New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-05-20
MANUFACTURER TRIED
FOR ANT|-STR|KE PLOT
American WOODEN Company'S
President Accused of Dyn-
amite ''PIant."
JERSEY JUSTICE" SPEED
Jurv Seated and Five Witnesses
Heard on Opening Day
Wood a Smiling
Defendant.

poston. May 20 - The commonwealth
ad the foundation Of its case to-day
AGAINST William NJ. Wood, president OF
the American Wooden Company; FTeder-
,ck T. Atteaux and Dennis J. Collins. who
ere charged with conspiracy to plant
dvnsnlite at Lawrence during the textile
strike last year.
While no evidence bearing directly on
the alleged conspiracy was presented at
the opeuiuS session of the trial three
Witnesses testified 10 finding dynamite in
the houses occupied by strikers. The pro
cesdincs moved swiftly under the guild
ance OF Judge John &. Crosby. The jury
was selected in about an hour. District
ATTORNEY Joseph c. Pelletier's opening ad-
0ress occupied less than half an hour. and
the testimony Of five of the twcnty-four
witnesses for the state was heard before
adjournment until tomorrow was taken.
Police Inspector Thomas H Lynch. of
Roston. testified that on the night OF
August g last he served a summons on
Ptman. the builder. to appear before the
suffolk County grand jury the next day.
Charles 1T. Littlefeld jr.. Of Lawrence.
testified that Pitman shot himself on the
morning of August q. Neither witness
was crosse Examined.
The facts attending the finding Of the
dynamite At Lawrence on January 20. 1917,
we're related by Captain William II. Proc
Tor and officers Fred NJ. Flynn and Ernest
: Bradford. Of the Massachusetts Dis
trict Police. who were on duty at Law
rerce during the strike. Each officer told
Of the search for and seizure OF the eXp'o-
sve I'm the buildings occupied by striking
textile workers in Il part OF the city occu-
pied chiefly by foreigners. Four persons
we're arrested at the time. the witnesses
said. but later discharged.
The cross-examinatiOn Of the officers
was conducted by Daniel IL. Coakley, OF
counsel for Mr. AtteauX MI. Coakley
brought out that John J. Breen, who was
convicted and fined 500 for unlawfully
conceaung dynamite. informed the officers
where dynamite might be found.
Mr.. Wood. surrounded by personal
friends. with whom he chatted smilingiy'
occupied a seat in a corner Of the room
opposite the jury box. Mr.. AtteauX sat
within the bar Enclosure near his attor-
ney and Mr. Collins was outside the rail.
Although Breen is. mentioned as CO.
conspirator i'm the indictment. his con-
. vction in an Essex County court makes
him immune from trial here. II Is the
contention OF the government that al
though the dynamite was planted in
Essex County the alleged conspiracy was
planned in Boston.
Although admission was by ticket only
the courtroom was thronged and hun
dreds were turned away. Wood himself
had difficulty in getting in but finally
established his identity
The trial has been awaited with spe-
cisl interest because OF the prominence
n Mr. Wood. and also because II IS the
first time in Massa chusetts that a serious
criminal charge arising from labor diff
cultes has been -2referred against a
manufacturer.
Atteaux is a dealer in chemicals and a
friend Of Mr. Wood Collins is dog
fancier. of Cambridge.
The police discovered the dynamite al
legged TO have been planted and ar
rested several strike operatives who lived
in the house All subsequently, satisfied
The court Of their innocence and we're
discharged