Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-18
Finding Of Dictagraph in Desk
Fails to Disc0ncert Him.
HoCKIN UNCoNCERNED, TOO
Both Union Officials Amazed by Dis
covery, However.
DISK CLEvERLY CONCEALED
Conversations About Dynamitings
Recorded by Its Use to Fig
ure in Trial.

Ure IN xT181.
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind, February IL
Whatever Frank M. Ryan and other in
dicted union officials have said in their
Office about the dynamite conspiracy since
last October is alleged to have been learn
ed by the government through a phono-
graphic device discovered today in the
headquarters of the International Associ-
alton Of Bridge and Structural Iron
workers.
The telephone apparatus. hidden under
drawer in a desk about which Ryan.
the president; Herbert S.. Hoclin, the
secretary-treasurer, and J. T. Butler. first
vice president, and other officials confer
red concerning their defense and pleas, is
said to have enabled two government
stenographers in a room below to take
daily reports of the conversations.
The use of the recording disk was dis
closed today, when the government de-
cided that it was no longer of value. be-
cause a woman clerk in Ryan's Office was
heard to say. "Well, I suppose they are
hearing now whatever we say" That.
with statements Of Ryan. convinced AS
sistant District Attorney Clarence Mich
OILS that the apparatus was no longer
useful.
Hidden in McNamara's Desk.
The machine" was hidden in the
desk once used by J. ]. Mcnamara,
the dynamiter. and upon which he is
elleged to have arranged his alarm
clock scheme for regulating the time
at which bombs were to be set of.
The discovery Of the device followed
soon after the government had receiv-
ed limitations that some of the de-
PENDANTS were ne ready TO tell al they
Charles w. Miller's office it was said
Something had been expected" but
Mr.. Miller declined to say what it was.
Mr.. Miller said the telephone appa-
ratus had worked satisfactorily for
graphic notes had been taken and
would be used at the trials. The in
strument was still working today when
the following was recorded:
Samples of Conversation.
~ "Woman's voice: I wonder If one of
those wires goes to the Jail and
whether they are listening to us now?' "
Voice: L suppose so; wish 1 could
find out where that sounding board Isl
'Hockin: Say, Ryan, do you know
what photograph looks nke?'"
Ryan: It's about as big as a hat, 1
am told, but never saw one"
'Hockin: I hear there is one ON ex-
hibition In this city and I believe I will
go and take q look at it, -
After that Mr.. Nichols said he had no
doubt that Ryan knew OF the apparatus.
As further showing the operation OF the
device, Mr.. Nichols gave out q sample
Of conversation known to have taken
place last Wednesday. soon after the ar
rests were made:
Reporters Queries Recorded.
"Hockin: Go right in boys. I'll be
there in q minute"
Voice: evidently reporter): will all
these men be able to get bond?"
''Hockin: We hope So, but we have
no money to furnish"
Voice: How much money is there in
the ironworkers' treasury"
''Hocldn: About $4,000. 1 think"
picture in this group?'"
''Hockin: Yes: that's him right there. !"
Voice: is It your idea the government
ing to Indianapolis March IL for arraign-
ment?'"
"Hockin: Well. now that puts an idea
into my head: hadn't thought about
that. It beats the devil no, there are
so many things to think about. 1t seems
the government ought to-"
device In his Office. He
consented to have his informant search
the Office.
A quick examination Of nyan's desk
exposed the annunciator Of the apparatus
MI q q n
wall of the desk directly beneath the top.
the annunciator was shown
to Ryan and then carried away.
What do you think about that?" said
Ryan. How did they get in here?''
Ryan Not Disconnected.
When told that records had been taken
Of 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
subject of the investigation Of the dyna-
hitting conspiracy.
The wires from the apparatus annun-
ciator ran from the back of Ryan's desk
the floor and into room below
rented by the government: Here, Here SAT
direction Of Rowland Evans. official
Of the federal court. with
the receiving apparatus at their ears.
The stenographers worked in relays ex-
cept at such time when it was desired
to take q double record for corroboration.
Both Ryan and Hockin said they were
amazed that a telephone apparatus had
been in operation IN the Office. though
they had specialized on the possibility of
such an arrangement by the federal in
vestigators.
They are welcome to anything I have
said" said Hockin, none Of my con-
versation has been discriminating because
l have done nothing wrong. l did sus-
poet some eavesdropping scheme, but my
first thought was that our telephone
wires might have been tapped"