The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-18
Instrument in Ryan's Office for Months Used by
 Government
DISCOVERED AFTER
 ARRESTS WERE MADE
Hockin Denies Saying Anything h. e eliminating, But Is Frankly
 Amazed-Records Will Be
 Used in Trials of the Men

Indianapolis, February 17-Whatevef Frank M Ryan and other indicted union officials have said in their office apout the dynamite conspiracy since last octooer is alleged to have been learned by the government through dictagraph discov- cred today in the headquarters or the Interna tional Association of Bridge and Structural Iron Workers
 The dictagraph, hidden under drawer in a desk about which Ryan, the presi- dent; Herbert S. Hockin, the secretary treasurer, and J. T. Butler. first vice president. and other officials conferred concerning their defense and pleas, is said to have enabled two government sten- ographers in a room below to take daily reports of conversations.
 Disclosed Yesterday
 The use of the dictagraph was disclosed today when the government found it was no longer of value, because a woman clesk in Ryan's office was heard to say, Well. I suppose they are hearing now what ever we say" That, with statements by Ryan, convinced Assistant District Attor- ney Clarence Nichols that the dictagraph was no longer useful.
 The dictagraph was hidden In the desk once used by J. J. McNamara, the dyn- amiter. and upon which he is alleged to have arranged the alarm clock statement for regulating the time at which bombs were to be set off.
 Discovery of the dictagraph was made soon after the government had received intimations that some of the defendants were ready Ito tell all they knew" About District Attorney Miller's office it was said, something had been expected" but MT. Miller declined to say what 1t was.
 Worked Satisfactorily
 MT. Miller said the dictagraph had worked satisfactorily for months and that many volumes of stenographic notes had been taken and would be used in the trial.
 The instrument was still working today when the following was recorded
 Womans Voice: T wonder i fone of these wires goes to the jail and whether they are listening to us .now?"
 Voice: T suppose so I wish I could find out where the sound is. Hockin (Again1: rSay, Ryan, do you know what a dctanraph looks like?p
 Ryan: its about as' big as hat, l am told, but never saw one" Hockin. T hear there is one on exhibi- tion in this city, and I believe l will go and take a look at it'
 After that Nichols said he had no ooubt Ryan knew of the dictagraph..
 Sample Conversation As further showing the operation of the dictagraph, MT. Nichols gave out a sam pie of a conversation known to have taken place last Wednesday, soon after the arrests were made. Hockin: "Co right in, boys. I'll be there on minute Voice evidently reporter): "Will all these men be able to get bond?" | Hockin: We hope So, but we have no money to furnish.
 |l Voice: How much money is there in tthe iron workers tressury?' M Hoclxin About $20.000. I think N Voice: By the way, is McNamara's 8 |{picture in this groupy' I Hockin "Yes, that's him, right there.' Voice: .'Is it your idea the government will pay the expenses of these men com ling 10 Indianapolis on March 12. for ar |raignment?'
 Into my head. I had not thought about that. It beats the devil how there are .so many things to think about. It seems |the government ought to-" Ryan was then told there was a dicta 'graph in his office. He consented to have Ihis informant search the office. An examination of Ryan's desk exposed khe annunciator of the apparatus, hang bng by it's wires against the back wall of The desk. directly beneath the top. Dis connected. the annunciator was shown to Ryan and then carried away.
 Ryan Amazed
 "what do you think about that?' said Ryan.
 When told that records had been taken cf conversations in the office since last October, Ryan said the government must have a transcript of many consultations between officials of the union on the sub )ect of the investigation of the dynamit- Ing conspiracy
 The wires from the dictagraph annun- tiator ran from the back of Ryans desk Through the floor and into a room below rented by the government. Here sat ev- ery day two stenographers under the di- fection of Rowland Evans, official ste hogra pher of the federal court. with the receiving apparatus at their ears. The tenographers worked in relays except at buch times when 1t was desired to take
 double record for corroboration.
 Both Ryan and Hockin said they were imazed that dictagraph had been in op- eration in the office, though they had peculated on the possibility of such an arrangement by the federal investigators They are welcome to anything I have aid said Hockin. None of my con ersations has been discriminating. be- ause I have done nothing wrong. did inspect some eavesdroppng scheme, but ny forethought was that our telephone .f.. ----x Il k-.. .