The Fayette falcon. (Somerville, Tenn.) 190?-current, 1920-09-10
PLOTTED TO WRECK
A SPECIAL TRAIN
FIVE CONFESSED PARTICIPANTS
IN PLOT ARRESTED BY
U. s. AGENTS.
POLICE SEARCH FOR OTHERS
pastardIy Plan To Ditch Diamond
Special and Secure Money Ex-
posed BY Federal AgeRts
In Chicago.

Chicago-Twenty members OF the
Communist Party of America, five Of
whom are confessed participants in a
plot to destroy the Diamond Special,
crack train of the Illinois Central, were
arrested by Chicago agents Of the De.
partment of Justice at Springfield, Ill.
The five men who have confessed
gave to the authorities information by
which they claim the plot will Be
traced to the Chicago headquarters OF
the party In pursuance of this IN.
formation agents Of the Department OF
Justice and the local police secured
the west side, searching for a number
of men whcse names are withheld.
The plot details follow briefly. Ae-
cordinE to weather conditions, the
party were to have gone to Bissell, a
lonely railway signal tower, six miles
north of Springfield. There, shortly
before the Diamond Special came
through, they were to have bound and
gagged the signalman.
At curve a quarter Of mile north
of the tower the spikes in one length
OF rail were to have been removed.
On either side Of this spot lies ditch
40 feet deep.
The train, going around the curve,
would have plunged into the ditch.
The plotters, with tank of com
pressed gasoline, then planned to blow
open the safe steal its contents, set
fire to the train and leave the dead
and injured passengers to the mercy Of
the flames.
The prisoners were captured in six
raids made simultaneously on six
houses in the Springfield foreign col.
ony, which is located in the village Of
Ridgely, suburb. They were made by
Special Agent August H. Loula of the
Chicago branch of the Department of
Justice. Chief Of Police Wilbur Morris
of Springfield and his entire police
force of 40 men; c. A. Lowell, w. c..
Dsvanoy and Harry Cleyland Of the l.
c. Railway.
As fast as the prisoners were taken
they were rushed to the central station
at Springfield for questioning. AS
they spoke nothing but Polish or Lithu.
anian, the questioning devolved upon
Mr.. Loula.
The first information regarding the
slot was given to District Inspector
Edward j. Brennan OF the Chicago
branch Of the Department of Justice
several days ago by agents Of the Hi.
nois Central
John Kona, a Lithuanian, the first
man questioned, spoke freely OF the
plot.
The plotters had first laid their
plans five weeks ago, he said. A man
from the Chicago headquarters had
come down and talked to them. He
wanted money to spread the cause
They had given HIM a considerable
sum from their savings and they plan.
ned to get more. For what? The
revolution that was to give them fine
homes, fine clothes and lots Of good
things to eat without working for ii.
They had heard abut the huge sums
IN money being carried on the trains.
So they decided to pick the best train,
the Diamond Special, and wreck IT,
Thus they would have money for the
revolution.
Chief OF Police Morris believes the
five who have confessed are expert.
enced yeggmen. Besides their com.
munist party affiliations, he declares,
they are members Of the /. w. w. as
we'll In this connection he points to
recent news dispatches alleging a
merger between the two communist
parties and the !. w. w. for a cam.
paign of sabotage.
There is no Doubt as to .heir in
tentions,' he said. "They planned 10
wreck that train-and they would
have done it,
Special Agent Loula, over the long
distance telephone. said that 20 pounds
Of dynamite, 10 automatic pistols and
six automatic rifles had been found in
homes occupied by the men arrested
A complete counterfeit plant. for
making silver dollars and half dollars
that had been used. was also taken in
one Of the homes. Loot, consisting
principally Of typewriters, eomptome-
tiers and other office equipment, val.
ned at $4,000 was also taken.