Therefore the operative made daily trips to Colorado Springs, and spent considerable time talking over the 'phone. As the operative was secretary of the union, and an influential member of the strike committee, he was naturally well known to all the men; it was this very prominence which proved his undoing.
Some of the men began to note the daily trips, and a few followed No. 5 and noticed that he talked a great deal over the telephone. As the same thing occurred day after day, the men began to suspect there was something wrong, and in order to satisfy themselves invaded the operative's room at Colorado City, where they found more evidence than they needed; yet, so careful was the operative, that despite a number of papers which the union men found, he could not be connected in any way with the Pinkerton Agency. All he could be accused of was, that he was a paid spotter of Messrs. Hawkins and MacNeill.
When No. 5 returned to his room, he saw at a glance that the game was up, and hurriedly began to pack his belongings for flight. A number of union men who had been watching him entered his room, and told him he was wanted at the union hall. He attempted to remonstrate, but to no avail. He was marched to the union hall amid the hooting and execration of the people, and brought to trial.
The operative vehemently protested his innocence, but the evidence of his guilt was so clear that personal violence would have surely been oflFered nim by the enraged smeltermen, had not Mr. Burr and a few other leaders interfered in his behalf. The union
38 The Pinkerton Labor Spy.
then expelled No. 5, marched him to the depot in a body, and told him to go.
The exposure of the operative made a great stir. When No. 5 arrived in Denver he was met by representatives of the press whom he told of the