Evening journal., 1922-09-13
-FOUR
DYNAMITERS
OF R. R. bridge

men continued his Job of protecting
railroad property.
The four men making no effort 10
conceal the dinner pail, again started
for the Fourteenth street bridge, as
they neared the bridge over the
street revolver shots were heard and
the men fearing they might be
caught hurried away.
The shots proved to have been
those fired by Patrolman Hultberg'
who was having some trouble with
alleged strike sympathizers.
on Friday. their fears uncalled
for, the men again started for the
bridge.
Seidle Wanted TO Postpone
Seidle advised a postponement of
the job for another night but he
others were not willing and they
continued their walk toward the
bridge.
While three Of the men stood on
the street nearby keeping watch,
Befany went under the bridge. ac-
cording to his confession. and taking
the box out of the dinner bucket
threw the Ratchet in the grass near
by and placed the box. containing
seventeen sticks Of dynamite under
the bridge.
Just at this time a man and wo-
man passed and the four coDspira-
tors left hurriedly. 1t was their
decided intention to postpone the
job for another night. but fearing
that II they attempted to remove. the
dynamite they might be caught with
It in their possession, or IL they left
it they might have been recognized
by the man and woman, Il was de-
cided to finish the job.
While the others watched Befany
again approached the bridge. and
after fixing a fuse four foot long
to the dynamite he placed It under
a side track, on top Of the stone
abutment,
He had allowed six minutes for
his escape. but the fuse. which he
had lighted from a cigarette he was
smoking, did not go off in hat time.
n he is alleged 10 have said he
had reached his home, a short dis
lance away, and had undressed and
gotten into bed when he heard the
explosion.
All four of the men then returned
and mingled with the rapidly grow
ing crowd.
Wanted TO Win Strike.
In. the alleged confessions it is said
the men have frankly admitted that
they believed the time had arrived
when they were Justified in resort
to any means to win the strike"
md were taking what they consid-
cred the most effective means OF
bringing about their return to work.
They are said TO have admitted
intention OF blowing up not
only the Fourteenth street bridge,
he Bellevue bridge, Todd's Cut, the
roundhouse and the homes OF sew
eral men who had refused to go on
but this morning are said to
have told the detectives where their
surplus stock of dynamite was To-
and where it had been Sc
cured. The men are said to also have
admitted throwing dynamite on the
porch of a house on the west side y
If the city recently damaged by an :
explosion. :
While the trail so far has led TO ;
he arrest OF four men, the alleged :
onfessions of the prisoners has :,
the Detective Bureau much 1
aluable evidence which may inpli-
ate others.
Pratt, who is alleged TO have fur
ished the dynamite. was taken by
detectives Sutton and Kempski this
forming TO Squirrel Run where he
bowed the detectives where he had
ept his stock of dynamite.
Twelve sticks were recovered this
l%orning and carefully removed to
ne Detective Bureau, placed in the
ig iron safe and win be held as evil
ence.
Pratt, It is said. brought the dyna-
lite into town. and the first tests
( the time clock were made at
rats home. The box In which the
ynamite was exploded was made by
and painted green to dis
'uise its contents.
While admitting the possession
Y the dynamite after being con-
ronted with the statements made
" the others, Pratt consented to
% with the detectives and show them
rhere he had It stored.
He claims 1t was given to him in
hree different lots. twentv-nine
ticks in all. Seventeen of the
ticks were used on the Fourteenth
bridge and the remaining VI
welve hidden under the roots OF a
ig tree at Squirrel Run.
The charge of malicious mis-
hief' to the average person would
like a very mild one under the
circumstances, but IL is said under II
law the courts have almost un-
mited powers I'm fixing both fines
nd Imprisonment under such
This was the charge made
ter consulting with Assistant City
Green.
Since the arrest of the alleged dy-
lmiters It has developed that a
rye .pumber of private detectives
been in the city for the past
n days. Some are said TO be acting
"agitators." thus getting into the
,od graces of those out on strike.
lille others are employed as manual
borers on the railroads and in the
Much valuable information
said 10 have been secured by the
e~nnsylvania Railroad in this man
r and will be used when the pres
1t cases are disposed of by the
While the private detectives have
oubtless done good work-here. the