Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-12-15

PITTsBURG, Pa, Dec. 11.-A Sunday
paper publishes startling story to-day Of
conspiracy to poison by wholesale the
non.tnion men at the Carnegie steel plant,
IN Homestead. The developments made,
IL is said, implicate members of the ad-
visory committee, members of the Anal
gamated Association, and officers of some
OF the labor organizations sympathizng
with the locked-ont men at Homestead.
Asa result of the conspiracy, ii is alleged
that several persons have lost their lives,
while scores of others are still suffering Mt
their homes and in hospitals from the eff
fects OF poisonous drugs administered to
them with criminal intent.
lo'uay 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 those who are claimed
TO be i'll 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
Several others, however, are under
heavy bail on other charges, and the new
charge will probably be made, as all are
under surveillance, and can be taken ut
any moment. Mr.. Brcck SAYS his informa-
ton is that at least six deaths resulted
from poisoning A Homestead druggist
and physician are implicated. The powder
was given to dog, and the anim2l ex-
pired in q short time.
WARNED AGAINST THE WATER.
1t will be remembered that shortly after
the arrival of the state militia at Home
stead. and the non-union men had COM
menced work in the mills complaints be-
came prevalent about the unwholesOme
water supply to the men and especially to
those who lived within the fence surround
ing the plant.
Many cases of sickness were reported,
but were all attributed To the impurity of
the water. So firmly impressed were the
physicians and the officials of the com
pany that the water was causing the sick
ness that supply from other sources was
secured, and notices were posted conspcu-
ously about the mill warning the heemplOyes
to refrain from drinking the water.
Despite this precaution the sickness con-
tinued and soon it became current at
Homestead that an epidemic was prevail
ing among the men within the enclosure.
A number Of the sick men were taken to
the hospital for treatment and nearly all
recovered. although many of them are
still Ill. There being rumors that typhoid
and other diseases were epidemic in the
mil, q representative of the state board of
health made an official investigation. lie
found the sanitary arrangementsgo good and
attributed the sickness TO the water.
CONSPIRACY TO POISON.
The first intimation that the officers had
that the diagnosis Of the physicians was
incorrect and that the men were the vic
TINS Of conspiracy to poison that was
being persistently and Successfully executed
and was obtained more than two months
since. 1t came in such manner, how
ever. that it was impossible to make arrests
Immediately, and it was not until yGster-
day tnat the evidence was deemed to be
sufficiently strongto warrant the apprchen-
sion OF at least one of those who are
alleged to have been implicated in the con
piracy TO get rid of the hated non-union
men, either by death or by creating snch II
panic among them that they would flee
from the futed place in body. The price
to be paid when the mills were closed down
was $4,000.
MAN IN THE rLpr CoNFEssEs.
The terrible plot, according to the in
formation obtained by the reporters, was
learned from man who was in the plot
and was substantially as follows: The in
formant said that one of the chief cooks at
the Homestead works, with whom he was
intimately acquainted, met him in the city
one day and asked him if he did not want
a job at Homestead.
lie sad he wanted at least two assistants,
and said the informant and his friend
could make big money if they would help
him. He told them he was only employed
by the Carnegie Company, hut was also in
the pay of the labor associations and a
member of the strikers committee, and
was Just coming money.
As no grew more confidential, and
prompted by the questions about the pay
from the associations he told of n plan to
poison The food of the men employed in
the mill, so as to make them sick and
render them unable to work. He detailed
the plan he had been pursuing, and
asserted that nearly, il not all, the sick
ness among the men of which reports had
been current was caused by the pOisons he
had placed in the food lie said he was to
get s5,00O il he succeeded in closing tile
mill. lie urged them to accept the places,
told them it would be an utter itnposs,
bility for them to be detected, ana finally
left with the understanding that he would
meet them III the city next day. give them
some advance money and take them to
Homestead with him. ..
CoLOREp POWDER IN THE FooD.
Realizing the Nervousness of the promo
sition, the two men called upon Chairman
trlck OF the Carnegie Company, and laid
the matter before him. On the advice of
the companys attorneys the two men
were instructed to meet the cook and pro-
ceeti to Homestead with him.
That evening the two men went to
Homestead and were duly installed in
= their positions By the cook. The day after
lnclT aTTlNul NUMBER OF Ine iltu were
reported sick and the cook told them how
he had placed the poisun--a coored
powder-in the foOd-and told them to
watch for an opportunity to use it IN the
food.
WATCHED BY DETECTIVES.
Fearing that the men would not be
trusted, TWO Pinkcrtons were engaged to
keep a close surveillance upon the inform
ants, as well as the cook. The latter be-
came suspicious, and at once discontinued
the use oil the powders. Orders were then
given that the workmen should take their
meals at the restaurant outside the encos-
nre the reason being given that the COM
pany was tired of furnishing meals, and
that as quiet had been restored and the
mill in. good working order the meals
would be discontinued.
THE COOK CoNFEssEs.
Some time later the men reported that
the cook was becoming very uneasy, and
they feared he might conclude to leave
the city in hurry. They said that the
death of some of the men had tnneryed
him, and they believed he would make n
clean breast of the whole plot if he was
summoned to the office and placed under
arrest.
This was done, and when confronted
with the facts as stated above, the cook
broke down and made full confession, in
which he gave the names of those who
had employed him, the amount OF money
he had received and the manner in which
he had carried out his part of the terrible
crime.
DosEDTHE FOOD PREPARED FOR THE SOLDIERS
Hs said also that he freouently yisited