The San Francisco call., 1908-04-26
F. e. Welhelms Held by Oakland
Police as Expert in Dyna-
hitting
United Railroads Ex-Employe
Tells of Plot by Man
Now in Custody
Shot Hole in Berkeley Hill to
Show What He Could
Do to Heney
Trolley Company Detective Aid
Trolley Company Detective Aid
ed Him to Freedom in
Former Arrest

On the theory that the crime
which shattered the Gallagher
home had it's inception among
the thugs hired byssome of the
graft defendants, the Oakland po-
lice yesterday arrested F. E. Will
helms. long suspected of being
engaged for just such purposes.
and taken into custody only a
short time ago for fear that he
might put into effect some OF his
alleged plans of murder and de-
struction.
On this man the eyes of the
prosecution have long been
focused. 1t was in looking for
information regarding him that
Detective Burns learned Of muir
der plots against the lives Of those
behind the prosecution. Though the
circumstantial evidence against Will
helms seemed strong. even stronger
were the indications that he was no
principal but dynamitard hired for
his expertness in making and placing
bombs
PLOT TO SLAY PROSECUTORS
wilhelms was first brought TO the
attention OF Detective Burns by
former employe Of the United Rail-
roads. who informed the graft prosecu-
tion that Wilhelms contemplated muir
dering Francis ]. Heney. Rudolph
Spreckels and Judge Lawlor. Accord
ing to this informant wiIhelms is an
expert in the preparing and handling
Of explosives for purposes like that
behind the Gallagher dynamiting and
has turned tricks something like 1t
elsewhere.
Keep in touch with him. said
Burns. ~and let him believe that you
are. still employed by the United Rail-
roads"
The man did as he was ordered and
reported to Detective Burns that VII
helms was anxious to demonstrates his
skim in the matter OF explosives.
Make him show. you how some OF
his bombs work." advised Burns.
BLOWS HOLE IN HILLSIDE
According 10 Heney and Burns. Viii
helms prepared one OF his internal
machines and exploded it against a
hillside in Berkeley by way OF demon
stration. tearing a great hole in the
earth Confident that they had to. deal
with man that would stop at moth
iRg. Burns told his agent TO. bring VII
helms to San Francisco giving him TO
understand that representatives OF the
United Railroads desired him to make
a demonstration here.
When he arrived at the ferry depot
he was arrested by Detectives T. c.
Murphy and Mulcahy OF the local force
and when searched five bombs. loaded
with harmless substance. ware found
on his person whether the man in
tended to hll. them later with dynamite
or whether he had become suspicious
was not known 1t was noticeable.
however, that no sooner was he arrest
ed than Tom Gibson OF the United
Railroads detective bureau worked
zeaIoasly on his behalf. haally obtain
ing his release.
HEARD GALLAGHER TESTIFY
Following this episode wilheIms was
marked man among Burns agents
and was observed in the courtroom
on the day Gallagher was testifying-
Prior to this. it Is claimed. he had been
seen shadowing Gallagher.
After the Gala CHER outrage Burns
agent who had seen wilheIms at the
Ford trial and those who had seen him
trailing Gallagher gave his descrip-
ton to Chief Biggy. who. in turn.
passed II over to Captain Petersen OF
the Oakland police Further damaging
evidence against wilhelms was that
the description given by the agents
OF the prosecution tailed with that
Of the man described By ". H. H
schenck. the young cripple. as having
been seen near the Schenck home
shortly before the explosion
In the face of this array OF damax-
ing circumstances the police arrested
wilheims and expect that BY working
on him they win soon lay bare one OF