Evening journal., 1908-09-05
DETECTIVE TELLS
OF DYNAMITE PLOT
Shea and Chester Trolley Men
Held for Court for Alleged
Bomb Violence
TORPEDOES IN EVIDENCE


MEDIA. Sept. 5.-A bombshell was
thrown into the ranks Of the strikers
against the Chester Traction Company
their leaders and sympathizers by the
Introduction OF evidence Of dynamitine
cars and other outrages, under the SWORN
testimony Of a detective at the hearing
OF the alleged ringleaders before Justice
l.. H. Williamson here yesterday. AS a re-
suit each of the defendants was held in
5000 for trial at court. and the bail was
| furnished; but each must face more ac-
cusations than those that came out In
the hearing, for other detectives beside
the one who testified will be final wit
nesses.
When Pinkerton Detective Frederick
G. Wacker was called to the stand the
accused men appeared to be greatly sur
prsed, as he was called by the Com
monwealth, but had always appeared
friendly to their cause.
Superintendent W. H. Bearce Of the de-
tective agency. and five other members Of
tile force were also present; but from
the testimony Of Wacker the Common
wealth claimed to have made out prima
facie case, and asked that the defendants
be held for court, which was done.
Asked to Bring Dynamite.
The detective testified to coming to
Chester in guise of a salesman, and said
he was a companion of the trolley men
10 days before the strike.
lie related conversation with Vice
President Patrick J. Shea who asked
him to bring 20 sticks Of dynamite to
Chester, and see what would happen.
"Shea told me-" said Mr.. WaclSer. that
there was no use to fight the State police
with sticks and stones; that dynamite
was the oaly things adding: If some one
starts to ride, someone will have to throw
a brick through the window to prevent
them. At Scranton, when people started
to ride at the time Of strike someone
blew IN a car"
Mr. wacker testified to being with
Local Union President William V. Lock-
hardt and John Smith on a trip to Phia-
delphia. They visited the Point Breeze
race track, and in a lonely spot ON the
southwestern line Lockhardt said:
This is a good place to blow up a
carr
He subsequently tried to get Burke at
'Sweeny's cigar store in Chester and
asked for a Mr. Palmer. lie told Palmer
to get Burke and send him on the 1926
train, but Burke did not arrive.
Witness stated that Loczhardt told him
Burke was qualified to use dynamite.
President Lockhardt's Attitude.
Witness had several other conversa-
tons with President Lockhardt, who, he
declared was always advocating assaults
on cars and crews and intimated that Mo-
torman Boardman, a leader Of the strike
breakers, would get his" if he did not
leave.
Witness said that Frank Cox was an.
other dynamiter, often requesting him
TO bring the explosive to Chester, and
insisted there was not enough of It used.
Cox admitted to witness that he. Phil
lips and Cass blew up the car on Aliens
/ lin. The strikers. he said, acted i'm gangs.
They all acted in a desperate manner
when plying their ncfarious work. always
going armed, especially Burke and Con-
molly. The latter he said. told him that
he and Cass blew up the cars at Norwood
and at Upland on the latter occasion he
took a lot OF dynamite away which was
stoerd in a house there.
Produces Torpedoes.
Witness produced two torpedoes which
he said Connolly gave him to place on the
track.
The detective said that Cox and Burke
were the men who assaulted and beat a
special officer and that it was Connolly
and Elmer Smith. the latter Deputy
Sherin. who assaulted crew and threw
the motorman from the car, Smith shoot.
ling at the motorman.
Smith was then brought into court b,
deputy Sheriff Alfred l.. Howard and wal
required TO give $500 security as witness
at the September term of court.
Mr.. wacker had a notebook with dates
corresponding to those Of Superintendent
Jack
The District Attorney also intimate'
that at least one Of the strikers arrested
would turn States evidence.
'thoueh there was no demonstration
District Attorney MacDade had heavy
guard on the doors of the Court room evi.
identity fearing an attempt at delivery.
Prominent Defendants.
The defendants are Patrick J. Shea
vice-president OF the Amalgamated Asso
citation OF Street and Electric Railwa,
Employees: William V. Lockhardt. presi
dent of the Chester Union Francis Con
molly. Michael Dougherty, Thomas Burke
Philip Cass. Frank Cox. William White
Edward Boyle. Noah Standt. John Smith
5ohn McElwee. Clarance, Butz and Jamei
Armstrong. all former employees Of th'
Chester Traction Company. They arr
charged jointly with conspiracy. disab
ling switches and using explosives L
blow up the cars Of the company, the de-
gradations alleged TO have been the out
come of strike Of the employees. begin
ming on April 1s last which resulted in q
boycott that still exists
Wacker In his testimony claims to hav
been in Chester since April ?. the date o
the organization Of Division No. 800. {
4 the Amalgamated Association. an
throughout the strike until August .
when one OF the last assaults on a ca
was made, was In clase touch and friend
, ~ with every one of the defendants. II
/ claims to have been with Cox, Whit
, Standt and Armstrong (the latter not "
D apprehended) on the night the switch
D ,Le.perville was disabled White an
standt stood guard with drawn revolver
; while the other two with steel saw cr
: the bolts. The four men also attempte
, q, s,,.,,,pd fha frolIav wire hut were IN