New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-05-22
SAYS ATTEAUX PAID
TO PLANT DYNAMITE
Confessed Handler Tells How
He Was Engaged to Place
Explosive in Lawrence.
DOES NOT lMPLICATE WOOD
Breen Declares He Refused Of
fer of 1000 from Attorney
Who Is Defending Atteaux
in Present Trial.

III 4 ldl
Boston. May u. - Something Of what
went on behind the scenes when the city
Of Lawrence was i'm the throes OF the
great textile strike OF 1912 was revealed
to-day AZ the dynamite conspiracy trial
Of William VI. Wood. president Of the
American Wooden Company; Frederick f.
AtteauX and Dennis j. Collins by John
j. Breen, convicted and confessed
planter OF dynamite
Breen's story Of his activities on behalf
both Of strikers and mill owners cul-
minated In a declaration that he had re-
fused TO accept 5000 from Atteauxs at
torney, Daniel r. Coakley. the lawyer
who was cross-eXamining him.
Testimony previously introduced was
that eight persons who had been arrested
when dynamite was found in buildings
occupied by them AT Lawrence had later
brought damage suits against Breen. who
had planted" the explosives Breen tes-
tihed that he had gone to Atteaux to get
$4,000 after his own counsel had told
him all the suits could he settled for
$1,000 He denied that he knew the
damage suits could be settled at a lower
figure when he was trying 10 induce At
teaux 10 pay him 5000
Breen finally said that he had refused
an Offer OF $500 from Coakley because he
would not agree to the terms Asked by
Coakley what the terms we're. Breen re-
piled
You told me TO put most Of it in my
pocket and settle with the poor slobs
as cheap as ! could. I did not want that
kind Of money and / rejected the offer"
Indicates Man N Higher Up"
Breen Indicated Atteaux a the man
higher up" He said the dye manufact-
urer had engaged him TO plant the
dynamite and had arranged with Ernest
r Pitman. an Andover builder. who com
mtted suicide when the grand jury began
investigating the alleged conspiracy. TO
furnish the explosive.
Mr. Wood : name was mentioned only
once and that was when Breen said he
asked AtteauX II the mill man knew any
thing about the matter and AtteauX re-
piled that he did not
or the FIVE persons who have figured
prominently In the elleged conspiracy
only two are really on trial. Breen was
convicted last MAY. Pitman took his own
life. and Collins turned states evidence
Yesterday. although IN his testimony ne
implicated neither Wood nor AtteauX.
his story Of his part In the affair relat-
ing wholly To- his associations with Breen.
Breeu told IN detail to-day OF his ac-
quaintance with Atteaux. and said that
~ the witnesses suggestion that the
strikers bc fought with their own weap-
ons Atteaux had engaged him 20 plant
the dynamite. paying him 500 in two in
stalments. He described his movements
on January 10 and ~. when the dynamite
was hidden. his story In the main cor
roborating the testimony already given
by Collins.
Breen's activities IN connection with the
strike were due NJ said. TO pride in his
city and desire 10 benefit the operatives.
whom he sometimes addressed. always
counselling them against violence.
Under croSs-examnation the witness
was doubtful at times regarding ceftain
meetings and conversations With various
persons. He could not recall whether or
not he had said that his fathers estate
owned $1,000 worth ~ American Wooden
Company stock but admitted that If he
had made such a statement II was untrue.
Breen told OF meeting Collins AT a sa-
loon In this city and OF asking Collins 20
20 to Lawrence with him. Leaving the
saloon Breen called on Inspector Rooney
at Police Headquarters Later he met At
teaux at Franklin and Washington
streets. Attcaux got out OF taXicab
and sail Follow me. John"
II followed him." continued Breen. "and
he dropped a package. AS | picked IT up
he said. Don't say | never gave you any
thing. When ! opened the package later
7 found il contained $500.
After saving he was convicted last May
Breen testified that he met Atteaux on
some holiday " April AT Clark's Hotel.
Il saw him previously at his Office"
said tho witness 81 told him that /
needed more money. that my expenses
had been pretty heavy. No sum was
mentioned by either of us, but few days
later received by special delivery an en-
yelope containing four hfty-doIlar bills
This was delivered to me at my office in
Lawrence"
The witness declared he never had con-
spired with Wood. Atteaux or Pitman to
injure any persons or property.
Before Breen took the stand Walter
Wedgett. an expert on explosives, testified
regarding the dynamite found at Law
renee. and told of the various ways in
which dynamite might be exploded by ac-
cident. Wedgett was not cross-examined.