Investigation and Protection reports

tale of adventure; that I considered it good business, simply as a matter to have on file, to give them a little serious consideration, and use him as an informant in connection with the I.W.W. activities; that he would not be in our employ but would be employed by a man whom I would later introduce to him, that he should not come to the office, but should write his reports and mail them instead, and if any conferences were to be had, it would be made possible by appointment.

Reported-M Salt Lake 11/27/15

Informant No. 1 Reports: Salt Lake, Utah, Sat., November 27, 1915.

Today I went over to the I.W.W. meeting hall on west Temple St. and there met Rieder, Brennan, Secy.Rowan and Jack O'Leary. We went into the back room of the hall and talked for about two hours. O'Leary was the first one to speak and said, "When in hell are we going to get busy about the job we were foiled on?" Rieder than said they were getting things arranged and that it would not be for a few days, for he and the rest of the I.W.W. were waiting to hear from a couple of fellow workers from Chicago wouldbe here in a day or so, then they would get down to the fine points. I then said to Rieder that if anything was going to be pulled off again, to be a little more careful and let me know in time, that I did not think that they dealt square with me the last time. I meant by that that they did not let me know that the job was up. Rieder then said it was a g--- d---- shame the way I was stuck in one place and no one even let me know how the whole affair came out. O'Leary said that he let me know by lighting a match, and I told him that by lighting a match I thought it was the signal for me to get ready. Secy. Rowan said that he would fix the signals the next time so that no one would forget. Brenan wanted to know what kind of a bomb was going to be used and Rieder spoke up and said that was a thing to be decided when the other fellow got in Salt Lake. Secy. Rowan then said that we had better adjourn for tonight, because he had some other things to attend to, saying that he had to go to a meeting where some ladies were. The following is a description of Brennan:

Height 5 ft. 7 1/2 or 8, weight 150 lbs., dark complexion, black hair, brown eyes, wore blue serge suit, black soft hat, black long overcoat Socialist

Following is a description of O'Leary:

Height 5 ft. 8 1/2, weight 180 lbs., medium complexion, light blue eyes, short brown hair, blue pants, dark gray coat, soft hat. I.W.W. Agitator

I will get the residence address of these men, also the description of the others.

Reported-M Salt Lake 12/15

L.M. Reports:

Salt Lake, Utah, Saturday, November 27, 1915.

Today Mr. Hedberg, the man I have been calling Hederick, left the house at 7:00 A.M. I asked him if he had located a job, and he said "No, I haven't been trying to this morning. I went out to see some friends." He said that it was easy to visit, but this was business, and he had to see the man before he went to work. He left again at 8:00 A.M. and on his return, stayed at home all day.

In the evening a friend whom I did not get acquainted with, went to Hedberg's room, stayed a few minutes, then went out. Hedberg told me that he came to notify him and Johnson of a surprise party that was to be held at the Larson home in the southern part of town. Johnson went, but Hedberg said he would rather spend the evening at the Orpheum, so we went to the Orpheum Theatre. Mrs. McConnell said that two men called to see Hedberg while we were out and one called on the phone. Mr. Johnson said they were all very disappointed to think that Hedberg refused to come. Hedberg said they were giving parties all the time and one got tired of going, but they were expecting some friends from the east and were going to give them a reception and we would both go to that, but these little home parties got old quick.

Reported-M Salt Lake 11/30/15

L. M. Reports:

Salt Lake, Utah, Sunday, November 28, 1915.

Today I went to the Swedish Temperance Society's meeting with Hedberg and Johnson. At the meeting they read from Swedish books, and all of their preaching and singing was in Swedish. There was only one stranger to me, there, a Mr. Hogan from Midvale. There was no talk of the Hillstrom case whatever, but after Hedberg and I arrived home, we were talking about the threats that were still being made on the Governor's life. He said that these threats were all coming from Detective Agencies; that as long as Governor Spry is scared and hires guards to protect himself and property of the State, these threats will continue to come, for it means money to the Detectives and some of the I.W.W., as they stand in together; that when Spry gets a little bold and feels safe from any harm, he lets out a few detectives; then when the detective agencies send another threat, Spry has fear for his life, and gives the detectives their jobs back again. He said that detectives and I.W.W. framed these threats together and were both benefited by Spry's heeding them; that they will continue to come as long as he will hire these detectives and guards; that as far as the threats are concerned, it is all bosh, for if the I.W.W. were planning destruction to anything, he would know something about it, as he had worked with the Committee from the beginning; that it was the good paying jobs they were after.

Reported-M Salt Lake 11/30/15

L. M. Reports:

Salt Lake, Utah, Monday, November 29, 1915.

Hedberg went to Ogden today to look for work, so I did not see him as he came in late.

Mr. Johnson was telling me, today, how the I.W.W. came in here from Chicago, San Francisco, Seattle, New York and North and South Dakota. He said they came here about the first of October and had the stuff to work with too; that they had planned to do a lot of damage to the city, but Rowan told them that if they did anything it would spoil things, and after a hard time of it, he persuaded them to leave town, or at least most of them; that there are still a few here.

Johnson said that Hedberg would not need a job for some time, if he had not spent so much of his money in the Hillstrom case; that he, Johnson, had not taken such an active part in the matter so he did not know much about it, only what Hedberg had told him.

Reported-M Salt Lake 12/8/15