The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1916-02-18
plot AGAINST
The CHURCHES
POISONING AT BANQUET PART
OF NATIONWIDE CON-
SPIRACY.
A NEST OF ANARCHISTS
Destruction Of Houses of Worship
All Over the Country Was.
Planned.

Chicago, ILL.,, Feb. Search was
started today for the principals in
what Is believed by the police to have
been a plot to destroy buildings and
kill members of the clergy, bankers
and others, in a dozen cities in var
ious sections of the United States
Discovery of the alleged plot, accord
ing to the police, resulted from ex-
animation of the personal effects OF
John Allegrini, confidant of Jean
Crones, who IL charged by the au-
thotities with putting poison in soup
at the. banquet given Archbishop
George w. Mundeleinn at the Univer-
sity Club Thursday night, and caus-
ing the illness of 100 of the guests.
Chief of police HeaIey, Chief of
Detectives Nicholas Hunt, and Dep
uty Chief of Police Herman Schuet-
tier announced today after studying
translations of letters written in
Italian, found in Allegrini's rooms,
that they regarded as established the
existence of an anti-clerical organi-
zation. headed by Committee of
fifteen" of which Crones and Allie
grini are believed to have been men,
bers.
Police are searching for Crones,
who is former assistant chef at
the University Club. Allegrini is in
Jail charged with conspiracy to COM
NIT murder.
The police were guarded in max
ing public the contents of Allegrini's
correspondents, but 1t was stated
that plans and specifications were
found Of several large downtown
buildings in Chicago, which, 1t is
said, had been marked for destruc-
ton by the committee. These includ-
ed the Peoples Gas. Light and Coke
Company buildings in Chicago; the
Union League Club, and Federal
building.
The attempt to wreck st. Patrick's
Roman Catholic church in New York
year ago also Is believed by Cap
tain Hunt to have been a part OF
the alleged plot. According to the
detective who did the translating,
certain leaders in conspiracy, which
is said to be international in scope
have headquarters in Rome. He add
ed that some of the letters contain
ed detailed descriptions of bombs
used by the conspirators. Some OF
these, he said were designed to
wreck buildings. others to kill po-
licemen. and still others to spread
death among churchgoers when
they are walking away from church
discussing the sermon
Names Obtained.
Names of the committee of fiji
teen are said to be in the hands OF
the police. and it was predicted that
the arrest of some of the commiteee-
members would be made before
night. - : s.-si S~.sr
Chief Of detective Hunt has COM
municated with Nashville. Tenn, Sa-
Ida, Col, st. Paul and st. Louis, in
hope of apprehending Crones in one
of those cities.
Police workers on the case point
ed out today that the illness of fifty
guests who attended the Knights Of
Columbus banquet on October IL
last might have been due to the ac-
tivities of the alleged conspirators.
At first 1t was believed that the i'll
ness of the banqueters was caused
from ptomaine poison, but discovery
OF the plot to poison guests at the
Mundelein dinner has given strength
to the belief that the illness of the
other banqueters may have been due
to a simimlar plot.
In connection with the alleged
plans Of the conspirators to destroy
public buildings and church proper
ty, police records show that two
score or more Chicago churches have
suffered losses within the last two
years. At the Moody church 1t was
said no less than six fires said to
have been of incendiary origin. have
been extinguished with small loss
during the last year.
Other churches In which incen-