The Washington times., 1908-03-30
Berkman Taken to Bed
side of Dying Bomb
ThrOWer and RcleaS-
ed on Own Word.
Police Think Wholesale
Murder Was Planned
for Conference of
Unemployed.

NEW YORK. March 3O.-AIexander
Berkman. who served a long prison
term for trying 10 kill H c Frick. af-
terward figured as Emma Goldman's
common law husband, and is probably
the most notorious anarchist in America,
was arrested as a suspicious person to-
day in connection with the bOmb-throw-
ing by SeIg Cohen, in Union Square
Saturday.
In COhen's pocket a card of the An
archists Federated Union" was found
bearing Berltman's signature. II was
especially concerning this card thai the
police wished 70 know.
Alexander Berkman was taken to Bel
levue, where he talked with Cohen who
failed to Identify him He was later ar
ra!gned as a suspicious person before
Magistrate Drege. in Jefferson market
court. and the magistrate refused TO
hold him on that complaint
Berkman Out on Parole.
The complaint was changed to incit-
ing riot, on the affidavit Of Detective
Warsanky, and Magistrate Drege pa
rolled Berkman until tomorrow morning
at 10 o'clock, when he will be rear
ranged for a hearing. He said he would
60 home and wait for the police.
Police Commissioner Bingham today
when asked if he had received any com
plants Of the conduct of The police at
Union Square on Saturday.
oh. yes, have received three or four
minor complaints he replied Some
people always complain. even about the
most trivial things But have received
also some complimentary letters"
Bingham on Hot-air Bags
Have YOU received any complaint
from Robert H,nter2''
NO. I have not, and Robert Hunter
lad better behave himself, II he isn't
careful he viii find himself in serious
trouble He IS one Of those hot-air bags,
and l won't stand Tor them I intend
% use an iron hand in suppressing vio-
lence and disorder.
These people were there in violation
Of the law and 1 believe the police did
effective work. If this hare-brained
fool had fired the bomb where he want
ed 70. 7 think the public would take
a different view. He was an anarchist
and that ought 10 settle it"
Berkman Cool Before Police.
Berkman was quite cool today and
made no protest against his arrest. He
was told that he was a prisoner as a
suspicious person. and was arraigned
before the lineup Of detectives by the
inspector.
This is Alexander Berkman, who
served twelve years in prison for shoot
ing II. c. Frick." said the inspector.
After the detectives had inspected the
prisoner McCafferty asked him II he had
any documents relating to the society
printed in English.
Yes, and they are at your disposal"
Have you any documents advocating
violence?''
NO; the anarchists don't advocate
violence in any form
You seem to have been an advocate
Of violence in the Frick case,' suggested
McCafferty.
That was n personal matter" said
Berkman- The society had no cOnnec-
tion with that and has not any con-
Eection with this affair"
When Berkman was shown the mem
bership card he readily admitted his sig
nature, nat re but still insisted that he did
Il don't know Cohen and don't know
anything about him." he said.
Hunt Evidence of Plot.
Every effort IS being made to verify
the belief that Cohen was but one OF
nine men armed with bombs. who were
to have hurled their missiles into the
police ranks simultaneously. but were so
disconnected by the premature explosion
Of the Cohen bomb that the plot fell
through.
The puzzle of the Cohen letters Is still
unsolyed- All the communications con
tained important anarchist secrets. One
or them-signed in Berkman's name.
though perhaps not in mis- hand-ap-
pealed 70 the young anarchist. for EN-
ma Goldman's sake, to execute some
mission for the cause the nature of
which was not fully explained but
which is inferred 10 have been the IN
ion square dynamiting.
The letters were seized in Cohen's
room IN Brooklyn. and were translated
and hurriedly read, but not very close
ly examined. when they were dispatched
by a policeman from Brooklyn head
quarters TO Mulberry street.
Know Little About Prisoners.
Concerning the seven prisoners already
held-one without bail and the other six
IN bonds of 5000 each-nothing definite
has yet. been learned, at least so far as
the police VIII admit. Their records are
being carefully investigated, however,
and all are being subjected TO rigid
cross-examinatiOn.
Cohen. at Bellevue Hospital, is gaining
strength and will probably live. though
ne VIII be blind and crippled.
am only sorry 1 did not kill all the
pclice, IS all he will say.
his work has been repudiated not
alone by Bergman, but by Emma Gold
man IN an interview telegraphed from
Minneapolis, by the committee OF the
unemployed. who were irving TO boId
a meeting in Union Square when the
bomb was dropped and by the general
committee OF the Socialist party.