Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-12-19
POISON FOR NON-UNION MEN.
Story Of Beatty's Plot ut Homestead Told b.
One of the Cooks Implicated.

story Of Beatty'e Plot at Homestead Told by
One of the Cooks Implicated.
The hearing in the case Of Robert Beatty,
charged with having been party to plot to
poison non-union men employed in the Carnegie
steel works at Homestead, was held at the office
OF Alderman McMasters at Pittsburg Saturday
afternoon. The little Office was crowded when
the alderman directed the case to proceed.
Attorney Bremen appeared for the defense and
T. Y. Breck for the prosecution. Patrick Gal
lagher, who confessed, was not present.
). NJ. Davidson, a steamboat cook. was the
first witness. He stated that in August, in
company with Patrick Gallagher, they met
Beatty in Pittsburg- at was understood" he
said, I'VE were to go to Homestead as cooks and
were to take something with us to put into the
food given to the non-union men in order to
make them sick and render them unfit for work.
Beatty took us to the Office of the Knights of
Labor where we met Master Workman Hugh
Dempsey. Gallagher and Dempsey did most
OF the talking. Beatty suggested dosing the
Non with croton oil said no.
"Dempsey said he knew a powder which
would be better. He said he had used these
powders in Chicago, and he had broken strike
IN four days. He said: 1t isn't dangerous.
Dempsey said he would guarantee us $50 each
and our expenses. We go. no powders that
day. We then left the hall together.
Beatty said we were each to get $50 and
gold watch and chain if we went. Gallagher
went " Homestead two days after that. 1 went
up september %. Beatty gave me some pow
GERS TO take to Gallagher. There were nine III
the package, and gave them to Gallagher. /
don't know whether they were used. Before
That Gallagher had been given a small package
from Dempsey.
''One powder was enough to put in thirty
gallons of tea or coffee. This was in the
knights of Labor ball and Beatty was present.
Later when Gallagher, Beatty and I went to
knights of Labor hall Dempsey asked how the
powders worked. Beatty said successfully. and
wanted more. Dempsey said he would etmore-
ION December l | asked Beatty what was in
the powder. He said rhu6arb snuff and other
things. lie didn't ray who furnished them.
While we were talking he mentioned Crawford,
Lynch and DR.. Pu-man.'
Mr.. Bremen gave him a very severe cross
examination, but did not shake his story in any
particular. He insisted that he had not admin
lstered any powders to the men. He said he
was arrested late in November and taken into
the st. Nicholas building and was sworn and
told the story he had just told and was released.
Detective j. H. Ford testified to hearing
Beatty describe the powders and Gallagher say:
tom Brady suggested using crOton OIL"
Louis VOTERS, steward of the Homestead mill
restaurants. testified to the serious and rapid
increase Of illness among the men after Gal
laghers employment, that himself and wife
were vet suffering from its effects; his wife, he
thought, would die.
W. f. Bullock and Joseph Leslie. pay roll
clerks, also suffered from the drug and testified
TO its effect upon them. Mr. Bremen then en-
deavored to secure the release Of his client but
the alderman held him for court in S. 900 bail.
Mr.. Bremen thought this amount excessive,
and was directed by the alderman to go into
court today and ask the court to fix the amount.
Master Workman Hugh F. Dempsey was asked
for statement. Mr.. Dempsey carefully re-