The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-12-12
IN THEIR FOOD.
The Story of a Conspiracy at
Homestead Published in a
Pittsburg Paper.
Getting Rid Of New Men by
Putting Drugs in Their
Food.
A Cook Employed at the Carnegie stoel
Works Alleged to Have Made a Full
Confession.

PITTsBuRG. Dec. IA Sunday pnper
publishes n story to-day of a conspiracy to
poison by Wholesale the n%on-union work
men at the Carnegie steel plant. The de-
velopments made, it says, implicate mem
bers of the advisory committee, members OF
the Amalgamated association, and officials
of some of the labor organizations syn pa
thizing with the locked out men. AS n re-
suit of the conspiracy it is alleged that ssv-
eral persons have lost their lives. while
scores of others are still suffering at their
homes and in the hospitals from the effects
Of poisonous drugs administered them with
criminal intent. To-day nine or more per-
sons. more or less identified with the strike.
are under arrest, ostensibly on less serious
charges, but really for the purposes of avert
ing suspicion until all those who are claimed
to be in the conspiracy are secured. The only
name given of those charged with admins
tering the poison is Robert Beatty, who was
a arrested at Louisville last night. Several
OF here. however, aro under heavy bail on
other charges. and new charges will proba-
bly, be made tomorrow. The details Of
the plot. the paper says, are sufficient to
cause a shudder. when 1t is known that at
least two deaths and perhaps a number of
Others have already been traced to the work
Of a willing tool selected to carry the
rnurderous plan into execution. 1t
will be remembered that shortly
after the arrival of the state mill
tia at Homestead, and when the non
union men commenced work in the mills,
cases of sickness were reported, but attri-
buted to the impuritv of the water. A sup
ply from other sources was secured and no
tices posted CONSEQUENTLY about the mill
warning employees. Despite the precau-
tIonary measures, the sickness continued,
and soon it became current at Homestead
that an epidemic was prevail
ing among the men in the enclosure. The
first intimation that the men were victims
of a conspiracy was obtained more than
two months since. but in such a manner
that it was impossible to make arrests i'm
mediately. and not until yesterday was the
evidence deemed to be sufficiently strong
to warrant the apprehension of at least one
of those implicated.
yhe story of the plot, according to in
formation obtained by the paper, was told
by a man who was in it and is substantially
as follows: One of the chief cooks at the
day and said they could make big money if
they would help him. The cook said he
was not only employed by the Carnegie
company, but was also in the pay of the la
Dor associations and member of the strikers
committees, and was Just coming money.
As he grew more confidential. prompted by
questions about pay from the association,
he told of n plan to poison the food of The
men employed in the mill. 30 as to make
them sick and render them unable to work.
He detailed the plan he had been pursuing,
and asserted that nearly oil if not all the
sickness among the men was caused by
poisons he placed in the food. He said he
was to get $1,000 If he succeeded in
closing the mill. He urged that the strikers
accept places, saying it would be an
utter impossibility for them to be detected.
and finally left with the understanding that
he would meet them in the city next day
and give them some advance money and
take them to Homestead with him. Real
izing the Nervousness of the proposition,
the men called upon Chairman Frick and
laid the matter before him. Upon the ad-
vice of the company's attorneys the men
met the cook and proceeded to Homestead
with him.. They were duly installed in ro-
sition by the cook. The day after their ar
rival q number of men were reported sick,
and cook told how he placed poison, a COL
ored powder, in the food, and told them to
watch for an opportunity to use it in the
food.
Fearing the men could not be trusted,
two Pinkertons were engaged to keep close
surveillance on the informRnts as we'll as
the cook. The latter became suspicious
and at once discontinued the use of the
powder. Orders were then given that the
workmen should take their meals at a res
taurant outside the enclosure. Later the
men reported that the cook was becoming
very uneasy, and it was feared he might
conclude to leave the city in a hurry. They
said the deaths among the men, especially
that of Charles CLOSER. unnerved him, and
they believed he would make a clean breast
Of the whole plot if placed under arrest.
This was done and when confronted with
the fncta 40 atatoI above. tha nook hrpEp
down and made n full confession, in which
he gave the names of those who employed
him, the amount of money he received, and
the manner III which he carried out his
part of the terrible crime. lie stated also
that he frequently visited the camps of the
militia and dosed the food prepared i'll the
cook house. His visits were always fol-
lowed by increased sickness among the
members of the national guard. The
confession was taken by a stenoR apher in
the presence of several witnesses. The cook
also exhibited vouchers for the money due
him. After the testimony was reproduced
upon a typewriter it WAS read to the cook
and he signed the statement in the pres
ence of witnesses. After making the con-
fesslon the cook begged that he should not
be put in Jail and his wishes were complied
with. He. however, Ms we'll MS the original
informants, are kept under surveillance
night and day, all of them having contin-
ued in the employ of the firm until the at
rests could be made.
Charles CLOSER, tho man referred to,
died two weeks after going to Homestead.
Ii is said that since tho confession made by
the cook the body was exhumed and the
stomach submitted to q chemist for analy-
els. 1t ia also said the chemists report
will be submitted in evidence when the
cases some up for ttial. A reporter called
upon Chairman Prick to learn if possible
the Carnegie account of the crime alleged
against Beatty. but tho gentleman posi-
tively refused to be interviewed. AT Home
stead the story is pronounced ridiculous.
T.. V. Brock, counsel for tho Carnegie
Steele company, tonight confirmed the
story of the poisoning. A Homestead
druggist and II physician are implicated,
Part of the powder was given to n dog and
tho animal expired in II short time. Cor
oner Mcdowell will go to Homestead to-
morrow and investigate the cause OF the
death of j. Juries, who aiod suddenly about
two weeks ago. Juries was Il witness IN the
Critchlow case. The coroner ia of opinion
that death was duo to alcohiisin.
Ahnt In.xy., Fa. A nah ~ N,rI