South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1913-10-03
George F. Davis Claims That
Plan Would Have Cost Over
a MiIIion-Many Others Are
Implicated.
INCLUDED DEATH OF
DETECTIVE W. J. BURNS
Arrest is Due to Louisville De-
teCtiVe, Who Succeeds in
Making Davis Believe Union
Had Deserted Him.

NEW YORK. oct. 2.-Geo-ge Z.
Davis. alias George Mcdonald. who
was arrested in the Fort Pitt hotel.
Pittsburgh. Pa. Sept. To- charged with
illegally transporting explosives from
one state TO another was arraigned
before Commissioner Shields Thurs
day and waived examination. Davis
arrest had been kept secret
Davis is alleged 10 have confessed
that, while the McNamara's were on
trial, he and other representatives OF
the Bridge Workers union were plan
ming To dynamite every nOn-uniOn
piece Of structural work in the coun-
try. Davis swore the plot was 10 cost
the union $l.5OO.OOO.
According 10 Davis this gigantic
plot was Matched while Pres. Frank
Ryan and other officials OF the union
were under surveillance. The acticn
of the McNamara's In pleading guilty
exploded the conspiracy.
The plot is reported 20 have in
GUIDED the assassination Of VIM. J.
Burns. the private detective who
worked up the case against the Nc
Namara's and others involved in the
conspiracy.
Gets Full Confession.
The apprehension of this McMani-
gal of the east. was due TO Robert
Foster, a Louisville detective who
Swallowed the iron worker through
eastern cities. Finally several weeks
ago when Davis was Gispleased with
his treatment 10y the union. Foster
persuaded him 10 make "a full confes-
sion.
Ordered To Pay Fee.
This was on Sept. 16. For week
Davis had been working in Pittsburgh
for the Thompson Starrett company
h nF he
Workers union told him he must pay
a S26 initiation fee TO the local union
or quit work Davis quit.
The detective told him that he
knew all about his deeds any way. and
Davis, feeling that the union had de-
serted him, accompanied Foster 70
New York. Here in the presence OF
representatives OF the federal district
attorney and the National ErectOrs'
association, he dictated and swore 10
the long detailed confession which was
given out by the district attorneys
office Thursday.
Iron Worker Since 1900.
Davis said ne had been an iron
worker since 1900 and had been en-
ployed at Denver. Pueblo. St Louis.
New York. Washington. Providence.
Cleveland. Pittsburgh and Birming-
ham. In the early days Of the trou-
bles between the union and the bridge
builders, he was a member OF the en-
tertainment committee whose duty 10
was 10 assault non-union workers.
He began his career as a dynamiter
at Trenton y. j.
Tells of His Work
In careful detail the confession o.
scribes how Davis blew up OF tried 90
blow up buildings and bridges In va
riOus cities and towns Of the east. 10
was during his preparation OF plans
to destroy a new building at Fall river
on April 26. 1908 that Davis first
came into communication with Harry
Jones He says he got Jones at Tndi-
annapolis on the telephone and asked
him for money. Jones. he adds. sent
$50. Davis asserts that Jones was IA
miliar with the work he was doing.
NAB INDIANAPOLIS MAN.
INDTANAPOLES oct. 2.-Harry
Jones secretary Of the Iron Work
ers' union, was arrested Thursday
charged with conspiracy 10 transport
explosives unlawfully The arrest IS
said 10 be a result OF a confession
by George +. Davis. alias George Nc
Donnen. at New York.
Jones is a new figure I'm the dyna-
mite case. He formerly was financial
secretary OF a New York local. but
was elected international secretary
last January.
T. s. Dist. Atty. Miller is now in
New York handling the eastern end
Of the case. II IS said Davis arrest
and confession resulted from a
wrangle between him and a union
business agent at Pittsburgh over a
question Of Davis working without a
union card
1t is understood that Davis de-
clared Jones aided him in his dyna-
! hitting work in the east by sending
I him money during the dynamite
reign OF terror" and also actively
assisted in keeping Davis under cover
while the federal investigation was IN
progress