New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-11-21
NELSON MOyUMENT IN PERIL.
PROMINENT YOUNG MONTREALERS AR
RESTED WHILE PREPARING TO WRECK IT.
EX-PREMIER MERCIER'S son ONE OF The
PRIsoNERs-A BIG DYNAMITE CAhTkip'E
FOUND IN THEIR PosSEssION-NEI6l-
BORING BUILDINGS WOULD HAVE
EEEN DAMAGED.
fpY trIrGrApn 10 TIE TRIBrXE.l

tBY TELEGRAPH 10 THE TRIBUNE
Montreal Nov 20.-IIenr Mercier aseh '"e"y'
son of ex-Premier MERCER and an ofhcer VI inc
9th Canadian Rifles: Paul Demartigny. aged nine
/ teen son of a prominent physician; oscar Poland.
/ aged eighteen brother Of l.. q. Poland n promi-
nent barriser and CASTOR Hughes. son OF |ieu'eh-
ant Colonel Hughes. chief OF Police. were ARRESTED
at early hour this morning. They were ca"s''
| almost in the act OF attempting TO DO" up inc
Nelson Monument. in Jacques Cartier 'quale'
where since lSpS it has stood to commemorate 'he
victory OF England's great Admiral at Irala'sar'
The timely discovery of the plot. due to iniorma-
ton given by Castor Hughes whose subsequent
! arrest only a blind not only preVeh'eu u"e
destruction of the historic monument pu' also
saved OF people from certain manning anu
possible DEATH for only thirty feet to the west OIL
the monument stands the Hotel Riendeu, always
crowded with guests while on the opposite sac
Of the square are the Hotels Jacques Cartier ana
Chamby. both much frequented. Thirty feet east
! is historic Chateau de Ramzay. while directly
! opposite the Courthouse, city Hall ana Ponce
/ Headquarters.
For several weeks the French press has been
sgitatinG the removal Of the monument from me
famous French square. and incidentally has bitterly
attacked the private life and personal character
of Nelson These attacks no doubt lea 10 shs
young Hughes entered Police Headquarters and
informed Detective Lefontaine OF the plot ne was
hu M gu" and a hcn scps we're taken
to arres' the conspirators. As they were unknown
TO the officers Hughes told 10 join them so
that they could be identified Hackmcn ana other
persons We're warned to leave the square. ana IN"
police went in hiding. Just before ! o'clock the
men involved in the plot appeared After wander.
ing aimlcssly around for awhile they approachen
the monument. when they were Immediately ar
rested. In their possession were found capped
dynamite cartridge. eleven inches by three in size,
and twenty-five feet OF time fuse. Hughes was :et
at liberty. but the other three were locked up Al
though warned that anything they might say
would he used against them. the trio admitted
that they intended 10 destroy the monument IN
the police court to-day they pleaded not guilty: and
cndeavOred 10 pass the affair on AS a joke. | nder
the new law the using Of dynamite unlawfully Is
punishable with fourteen years imprisonment The
preliminary eNamineti ton was fixed for Tuesday
week. and the accused men were released in $500
bail.
Examination OF the monument to-day showed a
big hole In the eastern base whore the dynamite
WAS 10 have been placed. and Manager Brainerd.
Of the Dominion Cartridge Company. stated In
court that there sufficient dynamite In the
cartridge TO destroy not only the monument, but
alsc many Of the buildings In the hcighborhOod.
Leading counsel have been engaged for tho prison
els. Henri MERCER year ago was colonel of the
Jesuit College Cadets. who won the Duke Of CON
naught banner FOR the bes-drilled Canadian corps.