The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-02-20
On Trial for Plotting Against
Austrian Emperor's Life.
THE STORY OF THEIR CAPTURE
And the Startling Discoveries Made
$ by Police--A Secret Apartment Full
of Revolutionary Pamphlets and
Printing Presses.

anarchists arrested In september last,
charged with conspiring against the life
of Emperor Francis Joseph. began yester-
day. The defense asked that part OF the
proceedings be made public, but the court
ruled that the trial should take place In
secret. This Is one of the most sensa'
tional and romantic on record.
Some of the most extraordinary exhibits
ever brought into court will be shown,
and the prisoners will be doubtless
proven 20 have been in touch with this
anarchists of England and America.
During the months of July and August
last, the Austrian police were greatly
exercised by the successful dissemination
among the working classes, and every
section of the army, of seditious and vio-
lently revolutionary pamphlets.
by energetic work the headquarters oi
the gang was discovered in No. 65 Sieben.
brunnengasse (the street of the seven
wells'D, "A poor street in the Margarethen
district of the capitol.
The Raid.
In the gray dawn of Friday. Sept. %, q
small body of detectives posted them
selves opposite No. g. They had ascer
tanned that one Of the two men so ur-
gently wanted, I" Stephen Hahnel. had to
begin work in a cabinet factory at q
o'clock. When he appeared he was
quickly arrested. Upon the person OF the
prisoner, the detectives found the tiny
latchkey of the dwelling which Hahnel
shared with his still uncaptured fellow
conspirators.
Back went the detectives from the
lookup to No. 65. Mounting to the third
-
door of the lodging where they expected
to find the real ringleader Of the gang,
Franz Haspel.
The police commissary who was in
command placed the latchkey in the
lock and turned it. The door did not
yield, but quick steps were heard within,
two or three heavy bolts were drawn back
and the door swung wide open.
The man who thus voluntarily revealed
himself started at the detectives in amaze
ment. He had opened the door in the be-
lief that his companion, Hahnel, had for.
gotten something. Finding himself con.
fronted by the police, Haspel tried to shut
the door again, but he was easily made
prisoner and a search was begun.
The furniture of the sitting room con-
sisted of an oblong couch, covered with
black American leather, small brown
painted table. painted nightstool, a
trunk, wardrobe and two or three
chairs, A closer inspection of these arti-
cles of furniture yielded startl ing results
Startling Revelations.
What struck the detectives at once was
the extraordinary weight of the couch. A
close inspection revealed the existence of
q secret lock. As no key to fit was forth
coming, the couch was smashed, and
then the innocent piece of furniture was
found to be nothing less than a costly and
beautiful hand-print press. Inside one of
the cylinders OF the press were large bum
dies OF the anarchical appeal to the Aus
trian masses"
Tu rning their attention next to the lit
tie brown-painted table, and breaking it,
the detectives discovered complete set
of type, arrayed in the most compact and
scientific manner. Examination of the
nightstool revealed the existence of a Sc
cret compartment, full OF revolutionary
pamphlets.
In corner OF the room stood a large
trunk. TO which the attention of the po-
lice was next directed. IL contained sur.
prises which threw those of the couch
and table completely in the shade.
Inside was perfect arsenal of explo-
sive bombs already to be charged; some
in glass and some in metal. and, in addi-
ton, metal cases. tubes, wires, clock
works and implements of various kinds.
The necessary explosives for charging the
internal machines were also discovered.
Revolvers, ammunition and large
amount of stationery were also found.
Finally, in a wardrobe, the police found
one or more coats, with swivels or hooks
attached to the Innings for the purpose of
carrying bombs.
While the search was in progress, de-
termined attempt at suicide was made by
the prisoner Haspel. When he saw that
all was discovered. he became greatly ex.
cited, and thrusting aside the detectives,
he endeavored TO throw himself out OF
the window. He was intercepted i'm time,
and was promptly thrown upon his back
and secured.
Within the following "a hours the. po-
lice had the other 10 anarchists under ar
rest.
Points Brought Ont
Haspel and Hahnel were palld and
hollow checked from long confinement
Haspel was first examined, and he CON
fessed TO being guilty of the charge of
employing n secret press and admitted
that he was an anarchist. He said: 1--WE
desire TO attain our ends by the employ
ment of force" and proceeded TO sketch
the scheme which he had planned, and it