Evening journal., 1913-05-21
BREEN ON The
STAND TELLS
OF PLANTING
Mentions Names Of Atteaux
and Collins in Story Of the
Lawrence DynamitinG.
TALKS OF PROMISE OF
MONEY FOR HIS PART

BOSTON, Mass, May 21-John J.
Breen, Lawreac politician and under
taker, who is alleged to have planted
the dynamite in Lawrence during the
textile strike there in January, 1912,
was the chief witness at today's ses-
sion of the trial of William NJ. Wood,
Frederick E. Atteaux and Dennis j.
Collins, charged with conspiracy.
The first question asked him
brought the attorneys for the defense
to their feet. 3reen was asked re-
garding his acqu intance with Ernest
j. Pitman, wealthy mill contractor,
who killed himself Immediately after
being subp )1naed to testify before
che grand jury.
Tho prosecution alleges that Pit
man furnished the dynamite to Breen
in Boston on the night Of January 10,
1912. which was later planted in Law
renee to discredit the strikers. The
attorneys for the defense argued that
any transaction between Pitman and
Breen could have no bearing on the
charges against Wood and Atteaux,
bpt only against Breen himself and
Collins, who has admitted aiding the
undertaken in placing the explosive.
Judge Crosby restated his former
ruling that the State could present
all of its facts and they would be ac-
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 con-
spiracy alleged against all Of the ac-
cused on trial
Breen, a heavy-set man, slightly
bald, and about forty-fve years old
was plainly very nervous as he be-
gan his testimony. lie said he man.
aged his mothers business in Law
renee and knew both Dennis Collins
and AtteauX.
How long have you known At
teaux?" demanded Pelletier.
1.-Two years. ! met him first on a
train between Boston and Lawrence
In January, 1912, Mr.. AtteauX tele-
phOnod me to come TO his Office anC
see him. This was few days previ.
GUS to January 90. He asked me y
] was interested in the strike I tolC
him everybody in Lawrence was in
tcrested We talked for two hours
about the strike and conditions there
He said he was glad to see that
was interested and that he knew
Commissioner of Public Safety Lyncl
and asked me TO interest myself il
keeping certain persons in Lawrence
quiet He asked me If I would re
port to him anything I might heal
that would interest him in Lawrence
conditions"
When next did you see him?"
.f..1a fs~I.H Iunsn 49,
u9'
How did you come to see hin
them"
q went to report on conditions t.
him"
What time was this?"
81 cant remember
what was the conversation"
81 told him that times we're prett.
troublesome up there. He said, yes
said the talk Of blowing up tn
mills was getting pretty hot. He said
is that SO. and told him it was.
told him If l was doing busines
with them fellows, I'd use their owr
methods. He asked me what
meant and | told hir I'd plant som
dynamite to scare the strikers"
Breen said that Atteaux asked hir
whether he could get hold of any dy
Mantle.
1 told him no." he continued. "an
he asked me whether ! knew PittmaI
i said no. Then he called on tn
telephone and got hold of Pittman.
The defense objected to witness
statement that Atteaux got hold {
Pittman and It was stricken out.
What did you hear Atteaux say
demanded Pelletier.
"'Is this Mr.. Pittman? I want yo
10 come to my office at once Pit
man showed up at the Office i'm abot
an hour He and Atteaux conferre
in Atteauxs office. Then a littl
while later Pittman came out an
said TO me. DO you want TO 6
through with this all rightT / tol
him yes Then he told me to met
him later"
Defense again objected TO any r.
ference to Pittman because he wa
dead, but the court ruled that tn
evidence was competent as indicatir
the existence of the alleged col
spiracy.
"Pittman asked me to leave
Continued On Second Page.