The San Francisco call., 1908-03-04
CHICAGO REDS IN
BIG MURDER PLOT
Attempt on Police Chiefs Life
Leads to Discovery of
Conspiracy
City, State and Federal Authori.
ties Unite to Destroy Anarch-
istic Influences

CHICAGO, March 3.-That Lazarus
Ayerbuch had been commissioned by a
group of Chicago anarchists to assas-
sinate Chief of Police Shelby and was
foiled only by the quick trigger hnger
of his intended victim was said by As
sistant Chief Schuettler tonight 80
have been proved beyond g doubt. The
discovery was made just as the police
were about TO accept the theory that
the young anarchist had acted upon
his own impulse and that the attempt
was not the result of a conspiracy.
The group of anarchists, according
TO information in the hands of the au-
thorities, had plotted also to assassi-
nate Mayor Busse and Captain p, D.
O'Brien of the detective bureau. The
principals in the plot have not yet
been located. but it is said that Aver
buch was picked to execute the order
of death at a meeting of anarchists
Thursday night. 1t was on that night,
upon his return TO the home OF his
sister, Olga Averbuch, at 21s Wash
burn avenue, that the young Russian
contemplated suicide, as described by
the sister to the police. Averbuch, in
stead of going to night school, as ms
sister declared he did. is said TO have
been in nightly communication with
band of radical revolutionists, and il
Averbuch was chosen to remove" the
police head. Averbuch is said TO have
left his home on Friday morning fol-
lowing his acceptance of the commits
sion, and to have never returned. He
went to his place of employment at
Eighren's commission house on South
Water street, and in conversation with
his fellow employees made numerous in
quiries regarding the chief of police.
TIo fe cnf 10 NinianflV
concerning the order which prohibited
the parade of the "unemployed' last
January.
I'VE have several important clews.'
said the assistant chief tonight, which
we believe will lead to the arrest of
the conspirators. Olga Averbuch per-
sistently refuses to give us any in
formation. We are seeking, among
others, the young woman, Rosa Stern,
who lived with Averbuch and his sis
ter
Tonights developments followed a
day of activity on the part of the city,
state and federal authorities, which
resulted in the formation of plans for
cooperation in the work of stamping
out anarchy. In the meantime the
police department. was pursuing with
new vigor its search for radicals
throughout the Ghetto district.
ing the day and evening were tho
rounding up of nine suspects. Three
arrests which the police considered i'm
portant were made late in the after
noon. A man, who gave his name as
Harry Goldstein and who is said to be
an agent for the Edelstadt society, an
anarchistic organization at APT Union
street, was taken into eassedy at Hal
sted and West Fourteenth streets while
distributing handbills OF rabid nature
Two other suspects, whose names
were withheld were arrested and sub
jected to a rigid examination.
The organized movement against an
archy by the authorities began with a
conference at the home of Chief Shippy,
in which Mayor Busse and Assistant
Chief Schuettler took part.
The possibility of deporting avowed
anarchists from the city was brought
TO the attention of United States Dis
trict Attorney Sims today after 1t had
been discussed at the meeting of city
officials The federal official declared
himself ready to take any steps war
ranted by evidence, and added that the
reconvening of the federal grand jury
this morIxs.g makes that body instantly
available.