Rensselaer Republican, Volume 20, Number 45, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 July 1888 — ALLEGED DYNAMITE PLOT. [ARTICLE]

ALLEGED DYNAMITE PLOT.

Four Men Arrmltd on n Charge of Conspiracy to Destroy C., B. A Q. Property. Thomas Broderick and James Bowles, members of the Hxgttierhood of Locomotive Engineers, and another,man named Wilson, were arrested on a Chicago,Burlington &■ Quincy train, Thursday afternoon, brought to Chicago and lodged in the county jail under bonds of $5,000 each, charged with conspiring to destroy that company’s property. They had a considerable quantity of dynamite in their possession when arrested. It is stated that the Burlington Company has had a large force of detectives engaged for a long time in watching the movements of the strikers. Several so-called “agitators,” whose movements corresponded with some of the past attempts upon the company’s property, were put under special surveillance. It was discovered that dynamite was used in several unsuccessful attempts to wreck trains within the past few months. The principal suspects were not allowed te make a move, day or night, without being under the watchful eye of the officers. It was impossible at first to locate the dynamite, but the officials of the “Q” assert that positive information was finally received Thursday that it wag the day chosen for a grand attack upon the company’s property. The officials are very reticent regarding their ... source of information, but the .plot is known to them, and they admit that, besides a definite plan to blow up trains upon the tracks by means of dynamite cartridges, it included the possibility of an attack upon the depot property and magnificent office building here. The officials say that if the danger had not been so imminent, they would have allowed the conspirators to go on and further criminate themselves but the plot had reached a stage where it was necessary to take decisive steps to prevent great destruction of property, not to say loss of human lives. The train had barely started when the officers sapped the men on the shoulders and made them prisoners. The men had taken off their coats, and under the two coats, lying between Boderick and Wilson upon the seat was an in-nocent-looking package wrapped in ,a newspaper. When he had captured this Detective McGuinty’slook of triumph quickly vanished as he realized the possible danger of its contents. While they were putting the bracelets on the prisoners, Broderick quickly snatched a letter from his pocket and threw it out of the window. McGuinty sprang to the bell rope and stopped the train. Running back along the track he found the letter.'- "ik'ig 1 now In" the possession of District Attorney Ewing. He refuses to reveal its contents, but General Manager Stone intimated that its contents gave important information regarding the plot. J. A, Bauerpisen, of Aurora, was also arrested, with J. Q. Wilson making the fourth. A valise was taken from Bowles, and several letters and papers. These were taken in the District Attorney’s office, with the newspaper package, and the latter was then for the first time examined. It was found to contain four dynamite cartridges, each about ten inches long and an inch and a quarter square. These were fitted with a small fuse to each, and Mr. Rhodes estimated that each contained about a pound of dynamite. In Broderick's pocket, in a purse, minating caps. All the men claimed they knew nothing of a plot. The men were taken before the U. 8. Commissioner and held to bail. The Brotherhood claim not to know the men, but are mak. ing an investigation.