jailed but he and his
.wo assistants have been kept under sur
7eillance. Charles CLOSER died two weeks
after going to Homestead. 1t is said that
he body has been exhumed and the
stomach subjected to a chemist for
analysis.
E l. Beck, counsel for the Carnegie
Steel company, tonight confirmed the
story of the poisoning. His information
8 that at least six deaths resulted from
poisoning. He says q Homestead drug
,ist and physician are implicated.
BE says the powder was given to q
log and it died in few minutes. A num-
Dor of arrests are looked for In q few days.
The coroner will investigate the cause of
he death of Isaac Juries, at Homestead,
who died suddenly two weeks ago. Juries
Was witness in the Critchlow case.
TELEGRAPHIC JoTTINGs.
The budget committee of the chamber of
Deputies has decided to propose that the
luties on alcohol be increased 100 francs.
The British government has informed
he United States that no ground can be
found for the belief that Mrs. Msybrick's
is critical.
Hon. W. 81. Cross, N. P, is dead. He
was the eldest son of Viscount Cross, Q.
J. B., was born in 1856 and represented
he West Derby division.
aas already found evidences that Baron