The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1913-05-21
DYNAMITE ENOUGH 70
HAVE KILLED HUNDREDS

O~AsA SNNN-<
ly dangerous the wrapping together
of detonating caps and dynamite.
There is a state regulation, he said,
which absolutely prohibits the keep
ing OF caps and dynamite together.
Asked what would be the condi-
ton OF dynamite that had been frozen
and was placed in warm building
in the manner in which Breen and
Collins planted the explosives in
Lawrence. the witness said:
ut would begin to thav and i'm
mediately become extremely danger
GUS. Dynamite in half frozen con-
Gition has been known to explode
many times from no apparent cause.
II is dangerous in such a case and a
menace to the community"
Both Wood and Atteaux followed the
testimony of Whitney very closely.
leaning forward and listening intent
Ily. Occasionally Wood spoke in a
Brief whisper to his counsel.
John J. Breen, Lawrence politician
and undertaken, who planted the
dynamite in Lawrence during the tex
tile strike there in January, 1912,
was the chief witness at todays ses-
sion.
The very first question asked him
brought the attorneys for the defense
to their feet. Breen was asked re-
garding his acquaintance with Ernest
J. Pitman, wealthy mill contractor,
who killed himself Immediately after
being subpoenaed to testify sefore
the grand jury.
The prosecution alleges that Pitman
furnished the dynamite to Breen in
Boston on the night Of January 19,
I1912, which was later planted in
Lawrence to discredit the strikers
ThS attorneys for the defense argued
that any transaction between Pitman
and Breen could have no bearing on
1.-THE charges against Wood and Az
teaux but only against Breen himself
and Collins who has admitted aiding
1.-THE undertaken in placing the explos
live.
+ Judge Crosby re-stated his former
ruling that the state could present all
fof its facts and they would be &C
cepted as binding only on Breen and
Collins until such time as the state
shows that the planting of the dyna-
mite was part of the general conspir-
aey icy alleged aii!lcg, gains. Ell CT the accused
Breen, heavy set man, slightly
bald and about forty-fve years old
was plainly very nervous as he began
his testimony. He said that he man
aged his mothers business in Law
renee and knew both Collins and At
| teaux.
How long have yon known At
lteaux?'' demanded Pelletier.
1.-TWO years. he said Il met him
!. first on train between Boston and
/ Lawrence. In January, 1912, Mr.
/ Atteaux telephoned me to come to
This office and see him. This was a
few days previous to January 20. He
asked me if was interested in the
Tstrike. / told him everybody in Law
renee was interested. He talked fol
tive hours about the strike and cendi
j tions there. He said he was glad tc
tsee that | was interested and that he
knew Commissioner of Public Safety
Lynch and asked ME to interest my
iself in keeping certain persons ir
Lawrence quiet. He asked me II
would report to him anything might
hear that would interest him in Law
renee conditions"
i when next did you see him?'
81 think on the night of January
i1s.s
/. "How did you come to see hin
! them"
Il went to report on conditions te
him"
What time was this?'
4 81 can't remember"
What was the conversation?
i II told him that times were prett,
4 troublesome UP there. He said yes
aII said the talk of blowing up the mill.
l. = . y