New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-06-05
Breen Wanted Money to Settle
Suits for False Arrests, AS
SertS Witness.
ALLEGES $4,000 DEMAND
Trying to Get at President OF
American Wooden Company
Through Him, He
Suspects.

q CO-defSnddnt WIFI w imam VI ''''
president Of the American Wooden COM
panv. and Dennis j. Collins. in the dyna-
mite conspiracy trial, told his story 70 the
Jury to-day He denied emphaticaly that
he had conspired with the other defend
ANTS and with John J. Breen and the late
Ernest W. Pitman to plant dynamite
10 discredit the Lawrence strikers.
Rreen, the Lawrence undertaken, al
ready convicted Of placing the explosive
has testified that AtteauX hired him 10 DO
the work and that Pitman furnished 'he
dynamite. In many respects AtteauN
testimony dovetailed that OF Breen'
though the witness denied all crin1inalty
and branded portions Of Breen's testimony
as false.
Atteaux intimated that when exposure
came and Breen was sued by persons
vrongfully arrested Breen tried 10 black
mail the witness and Wood TO raise
money TO settle the suits
BIacknaiI the Issue.
The defence seems 10 be based nat
footedly on the theory of eXtortioh' Out'
lining his case 10 the jury Danlei II
roaklev. counsel for Atteaux, said u
would he shown that after the civil SUITS
had been instituted against Breen the
undertaken sought TO get $4,000 from At
teaux When he was refused ne Tesoi'eu
10 blackmail, said the attorney.
Evidence would be presented. CoaKIeS
~aid 70 show that Breen and the partly
unbalanced Pitman." who later COM
united suicide. planned the piahtlHe'
and after the scheme iattened out Breeh
bounded Pitman ontinually. urging MN
20 get money from Wood. when Fl'nlah
refused TO go 10 Wood, Coakley sdiu'
Rreen tried TO force him to go TO AtteauA
II would be shown. Coakley said that
on the night OF January 10. 49, AtteauN
was called on the telephone al MS nome
nv Asa Korbey, a Syrian, Of Lawrence
whom he had asked 20 study strike con-
ditions Korbey said Breen was in his
Mace and would like TO talk with Al
teaux. Breen and Atteaux then eA-
changed pleasantries
The next day Breen came TO Boston
met Atteaux for the first time and asked
him to have the American Wooden COM
pany officials telephone to the Mayor OF
Lawrence, advising that dynamite stored
in the city yard be removed to place
of safety AtteauX did So
Breen and Pitman Together.
Two DAYS later Breen came to AtteauH's
Office. and at Breens request AtteauX
summoned Pitman. AtteauX retired, leav-
ing Breen and Pitman together. AtteauN
did not see Breen again again unth some
time in March, when they met by acc!-
dent at Washington and Franklin streets
the spot at which Breen has testified At
teaux paid him for planting the eXpio-
sive.
Atteaux, on taking the stand, said he
was sixty years old and for thirty years
had been an importer and manufacturer
of dye stuffs. He had known Wood in
business and as a friend for tWenty-enght
years.
Atteaux said the American Wooden
Company had accepted his offer TO assist
in settling the strike. He was introduced
10 Breen over the telephone by korbey'
the Syrian. who was in the pay OF the
wooden company. Breen later called on
him in Boston, and at Breens request
ne telephoned Pitman TO meet Breen in
his (Atteaux's) office. He left Breen and
Pitman together. and then the dynamite
plot probably was Matched. Breen sew
eral months later demanded $1,000. and
threatened AN explosion" II the money
were not forthcoming by certain time.
Atteaux accounted for his movements
on January 10. 1912. the day the conspir-
acy is alleged TO have had its inception.
and denied that he was the person who
VS. driven in taxicab from Woods
Boston house TO Franklin and Washing
ton streets.
The cross-examInation by District At
torney Pelleter was brief.
why did Breen single you out as a
mark in this dynamite business?" asked
the prosecutor.
Il think you can explain that better
than ! can" replied Atteaux.
Then you don't know why Breen went
10 your
After Wood. He Suspects.
NO. unless il was because he thought
he could reach Mr. Wood easier through
me than through Pitman."
The witness said that the American
Wooden Company had paid him 5000 for
his services during the strike because
Wood thought that the company ought
not 10 be under obligations 10 any per-
son from whom it was buying merchan-
disc.
49, attorney