Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1917-06-08
PHIPPS EASY FOR
SECRET SERVICE
ConspiratOr is Gathered In" by
by Uncle Sans Men, and TAX
en- to Jail-Clever Work on
Part of Detective.

Phipps and Mccoy, the two men
arrested for conspiracy at st. Paul
last week, are still in the Jail at Roa-
notc, where they have been held
since the arrest 1t is said that the
United States secret service is secur-
ing further evidence of the mems ac-
tivity in Wise and Tazewel counties
and possibly in Russell and Buchanan
counties.
There are some details of the af-
fair that have not been yet publish
ed. The information that Phipps and
Mccoy were organizing q party to
commit raids on the State militia and
loot the banks and other institutions
in Wise county, was first secured by
the Captain of the militia company
located at Cedar Bluff. While ball
game was in progress at Richlands
the information reached the officer
that efforts were being made to en-
list number of the mountain peo-
pie near Raven and the section north
of Raven in the plot. The officer i'm
mediately communicated the informa-
lion to the secret service, and opera
tivcs were put to work on the case.
The first move made was 10 trap
Phipps. The secret service man wrote
Phipps q letter in which he offered to
finance the revolt, stating that he
Corr,On 1nl hnI ,,lnct1,
of money. Phipps replied that he
wobld gladly accept the aid, and stat
ed he needed Immediately $1,00 to
push the work. Instead of replying
by mail the officer presented himself
in person disguised us a laborcr and
secured employment in the extract
plant at st. Paul, where Phipps was
foreman. The secret service man
worked for an hour or two and ap-
parently became exhausted and sat
down. Phipps approached him and
'Salled" him out for "loating on the
job" The officer said he was tired
and that he would not work until he
rested, where upon Phipps threatened
to discharge him. The officer readily
accepted the discharge and asked
Phipps to write him an order to the
office for his time. Phipps did this,
and as he handed the order to the Of
fcer, the officer produced the letter
Phipps had written him. On seeing
the letter he had written Phipps ran,
pursued by She officer, but was over
taken with the assistance of another
officer who was near, and arrested.
'1Me officers quietly went to the old
,cobbler's home, Mccoy, and took him
zlnawarns. The two were put on the
train and quietly taken to the Jail
at Roanoke.
Many people believe that German
influence and German money are at
the bottom Of the whole affair.
The plans Of the gangs being or
gapized by Phipps and Mccoy, are
said 10 have extended over n wide
area, 4se objects of which were to
destroy railroad bridges, tunnels, etc.
and also to exterminate the COM
vanies of the State militia, which are
stationed at various points on the
,Clipch Valley. 1t is reported that
a number of recruits to the Mccoy
Phipps "army" had been secured at
Raven, Bed Ash, and the country
nearby. The members of the gang
near Raven, and back in the noun
tains were especially charged, 1t is
said, with the destruction of the coal
property from Red Ash to the main
line of the N. & W., and then pro-
ceed 50 Richlands and attack the
banks allS other business houses. 1t
was planned to have concerted action
in the annihiiatjon of the militia,
which was to be the first destructive
work undertaken.
From reliable source ws have
been informed that the date for the
execution of this murder and destruc-
tion was set for Wednesday night,
but yesterday the report received
from the Clinch Valley was that all
was quiet.