New-York tribune., 1899-07-30
DYNAMITE IN HIS ROOMS.
FORMER METROPOLITAN MoToRMAN's
ALLEGED PLOT.
PECULIAR SHAPED BOMB IN HIS POCKET
WHEN ARRESTED IN UPPER
SECONn-AVr


among the labor ranks of this country which is
not averse to the slaughter of citizens against
whom II has no grievance so long as Il can
revenge itself upon employees who refuse to
comply with its demands The use of dy-
Mantle In the Brooklyn and Cleveland strikes
has been followed by the discovery Of a.
plot In this city 10 destroy cars of the Metro
politan Street Railway Company. at least If, in
deed, II did not embrace the intended blowing up
of car depot and power house. Francis j.
Curan discharged employe and an ex-con-
vict. who is the supposed ringleader OF the con-
spirators. has been arrested with a bomb in his
pocket and about seventy-fve pounds of dyna-
mite and giant powder have been found con-
ceeled in his home
While the recent strike Of street railway en-
ployes was on and Second ave was filled with
scenes of riotous violence. there were many ru-
mors of a dynamite plot 10 blow up the COM
pany's cars. tracks and carhouses regardless of
human life and detectives were put 20 work
TO ferret out the source whence these rumors
started Curran watched. among others
because he attracted particular attention to
himself by urging the men to leave the
and stone all motormen who refused to strike.
His record. too singled him out. The police say
he has served two terms in Sing Sing for burg
larry. He had been discharged for insolence to
an official of the company shortly before the
strike began, and his efforts to foment discon-
tent among the men had been unremitting.
The closer he was watched the moro suspi-
cions his actions aroused. Seven men held up
Madson-ave. early in the morning of July
20 and assaulted the motorman. Six were
caught, the other escaped. He believed to
he Curran but 1t could not be proved. Four
days ago a Second-ave. car ran over some sub
stance on the rails at Seventy -eighth-st.. which
exploded with slight noise. Curran was seen
near by, but there was no direct. evidence that
he connected with IT, No harm was done,
but the police now think that Curran was ex-
perimenting with dynamite in small quantities
10 see II his peculiar shaped bomb would work.
THE DETECTIVES WARNED
On Friday they got warning that an explosion
of serious proportions would occur that night
and they decided to wait no longer. At o'clock
two detectives found Curran standing at Nine
ty-second-st and Secondary talking with
other discharged motorman, James Smith. They
pounced upon the pair, handcuffed them, and
went through their pockets at once. Nothing
out Of the way was found upon Smith. but from
OF Currans pockets they drew out a stick
Of dynamite four inches long. which had been
Hattened till 1t three inches wide and would
lie on Top OF a rail securely, anu not roll OH
with the vibration OF approaching
1t had a quantity Of insulating tape wound
around it. which held in place four percussion
caps. all on the side. the upper side. it
would lie on the rail. where the car wheel would
set them off when it struck them. The whole
was wrapped In paper, not unduly to
arouse the suspicion of motorman. who might
we'll take it for a small parcel of groceries
dropped by careless child. The innocent look
ing parcel, however. contained dynamite enough
10 blow a car TO pieces and kill or injure all on
board.
The prisoners and the bomb were taken to
Police Headquarters, and search Of their
homes followed. Again the hunt failed to pro-
duce anything incrimnating against Smith but
IN the rooms occupied by Curran. at No. 1S43
Ffrst-ave. which is Just opposite the new power
house, tucked away in little closet. they came
upon a quantity Of dynamite. giant powder
fuses and caps which weighs about seventy
five pounds. and is roughly estimated to have
power enough to wreck block of buildings, II
exploded all at time. Further search dis
closed a small electric battery. tools for cutting
wire some lead pipe, coil Of copper wire and a
clock from which the mechanism had been re-
moved. The police think this points to the con-
structon Of what is usually called an Internal
machine. All this parapnernaHa OF ueVntry WAS
carried off by the detectives.
Yesterday the two prisoners were arraigned
before Magistrate Cellar in the Yorkville Police
Court Smith, who lives at No S37 Tenth-ave.
declared that he met Curran by chance just
few moments before the detectives arrested
them. and that he knew nothing of Curran's
plans AS there no evidence against him
he was discharged Curran. who is small
old yTffh Gi
lister look. said he had no intention of blowing
up anybody or anything but he would offer no
explanation at all of how he came by the
dynamite or what he wanted 1t for. He was
accordingly held in $1,000 bail. and was locked
I'D to await further examination
George E. Murray. inspector of combustibes
assured the magistrate that the substance
found in Curran's pocket was dynamite. and
Was filed with illuminate of mercury caps. 80
that A car running over it would almost surely
evniode II and be blown to bits. The Bureau
he said would also examine the alleged ex-
plosives found in Currans rooms: Inc ponce
have no doubt Of their deadly quanty'
BELIEVED TO HAVE ACCoMPLIcEs'
The police think Curran has accomplices VINO
are not yet discovered but soon VIII be- ana
there are several suspicious circumstances whlch
hear ont this theory. There is man employed
IN the new power house of the Metropolitan
comnanv at Ninety-ffth-st. and F1rst-ave'
xboea name is James MCGOWAN. The maiden
name Of Curran's wife was MCGOWAN. and she
md Curran have been living In the same mousse
with the MCGOWAN family, at NO. o5o EaS' M
until recently. when the Cur
rams moved to No 1.S43 First-ave. James Nc,
Gowan boards with Mrs. MCGOWAN He denied
yesterday that he was the son OF ,n, MIS-, Ue
Gowan or any relative of her or Currah' ne
said the similarity of the name was simply
coincidence and that he never saw Curran anG @
knew nothing Of his plans This VIII De lookeo
,nto Wire enough was found in Curran's rooms
o. cornect the fat and the power, and Ignite
,otne thare nv means Of the battery before re-