A GRIM CONSPIRACY

Taranaki Daily News, 11 October 1916, Page 4

A GRIM CONSPIRACY

TO CAUSE HAVOC AND DESTRUCTION.

RECENT SYDNEY FIRES.

DUE TO DESPERATE I.W.#. GANG*

Rec.ivcd Oct. 10, 0.30 p.m. Sydney, Oct. 18; Startling revelations in ft gigantW conspiracy to cause havoq ' indi destruction and endanger the Hyei of the people were made at the opening of the treason charges against twelve members of the 1.W.W., namely, Charles Reeve (a native of England), Thomas Glynn (Ireland), Peter Larkin (Ireland), John Hamilton (Victoria), Bernard Besant (England), Donald McPherson (Scotland), William Teen (Tasmania), William Beatty (England), Norris Fagen (Russia), Donald Grant (Scotland), Thomas Moore (New Zealand), John King (Canada).

Besides the allegations of treason, the accused were further charged with con* spiring to burn down buildings in Byd' noy nnd elsewhere by means of phosphorous, inflammable material in order to intimidate and overawe the Statu Government.

The Crown Prosecutor, in outlining the ease, said the charges had arisen over a series of city fires which, if successful, would have caused damage of at least a million, The evidence would show attempts had been made to place difficulties in the way of fire brigades stopping the outbreaks. The associates of accused were th« notorious, German escapees from the internment camp. How far German in. fluence had affected the fires it wa* im< possible to show, but the tactics adopted were pleasing to the enemy, Tli» I.W.W. adopted a deliberate system ol sabotage, in order to force the Govern* ment to release Barker, of the I.W.W. The fires commenced on June 1, and aimed at a building owned by the Government, further it was alleged that the object was to force the Government* to abandon its conscription policy. Many fires occurred after Mr. Hughes' declaration. On the very day of his speech the Co-operative Stores weri ablaze, due to one of accused. Another declared he was prepared to bum down Sydney, and that it would cost capitalists/ £IO,OOO for each day Barker was imprisoned. It was believed the organisation had started ten fires, including Winn's, Simpson's, Mark Foy's, Stedman's, Riley Bros.', Brown's fnrniture warehouse, Beard's, Watson'B, Bums, Philp and Co.'s wharf, Buckingham's, and Brennan's (Newtown).

The evidence would show how an Austrian participated in drawing lots to carry out the. plans. , The Austrian then indicated which places to attempt to destroy. ' "'.