The San Francisco call., 1897-01-19
IVORY BEFORE A
BRITISH COURT
Pleads Not Guilty and the
Trial Is Formally
Opened.
The Prosecution Narrates Events
Leading to His Arrest
in Glasgow.
Every Effort Will Be Made TO Prove
His Completely in Dynamite
Conspiracy.

LONDON, ENG, Jan. 18.-The trial OF
Edward ]. Ivory, alias Edward Bell, OF
New York, who was arrested in Glasgow
on Septem Der 13 last charged with con-
spiracy to destroy lie and property by the
use of dynamite, was begun in the Central
Criminal Court OF the Old Bailey this
morning, Justice Hawkins presiding.
Ivory's counsel comprised Messrs. ]. F.
Taylor, Thomas Mathews and Cecil Dwyer.
Solcitor-General Finlay, Solicitor Sutton,
&C, c. F. Gill and Mr.. Bodkin appeared
for the prosecution on behalf of the
Treasury.
Mr.. J. R. Carter, second secretary of the
United States embassy, and United States
Consul-General Patrick A. Collins were in
court. Ivory was well dressed and ap-
peared to be perfectly composed. He
pleaded not guilty.
After the prisoners plea had been en-
tered Solicitor-General Finlay proceeded
to narrate the events leading up to the ar
rest of Ivory in Glasgow. beginning from
the time he left New York.
Mr.. Taylor, for the defense, objected to
the introduction into the case for the pres
ent by the prosecution of anything that
the United Kingdom which was calculated
to operate to the prejudice of the prisoner.
Justice HAWKINS overruled the objection.
Mr.. Finlay then stated to the court and
the jury that there were two charges
against the prisoner. The first of these
charges, he said, was that of conspiracy
with lyman and others to cause explo-
sions, endangering life. and the second
charge was that OF conspiracy with the
same parties to cause explosions which
would endanger property.
Mr.. Findlay went on to trace Ivory's
movements and actions after his arrival in
Great Britain, and called attention to the
fact of his having endeavored to find GER
tain men whom he could engage to actu-
ally cause the explosions. He next spoke
of the prisoners letters, in which he said
the words finding stock" meant finding
agents. These letters, he contended,
showed that the prisoner was acting in
concert with lyman and Kearny.
The Solicitor General proceeded to read
another letter in which the prisoner bad
written these words: "Things look very
bad fol- me as regards London stock, so
much so that Billy Burt won't do.''
This letter. he said. proved that Ivory
had been engaged in making inquiries in
London similar to those he had made in
Glasgow in an attempt to engage men to
cause the explosions. Counsel then read
letter written to Ivory by lyman in
which the writer said, I'VE must have
self-respect from the men-not men who
are losing their manhood through drink.
We are both capable of doing this business
personally in any event"
Mr.. Findlay. continuing his argument
said that the evidence which the prosecu-
ton would produce would link Ivory with
the doings of Kearny in Antwerp, and
also show that the prisoner belonged to
the order of United Irishmen. He would
also bring evidence to show that Ivory
had attended secret meeting of the Uni
ted Irishmen in Chicago and that he had
left the United States in concert with Ty-
nan, Kearny and Haines.
At the conclusion of the opening argu-
ment by MIR. Findlay, the taking of testi-
mony was begun.
The first witness called to the stand was
Julius Opholser, waiter employed in the
Victoria Hotel in Amsterdam. Opholster
produced the register of the Victoria
Hotel, showing the arrival on August 80,
1896, of an American who gave the name
of Wilkins. He was accompanied by
man supposed to be German.
Clerks employed in the st. Pancras
station hotel in London identified the
prisoner as having arrived st the hotel on
August 26 last. and registered under the
name of Edward Bell.
A chemist named Peckham Unidentified
Ivory as having applied to him for the
purchase of large quantity of sulphuric
acid.
Thomas Charles Jones, chemist testi-
fed that Ivory had called at his place OF
business and asked 10 purchase twenty
five pounds of chlorate of potassium, say
ing he wanted it for the purpose of max
ing experiments.
Solicitor Taylor, for the defense. cross
examined the witness with great severity
as to the identity of the prisoner as the
man who had called at his laboratory.