St. Paul Daily Globe

CHICAGO MYSTERIES.

Gigantic Police Conspiracy Alleged to Exist.

Chicago, Jan. 4.—A morning paper publishes a sensational story professing to give the inside history of a couple of raids by the police upon meetings of alleged anarchists in November last. The first was by Inspector Hubbard upon a meeting at West Twelfth Street Turner hall, where he compelled the leaders to display the American flag prominently upon the platform. The next, a couple of days later, was by Inspector Lewis, who raided Grief's hall, broke into a couple of rooms occupied by labor organizations and destroyed some property in the alleged search for incriminating documents. A number of men were also arrested. The cases against them were very weak, and the city was content to have the fines assessed against them in the police court remitted; but the arrested men were not satisfied and appealed to the higher court for vindication. The societies all presented bills to the city for the loss of property sustained, and the bills were paid.

The alleged inside history as given this morning is to the effect that soon after the Haymarket riot in 1886, which led to the death of a number of policemen and the hanging of four of the anarchists, a secret meeting of 300 wealthy citizens was held, at which an organization was formed to help stamp out anarchy. The story goes on to say that at that meeting over $100,000 in money was raised and turned over to a committee to use at its discretion for the purpose in view. No report on that or any subsequent contribution was made, but the understanding was that it was used to inspire vigilance on the part of the police.

It is related that these contributions, ranging from $140,000 to $50,000 annually, in the aggregate nearly $500,000, were paid without question till last October, when the committee called a meeting of the contributors, explained that it had not spent any of the last assessment, about $60,000; that anarchy appeared to be dead, and that there seemed to be no further use for the organization. This met the views of the meeting, and it was resolved to make no more contributions. This, the story goes on to say, was not satisfactory to the police, who had been beneficiaries of the fund, and they set to work to convince the members of the disbanded society that anarchy was still alive and active, with the raids as the result. It is not charged that the inspectors who made the raids were in the conspiracy, and Chief of Police McClaughrey is exonerated from all blame in the matter.