New-York tribune., 1912-02-16
MILLER LAYS DYNAMITE
PLOT TO UNION HEADS
Federal Prosecutor Says EW-
denCe in 100000 Letters Shows
Guilt of IronWorkerS' Board.
CHARGES SYSTEMATIC WAR
Ryan, in Alleged New York
Message, Said He Would
Take Up Jersey City Job
Five Still Free.


specifc charges that the dynamite con-
spiracy was conducted with the full knowl-
edge Of the members of the executive board
OF the International Association of Bridge
and Structural Iron Workers. including
President Frank NJ. Ryan: that the whole
conspiracy, extending over years, was re-
corded on paper. and that Ortie f. McMan-
igal the confessed dynamiter was shifted
shuttlelike over the country on missions OF
destruction, were made public tonight by
District Attorney Charles w. Miller.
Mr.. Miller announced the contents OF an
indictment, known as that covering 'un-
consummated acts" Of the conspiracy, ana
II is 20 be the basis upon which the govern
nent Intends to conduct it's prosecution.
The indictment charges Ryan. Herbert 5.
Hockin, of Detroit; A. J. Young, OF Bos-
ton: John T. Butler. of Buffalo and Frank
c. Webb, of New York, with conducting the
conspiracy through the mail, and names
All of the ffty-four defendants as abettors.
1t declares that a regular system of point
ing out non-union steel and iron construc-
ton Jobs was carried on and that the OK
ecutive members not only contributed
money 10 buy explosives but assisted in the
work which McManigat was 10 do
Says 10000 Letters Show Guilt.
The basis OF all the charges lies chiefly in
forty thousand letters and kilograms taken
from the ironworkers' International head
quarters. These letters purport 10 he be
tween Ryan. Iockin. Webb and various
other officials and business agents, The
principal allegations i'm the Indictment
which is one of thlrty-two, are:
That from san Francisco in January, 1905
Ryan wrote. to J. ]. Mcnamara in Indian
npors that he had looked over job IN
Clinton. Iowa, and described a new bridge
there that was later blown up.
That Edward Clark, at Cincinnati, III
February, 1908, wrote to Mcnamara, say
ing: ut would be foolish thing for me To
buy any explosives here, where am wen
known / have sized up the Wnole Jop
here. and know that IL can he done II
this sounds good 10 you let ne hear right
away"
That Webb wrote 10 Mcnamara from
New York. telling about jobs that we're to
he blown up in Boston in 1902 and OF ms
having talked TO Michael J. Young about
these Jobs SAYING: "Mlkc wants to see
your friend (meaning McManigaD that was
in the East once before Can you get him
TO come here to do a job for me? Mike
will furnish finances
That Mcnamara wrote to Webb in an
swar that the Boston and New York jobs
We're being considered.
That Webb again wrote to Mcnamara
describing the new Opera House in Bos-
ton. telling where derricks could be blown
nm and when the guards were on and off
duty.
That Mcnamara in 1909 wrote letters TO
powder companies negotiating for explo-
sives. tho negotiations being similar to
those which resulted in the blowing up OF
"Tbe Los Angeles Times" Building.
That Mcnamara wrote to p. J. Morrin,
ST Louis. in March. 1910 about jobs that
were later blown up there.
That Charles Buem, at Minneapolis, IN
April. 1910 wrote to Mcnamara that he had
taken photographs of non-union Jobs in
course of construction and would send
them to him.
Ryan's Alleged New York Message.
That Ryan from New York wrote to Nc
Namara in April, 1910. as follows:
In regard 10 the McClintic Marshall jobs,
let Legleitner attend to the jobs in his dis
tiict Let Butler attend 10 the jobs al
Buffalo and Rochester. Hockin arrange TOT
the Cleveland and Detroit and Cincinnati
iobs NORM can attend 10 Mount Vernon
webb is now AT South Bethlehem. VIII
also send him 20 Worcester, Mass; DaVen-
port Iowa. Peoria can be handled by
Hockin. Chicago IS at work on the Joos
there Let Cooley work on bunch at
Chalmette. ] will take up the Job at Jer-
sey City with some one I'm -. This should
he started 1T once.
That in response Mcnamara wrote 10
Ryan two DAYS later
am writing Legetner, Butler and
Hockin about the work OF the McChntic-
Marshall COMPANY ] have already written
Cooley about the work OF the ahoNe namcd
concern al Chalmette.
That RYAN wrote from New York 10 Nc
Hanara in April. 1910, in regard to dyna-
mitipg for the beneft Of a local union at
Peoria. H.. as follows:
In regard 10 the Peoria request ] am of
the same opinion as yourself What is
spent there should be through Hockin.
] don't mind eXpendng o reasonable
amount in view Of all the circumstances.
That Morrin wrote to Mcnamara from
81. Louis in May, 1910 reporting an inspec-
ton trim he had taken 10 Mount Vernon.
where structures were blown UP as fol-
lows
Nv friend Coleman took me around 70
show me where the eruption took place II
seems as though they don't want reCur-
renee OF the affair, as ] counted ten watch
men and couple OF others prowling around
I think they were fly mugs and ] was
pot all through the building The Big Four
extension to Evansville vii cross the Wa
bash about four miles from Mount Carmel,
Ill 7 wish if President Ryan would hap
per around the main office Of the Big Four
he would try and ind out who has the job p
That Mcnamara replied to Morrin he had
forwarded his letter TO RYAN
mo Police Protection"
That F. X. Painter wrote TO Mcnamara
from Omaha, in May. 1919, in regard TO a
Job OF the Wisconsin Bridge Company
which was damaged by an explosion. as
follows:
They have no police protection within zen
blocks of the Job. This is a power house
for the streetcar company. Hope II there
straighten mp the job you will do IT, as this
Is only the second big 'non-union JOB In the
city
That Mcnamara replied to Painter he
would try to help him out.
That Mcnamara wrote 10 Hockin at To-
iedo in June. 1910 in relation to the ex-
pense account or Bryce" o. B. McNa-
mara. saving he had forwarded Hockin's
report 10 President Ryan for his informa-
tion
That Mcnamara wrote to Edward
smythe, at Peoria ~. i'm August, 1910. in
preparation for McManigars visit as fol-
lows
You can expect 10 see your friend Thurs
day evening on the Big Four train.
would suggest you be at the depot 10 meet
him You need not necessarily get in
touch Syith him. but he wants YOU 10 put
him on 10 the ropes
rkn. rDnrvati tvrofa 10 McNa-