Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1912-02-18
Wonderful Little Instrument
Records Conversations in La
Dor Headquarters Between
RYAN and Subordinates.
HIDDEN IN DESK USED
BY SECRETARY M'NAMARA
Volumes of Stenographic Notes
Secured, Much of Which VIII
Be Used When Conspiracy
Trials Are Begun.
,., uo,nior journal s.eeial Leased wirei

tuy Morning journal soeeial Leased Wire.i
indianapolis, Ind. Feb. lI.-Nhat-
ever Frank NJ. Ryan and other in
dicted union officials have said in
their office about the dynamite con-
spiracy since last October, is allegci
10 have been learned by the govern
ment through telephone device ar
ranged in the headquarters of the
Iron Workers.
The apparatus, hidden under Il
drawer in "a desk about which Ryan,
the president; Herbert S. Hockin, the
second vice president; ]. t. Butler,
frs, wee president. and other officials
conferred concerning their defense
and pleas, is said to have enabled the
government stenographers in room
below 10 take daily reports of the COZ
versation.
The use of the instrument was dis
closed today when the government de-
cided it was no longer of value, be-
cause a woman clerk in Ryan's office
was heard to say:
'Well, l suppose they are hearing
now whatever we say.
That. with statements by Ryan,
convinced Assistant District Attorney
Clarence Nichols that the phono-
graphic device was no longer useful.
The instrument was hidden in the
desk once used by j. j. Mcnamara,
The dynamiter, and upon which he is
alleged to have arranged his alarm
clock for reg ulating the time at whieh
bombs were to be set off,
The discovery of the device followed
soon after the government had re-
ceived intimatiop that some ot the De
fendants were ready to tel all they
know
About District Attorney Charles W.
Miller's office II was said something
had been expected" but Mr.. Miller
declined to say what II was.
,ir. INNER SAID the instrument had
worked sa ,isfactorily for months and
many volumes of stenographic notes
had been taken and would be used at
the trials. The instrument was still
working today when the following was
recorded:
Woman's voice. wonder If those
wires 20 to the Jail. and whether they
are listening TO us now?
Nolce-'I suppose so. / wish
could find out where the sounding
board is"
Hockin--"say. Ryan: do YOU know
what diotagraph looks like?
Ryan-"Its about as big as nat,
dih lblut hul never saw piiN'
Hockin--"i hear there is one on eX-
hibtion in this city and | believe !
will go and take look at 1t.
After that. Mr.. Nichols said he had
no doubt that Ryan knew of the dicta-
graph
Ryan today was told there was m
eavesdropping device in his oifice'
He consented to have his informant
search the office. a quick examina-
tion OF Ryan's desk exposed the an
nunciator of the apparatus. hanging
by its wires against the back wall I
the desk beneath the top. D.scon-
nected. the annunciator was shown TO
Ryan and then carried away.
What do you think about that 90
said Ryan. How did they get II
here p"
When told that records had been
taken of conversations in the office
since last october. Ryan said the gov
eminent must have a transcript OF
many consultations between officials
Of the union on the subject of the IN
vestigation i'm the dynamite con-
spiracy
The wires from the annunciator ran
frnm the back OF Ryan's desk through
the floor and into a room below renteh
by the government. Here sat every
day two stenographers under the d.
rectiOn OF Roland Evans. stenosraphvr
for The federal court with the receiN-
ing apparatus at their ears. ihc
stenographers worked in relays. eN-
eept at such times when IT was de-
sired To take double record for cor
foboration.
Both RYAN and Hockin said theN
Werc amazed that such device had
been in operation in the Office, thouen
they had speculated on the posSlniliil
of such an arrangement by the tedera
Investigators.
They are welcome to anything
have said" said Hockin. None Of my
Conversations has been discriminating
because I have done nothing wrong.
did suspect some eavesdroppinE
scheme. but my first thought was that
"nr telephone wires might haN" been
tapped" "