berkman had gained fame (or infamy) for his part in the july 1892 attempted assassination of henry clay frick, the manager of the carnegie steel company who in the previous month had emerged victorious in the bitter and violent homestead strike of the company's steel works at homestead, pennsylvania. jailed for his failed attempt at political murder, berkman was only released in may 1906, having served 14 years in prison for his crime. berkman's joining of the editorial staff of "mother earth" was thus in the nature of a reunion.