Arizona republican., 1917-01-22
DICT0GRAP
CAUSES ARREST
Of. BEHR|NCER

A. L. Behringer. said to be an oper-
ative in the employ of an Ell Paso de-
tective agency, but who registered from
Denver was arrested late yesterday
afternoon at the Hotel Adams, follow
ing the discovery of wires of a dicto-
graph apparatus leading to his room
from that of Frank c. Armstrong, of
New York, president of the Ray Her.
Cules Copper company. sensational
effort to escape was nipped in the bud
when Behringer, realizing that his ap-
paratus had been discovered, hurriedly
picked up two suitcases containing the
recording apparatus and his clothing,
made his way from his room TO the
hotel screen porch, entered the room
adjoining that he was occupying, and
while officers ana others were entering
his room from the hall, attempted to
pass from the building. He was appre-
hended and kept under surveillance
until complaint could be sworn to by
President Armstrong and a warrant
issued. Late last evening he was a
prisoner at the county Jail, held in
default of the $1,000 bail demanded by
Justice of the Peace Frank De Souza.
President Armstrong and Attorney
William p. Maloney, counsel for the
Ray Hercules Copper company, ar
rived here two days ago from New
York. Jointly with General Manager
c. e. Adams of the company, they
occupied a suite of rooms on the fourth
floor of the Hotel Adams Rooms 400
and 402 were used by Adams and
Malopey, while Room 405, across the
hall, was assigned to the uses of Mr..
Arrlstrong's valet. Room 404 is located
du ectly next to Room 402.
Behringer arrived at the Hotel
Adams January II and was assigned to
Room 421. Just before the arrival of
the Ray Hercules party, he requested
that he be given Room 404. He made
The acquaintance of Proprietor J. c.
Adams but indicated little of his bus
mess in Phoenix. II talked of having
lived in Albuquerque, Las Vegas and
other New Mexican cities. He regis
tered from Denver.
Since their arrival here. Messrs.
Armstrong, Maloney and Adams have
been in almost continuous conference
IN their rooms. They let it be known
that they were here to appear before
the Arizona corporation commission in
the interest of a petition asking for an
order directing the Ray and Gila
Valley railroad to construct spur to
the property of the Ray Hercules COM
Dany in order that machinery, etc,
might be transported to the Hercules
mine, and ore be shipped from the
mine The hearing is said to have
been set for today.
Yesterday afternoon with local at
forneys present the Hercules officials
were in Room 400. The need of better
ventilation caused one of those in the
room to attempt to open the transOm
some difficulty was experienced in this
but when the trs,nsom finally swung
free. tiny wires were discovered lead
ing through the frame and into the
room. Following the lead of the wires,
the receiving apparatus of a. dictograph
was discovered under a bed in the
room. The wires had been carried
along the walls and baseboards so
cIeverly they had not been previously
noticed.
Directing their search in the other
direction, the wires were found to lead
to Room 404 Efforts to ~ain admit
tance to that room were fruitless,
knocking upon the door bringing no re-
sponse. The manager of the hotel was
called and under his direction prepa-
rations were made to open the door.
When entrance was finally gained, it
was found that there was no one in the
room But hurried footsteps down the
hal attracted attention and Behringer
was observed making his way from
Room 4O6, held by man from Doug
las. Behringer was overtaken and
found to be carrying two heavy suit
cases.
He protested against interference
and asked to be taken to the room of
Proprietor Adams. There he was held
while further search was made. 1t
was indicated clearly that there had
been a dictograph in his room. Inn
mediately communication was had with
County Attorney l.. n. Laney, who af-
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