Las Vegas optic. (East Las Vegas, N.M.) 1908-1921, 1913-05-21
IT WAS HIS SUGGESTION
SAYS HE TOLD ATTEAUx HE
WOULD COMBAT LAWRENCE
STRIKE WITH JUICE"
THE SCHEME Was PLANNED
UNDERTAKEN AND OTHER CON-
sPIRAToRs ASSISTED IN
FIXING THE "PLANTs."

Boston, May 21.-ln an endeavor
to connect President w. M. Wood of
the American Wooden company and
Frederick &. Atteaux with the alleg-
ed conspiracy to discredit striking
textile workers at Lawrence by
planting" dynamite in buildings oc-
cupied by strikers in that city IN
January, 1912, the prosecution called
John ]. Breen, a Lawrence undertake
er, to the witness stand today.
Breen, who was member Of the
Lawrence school committee when the
dynamite was found, was fined $500
in the Essex county court several
months ago upon conviction of un-
lawfully hiding the explosives.
Breen described himself and said
that he knew both Collins and At
teaux. In January, 1912, the month
Of the textile strike, he met Atteaux
at the latter's office in response to
a telephone request. This was few
days before the dynamite episoue.
The call lasted two hours, the wit
ness said, and the conversation was
in regard to the Lawrence strike.
"Atteaux said he was glad to see
was interested in keeping the strik-
ing element quiet" said Breen.
aThe next time I saw him was on
January 19. I went to report the
condition of things to him. The CON
versation was about the strike condi-
tions. l said affairs at the mills were
getting pretty hot. added if was
fighting those fellows would fight
them by their own methods What
do you mean, he asked 'dynamite?'
Dynamite or anything e1se,' l said"
"'Could you get some dynamite?"
asked he.
81 said mo-" Then he suggested
that perhaps Pittman might get
some"
The Pittman mentioned by the wit
ness was e. R. Pittman, builder,
with whom the state alleges Wood,
Atteaux and Collins conspired. Pitt
man committed suicide on the day he
was subpoenaed to appear as a wit
ness before the grand jury which
was investigating the alleged dyna-
mite plot
Atteaux telephoned to Pittman,
Breen continued, and an hour later
Pittman arrived at Atteaux's office.
The witness then told of the fornla-
ton of the alleged conspiracy.
Breen told Of meeting and of ask
ing Collins to go to Lawrence with
him. Later he met Atteaux at
street corner. Atteaux got out Of a
taxicab and said: Follow me, Johl-."
Il followed him, continued Breen,
"and he dropped package. AS
picked it up he said: Don't say /
ever gave you anything. When
opened the package l found it con
tanned $780,"
Breen made second trip to the
street corner, this time with Collins.
4 stood on the corner" said the
witness, until Pittman came up. He
took me down the street and intro
duced me to Mr.. Rice Mr.. Rice
has the package for you, he said l
took the bundle and said to Mr.. Rice.
What danger is there with this? He
said None, it is frozen solid
Il carried the bundle up to the
corner, where Collins was waiting in
a doorway. said to him: Here's the
dynamite. Be careful, even il Mr..
Rice does say there is no danger I"
Breen said that he and Collins took
train for Lawrence, where they
went to Breen's rooms. Here Collins
opened the bundle and made smaller
packages Of the contents.
On the stand yesterday Collins
who has turned states evidence, gave
similar version Of the disposition