The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-10-03
Exploits Rival Those of
Mcnamara Brothers
and McManigal.
DEEDS ARE SHORT
ONLY OF MURDER
Work Of Government, Started
Two Years Ago, Is Now Con-
sidered Rounded Up, With
Arrest and Confession of
Man Known in Other
Trials as O'Donnell.

New York October 2-Dynamlte out
RACES that rivaled tho exploits OF tho
Mcnamara brothers and Ortle McMan-
igal were confessed to-day H. George
T. Davis. union iron worker. Davis,
who was arrested here to-day was tho
George O'Donuell. who figured in the
trial At Indianapolis that resulted In
the conviction OF Frank NJ Ryan. pres
ident OF the international Association
of Bridge and Structural Iron Workers
and thirty-scven OF his associates. His
arrest and It's consequent roundup
work the Federal government started
more than two years ago, when the
Gynamiting Of bridges and steel frame
buildings all over the country became
u national scandal.
All the explosions that Davis says he
caused were referred TO at the dyna-
niters trial In Indianapolis but tho
fact that Davis caused them remained
unrevcalcd until he himself to-day told
Of It.
Confession Stops Short of Murder.
DaVis's confession resulted to-day in
the arrest in Indianapolis of Harry
Jones. secretary-treasurer Of the Iron
Workers Union. The confession sup
pie ments the evidence presented at the
charges against some OF the men there
convicted ana now in prison. Some OF
his revelations concern President Ryan.
who is now out on ball pending ap-
peal OF prison sentence OF seven years.
Davis says he was the man chosen
IN December, 1911. 10 Kill Walter Drew
attorney for the National Erectors' AS
sociation, after Drew was charged with
kidnapping John J. Mcnamara II was
suggested also that he try to get
William j. Burns. the detective en-
plo%ed by Drew and mis- associates 10
unearth the dynamite conspiracy. The
price on Drew's head at that time
Davis said. was $4,000. II told them"
his confession continues. that didn't
ant to mix UP in such business"
Davis consented TO return to In
o;anapolis without extradition. His
bail was fixed at $4,000.
Conspiracy StiIl Exists.
The conspiracy thought 10 have been
broken up by the conviction OF Ryan
and others still exists, according to
Davis's confession With tho cXcep-
tion OF Harry Jones. the men he men
tions ia connection with his various
dynamite jobs already had been ar
rested. although his confession indi-
Gated that the government had not OBJ
tained AL the discriminating evidence
against these defendants.
The apprehension of this "McMani-
gal OF tho East was due to Robert
Foster a Louisville detective who
shadowed the iron worker through
Eastern cities. Finally. when Davis
was iispleased with his treatment by
the union Foster persuaded him to
make full confession.
Feels Deserted by Union.
This Was on September I6. For a
week. Davis had been working in
I,s
Company. Then the local delegate OF
the Iron Workers Union told him he
must pay a s2s initiation fee to the
local union or quit work.
Davis quit. The detective told him
OF his deeds, and Davis, feeling that
the union had deserted him. accom-
panied Foster TO New York. Here in
the presence of representatives of the
Federal district attorney and the Ma
tional Erectors' Association, he die
tatcd and swore 10 the long detailed
confession which was given out by
the district attorneys office to-day.
Begins Career ns Dynnmitcr.
Davis said ne had been an iron
worker since 1900 and had been
employed at birmingham. Denver
Pueblo. St Louis. New York Wash
ington, Providence. Cleveland and
Pittsburgh. In the early days OF the
troubles between the union and the
bridge builders he was a member OF
the entertainment committee. whose
duty, he said. was to assault nonunion
workers. He began his career as
dynamitcr At Trenton, y. J.
In careful detail the confession de-
scribe how Davis blew. or tried TO blow.
up buildings and bridges in various
cities and towns OF the East. 1t was
during his preparation of plans to de-
stroy n new building at Fall River.
April 90 1?0S. that Davis first came
in touch with Harry Jones. Davis as
serts that Jones was familiar with the
work he was doing.
Serves In Prison.
Under the name ODonnell. Davis
was arrested for the Fall River job
and served two years in prison. After
he left prison. officers of the union
gave him money and he went to his
home in Coffeyville, Kan. John j. Nc
Namara wanted him to take up his
old trade in oklahoma, but he refused
because 1T was too near home.
The arrest of the McNamaras fol-
lowed soon, and on advice OF President
Ryan, says Davis, he returned to the
East. One OF his latest exploits was
dynamiting bridge at Mount YER
non under the direction of Frank c.
Webb. a New York member OF the eX-
ecntive committee of the union, who
is now serving six years in prison.
Plan Simultaneous Explosions.
A feature OF Davis's statement was
n story of gigantic scheme to set off
explosions in Omaha,
San Francisco, st. Louis and New York
City. while tho McNamaras were in
Jail. This was to create the impress
sion that the McNamaras were not re-
sponsible forall the dynamiting in the
The consummation OF the plot
was nipped by the confessions Of the
McNamaras.
Davis left for Indiananolis ovar tha