The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1908-07-14
Capture Fiend Who Was
on Trial to Assassinate
Graft Witness.
Swallowed Gallaghes for
Weeks Then Used
Dynamite.
10y United Prs...)

SAN FRANCISCO. July l4-Ths
detective force OF the city Il today
searching every possible corner OF
the city for Peter Claudianes. a
Greek. aged p years. who has been
implicated IN the dynamitlng OF the
houses 81 James Gallagher. the
chief witness in the graft prosecn-
ton. By a remarkable confession
made by HIS brother, who says that
be himself actually exploded the
charges Of dynamite.
John Claudianee. the confessed
dynamiter, is IA Jail here and IL
being closely guarded John Ciaud-
lanes made his confession 10 Dis
trict Attorney fAngdon between
midnight and o'clock last satur.
day morning. and the information
has been carefully guarded in the
hope that the police could locate
his brother. Peter, whom he saws
made a deal with other persons 10
Nil Gallagher for money.
Confessions Of Fiend.
The confessed fiend refuses 10
difulge the names ~ these people
who paid for the attempt on The
life Of Gallagher He said that he
was to receive $1,000 as his share
Of the blood money, and that he
did not get g. This Is the reason
he was ready to confess his crime
The confession OF Clandianes
clears a mystery that has baffled
the police OF the bay cities for over
two months.
The man under arrest refuses
now to admit even that he did the
dynamiiing. apparently regretting
his confession.
The confession was dramatic. A
letter written by John ClaHdlanes
addressed TO his brother Peter. at
Chico, Cal. threatening to expose
the plot was responsible for the ar.
rest of the confessed dynamlter.
The letter says that unless the
money is forwarded the plot will
be given away. Although the let
ter was unsigned. Il was endorsed
on the envelope. Return 10 J.
Claudlanes. No rs Ryington av."
This was how ClaudIanes was To-
Gated by the detectives who had
come into possession of the letter.
Admits Dynam,tine.
District Attorney Langdon Qies-
toned Claudiaues closely and az
first the man refused to give any
Information. He was finally fore
ed into corner and admitted that
he himself did the dynamiting.
Iangdon was skeptical. Claudi-
anes offered 20 take him over
to Oakland and 80 over the whole
scene OF the crime with him. Care
fully guarded. the man was taken
10 Oakland and whisked away in
an automobile 20 the home OF Gal
lagher. where the ex-supervisor,
his wife and six others so narrow
~ escaped death April %
Claudianes told Langdon that he
had watched the house for three
weeks. gaining knowledge Of It's
surroundings by posing as a photo
graph peddler
Gets $40 a Day.
He got SO a day for watching
the house. he said. and made three
attempts 20 blow it up before he
actually succeeded They got the
dynamite from Arizona. he said.
and carried Il to Oakland in a
valiso
Il used four feet Of fuse" said
Claudianes. "and had eight min
utes In which 10 get away after I
put the dynamite on the porch. An
automobile was waiting FOR me and
was In another part of the city
when the explosion occurred"
Claudlanes pointed to the caches
where he had hidden the dyna-
mite before the explosion II used
32 pounds OF dynamite in this Job"
the Greek said IT was right here
that placed II" and he pointed to
the wrecked vesuhule Of the Cal
lagher home
Tried TO XIII Gallagher.
After Claudiancs had explained
the details OF the first Gallagher
dynamiting. he went with Langdon
and the detectives To the scene OF
the second explosion az Perkins
and Belmont SITS, where three
empty houses belonging to the eX-
supervisor We're blown up.
~ used 80 pounds OF dynamite
here, he explained 20 Langdon. He
said that when he had failed to kin
Gallagher he decided 10 wreck all
OF Gailaghers property.