Evening journal., 1908-05-14
''BLACK HAND" ON
LAWSON'S PATH?
Report That Threats Made in
New York Caused Him
to Hire BOdyguard
ALLEE MEN ARE ON TOP

Because Thomas w. Lawson, Of Bos-
ton. he Of fame in the sphere Of fren.
zied finance, fanked himself with
bodyguard Of detectives while he pre-
sided over the annual meeting Of the
Bay State Gas Company In Whining
ton yesterday, a report has gone out
that Mr.. Lawson was threatened with
violence in New York city. Whether
these reported threats came from flnan-
ciers who have been routed by Law
sons methods or whether they origl
mated with the "Black Hand" IS not
known, but Lawson was taking no
chances Of being harmed while on S
visit to this city. Every moment he
was here he was guarded by Detec-
tive John f. Dolan and his assistant,
J. A. Quinn. and the hardest task the
detectives had was to sit still and look
wise while Lawson ran the Bay State
Gas meeting along well-oiled grooves
and also to take a liberal fee that the
stock market bucker from Boston
handed to them before he left Wiz
mington.
! 1t is said that Lawson also was OK
lpecting a delegation of men from New
York to attend the Bay State meeting
and that he looked for trouble from
them in opposition to the program he
| had mapped out Because Of a fear
that the opposition might raise some
kind of a row IL also was said that
Lawson desired the services OF de-
/ tectives as a precautionary protection.
Mr.. Lawson declined TO say why he
had engaged detectives but intimated
that they were handy to have around. "
Former Senator j. Frank Alice, vice
president of the Bay State Gas Com
pany, said that Detective Dolan was
present merely because he brought ln
a bottle of ink that was needed" Blu.
Detective Dolan and Detective Quinn
took their chairs on either side OF
Financier Lawson because they wera
hired TO and were directed by Secre-
tary w. Harry Miller Of Philadelphia
TO sit where they did
Engaged Dolan by Telegram.
AS a matter of fact, Mr. Lawson en-.
gagged Principal Dolan and an assist.
ant by telegram on Tuesday night MIR
Lawson had a consultation with Mr.
Alice and others at the Bellevue STRAIT
ford in Philadelphia. after which De
tectiVe Dolan was wired 70 and re
quested, with an assistant, to meet Nj
Lawson at French stret station yester
day morning. There was not m
slightest semblance to disorder at tn,
Bay State Gas Company's meeting. Tn,
door was open at all times, reporters
were permitted to remain during tn,
meeting and it was possible for any
body who desired to get at" Mr.. Law.
son to have done so without mucf
trouble.
Mr.. Higgins Looked In.
The only person who peeked I'm dur.
ing the meeting was former Senator
= Anthony Higgins. whose law office.
! are on the same floor of the Fore
[ building, and who called out former
Senator Alice for a moments chat
After the meeting Mr.. Lawson slipped
! a good fee into Detective Dolan's hant
and told Dolan he need not go to Frencl
stret station. where Mr.. Lawson has.
tened as son as the meeting adjourned
There was much speculation today
as to why Lawson. even as he has
control of the situation permitted tn,
election of a board Of directors, a ma.
jority Of whom are friends of former
Senator Alice They include S. Jonf
Abott, Daniel J. Layton. Newall Ball
d and ]. " McCommons, all residents o.
b lower Delaware, and with Mr. ALE,
3 CONTINUED on Second pagol