Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1912-12-02
NO EVIDENCE AGAINST
THEM WAS PRODUCED
Frank M. Ryan, the Presi.
dent Of the Iron Workers
Union, Was the First Wit
ness Called to the Stand
by the Defense After the
State Rests Case.

Indianapolis, Dec. 2.-Four OF the As
defendants in the dynamiting con-
spiracy trial were discharged by the
government today on the grounds that
the charges against them were not
sustained. The dismissal came when
Charles w. Miller, United States dis
trict attorney announced that the gov
ernment's evidence had all been pre-
sented and the government rested Its
case. The defendants dismissed were
William X. Benson Of East Galloway,
N. Y. former president Of the Detroit
Federation Of Labor; Moulton H. Davis
Of Westchester, Pa, former member of
the executive board Of Iron Workers;
John R. Carroll Of Syracuse. N. Y. for
mer official OF the local Iron Workers
union. and Spurgeon p. Meadows Of
Indianapolis. business agent OF the local
council Of Carpenters and Joincrs
The government said the release OF
the defendants did not affect the merits
Of the remaining cases. Contrary 20
the contemplate published statements
Of Olaf Tveitmoe," said the district
attorney. "the government has no de-
sire to punish innocen. defendants. We
concluded that while Carroll, Benson
and Meadows had guilty knowledge of
the conspiracy to illegally transport ex-
plosives, the evidence was not con-
elusive. Benson had retired to his farm
and is no longer connected with the
union. In the case OF Davis the evil
dence was conclusive that he is guilty
q q a n ro tnr
we ask for his discharge Is that he re-
taken no part in 1t since" The motion
by the defense for the dismissal OF
several other defendants was over
ruled. II will say that at end Of the
trial I will listen to a motion as to a
few more defendants, but these motions
will not be entertained now" said Judge
Anderson.
Ryan 10 Called.
Frank NJ Ryan. president Of the Iron
Workers union. was called as the first
witness for the defense. Ryan is
charged with promoting the dynamite
conspiracy by writing letters as presi-
dent and voting appropriations with
which j. J. Mcnamara bought ex-
HA"'A'SS' Aeyoh tCbtiiieu lie visited
union headquarters only about two
days each month. A
President Ryan has been at the |
head of the union for seven years. He
was president when j. ]. Mcnamara
was arrested in Indianapolis in April,
1911. He. with other officials, is
charged with appropriating the un-
on's money to carry on a dynamiting
cmpaign against nom union work in
with" which the Mcnamara
brothers are now in prison in Cali
fornia.
The charges of aiding in illegal |
of dynamite against
Ryan are based on letters taken from
flies. These letters, the
government asserts, show that Ryan !
md the executive. board members |
stopped publishing the unions expen-
1itures so that Mcnamara would not |
have to show In detail what he did |
With $1,000 month. John r Butler,
Buffalo; Vice President Michael ]. |
Young, Boston: Philip A. Cooley, New
orleans: Henry w. Legleitner. Den
yer, and e. A. Clancy, past members
of the executive board, are among
'ther witnesses summoned to testify. /
Edward W.. Smith and James Ray, |
Peoria, taken into custody about two
weeks ago. are still imprisoned in de-
'auit of bonds.