New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-07-16
SPY CRY OPERATORS.
BAR AID OF S. j. SNAIL.
Tell Hoo They Trapped Detectiue
Posing as Union TeIcgraDhcr.

The headquarters OF Local 1G Of the Commercial
Telegraphcrs' Unicn we-e thrown into a state of
white hot excitement yesterday by the statement
by The officers OF the union that W f Demarest
who had acted as clerl, for s J. Small. national
president. while the latter was at the Astor
House. had been found to he a PinBerton detec-
tive. De,narest. President Ahearn said had been
elected from the headquarters after he was forced
TO hand in his resignation from the union and the
turmoil which followed this occurrence was heard
on several foors Of the building
Demarest Who lives in Demarest y j. was
charged with SorIling himself into the confidence
Of Mr.. Small. VINO believed he was q good union
man. while he really, they say only among
the telegraphers as a detective.
Misses l. and May +. Russell. sisters Of Daniel
l. Russell. Were sent to DeInorest TO obtain in
formation regarding the under suspicion after
private detectives Tho were sent on the same mis-
sion failed to find any who knew him. The
young women, garbed IN mourning. were more sue
cesSiui- PRETENDING that they wished to find DEM
crest 10 apprse him of relatives and stat
ing that he was detective. they acquired
infoTms tion. il IS said that showed him have
une-viable record.
Statements that the officers OF The local have
been giving out OF imminent danger OF Il strike
in New York. ii admitted. were made as Sc
rous as possible 10 bring Demarest around the
union headquarters in order that he might fall into
q trap that was set for him. but they said yester-
day that the situation is critical that there may
IL a strike in New York any time.
Daniel L. Russell, former president OF Local No.
&C. gave the following statement yesterday
evening as TO the occurrence and what led up
IT, II the presence Of President Ahearn and some
Of the members Of the executive committee
About the time that President Small opened
headquarters in the Astor House Demarest came
an paid up his dues. Then he ingratiateJ himself
into the good graces Of President Small and other
officers Of the union. and when Mr.. Small went
away he was made practically mis- private secre-
tary and trusted by him implicitly. acting here
ls repre- sentative and giving interviews IN his own
name President Ahearn OF Local 16 about
days ago received information which made him
suspicious Of this man. and he took active steps
nG ell about him, engaging detectives for the
purpose, but could not find anything about the
mans anJecedents.
After we became suspicious Of him we decided
70 lay trap for him. and Tor the first time opened
our headquarters on a Sunday yesterday. OF
course. the telegraplers learned OF this and
Denarest came around TO what was going on.
The board Of strategy in session, and had
plan all cut and dried 10 entrap him
"Demarest told that the board Of strategy
did not ;hink that strike the best way OF
fighting the Western Union and Postal companies
He then asked what better plan could be sug-
ges,ed. and was told that II large sections were
cut from the main cables of the Western Union
Ccmnanys at l25th street and the North River
and The Postal company at 18th street and North
River the companies could be crippled better than
by any other
Tie epE lauded the plan and promised to assist
in It all ne could. but would not undertake ar ac-
tive part al The cutting. he said, for
This Te appeared TO agree to. We then arranged
put ctr plan in operation and agreed To meet
him yesterday afternoon uptown. We allowed him
10 hear the hagging about the supposed price,
$3.50. be paid for the cutting by the man who
WAS supposed to do tt
Demarest. Russell said, apparently had not tho
renotest idea that i trap set for him. Scouts
sent here and there by President Ahearn
various errands and hour two after the bar
gain had been struck II found by the scouts
that the cable boat Jennings had been out and cut
OF had ba-r
talked Of and tested the wires. As Demarest was
the only outside Of the plot to trap
him who knew of the supposed plot IL l once
concluded Russell said, that he had given infor-
nation TO the company, which then sent the ca bic
boat 10 test the wires.
Demarest was still kept in sight, and was Induced
10 go yesterday afternoon 20 the headquarters Of
the local He accused OF treacherv
Russell said, and made sort of lame protest lie
was denounced and put Of the building.
! want 70 say" said President Ahearn, that the
stuauon is stil critical, and IN obedience TO an
urgent message from Wesley Russell the national
secretary treasurer the executive committee of No
before II 70 whom Il directions TO be in read-
ness 70 call the out at any time 1t looks If
the telegraphers and the two telegraph companies
mad reached the parting Of the ways, but knowing
vel the havoc ana interruption to business that
strike would here, I will do all in my power
70 prevent IL The brokers here and elsewhere are
with US"
Mr. Ahearn showed the following which
ne received yesterday morning from Charles y.
Hughes, Of the firm OF Hughes & Co, brokers, No.
IA Old South Main street, Boston:
Dear Sir: In case OF fire and you need the
GEtance Of old timer who stood behind the
guns in 1888 and the early '70s command me-"