Among these targets of the Thirty was the family of Cephalus, who is the host of the gathering portrayed in Plato’s Republic. Cephalus was a foreigner from Syracuse who had migrated to Athens at the invitation of Pericles. His family ran a large arms factory, making shields. After Cephalus’ death his son Polemarchus inherited the family business. Socrates was evidently a close friend of the family. The Thirty now issued arrest warrants for ten prominent foreigners, including Polemarchus (a prominent character in Plato’s Republic) and his brother Lysias (who was later to become a famous speech writer). Lysias himself tells his story in a speech he delivered in a trial held after the fall of the Thirty, in which he accused Eratosthenes of crimes against Lysias’ family.
While Lysias was entertaining guests at his house, guards arrived from the Thirty, driving out the guests and arresting Lysias. Lysias offered a bribe to Peison, the member of the Thirty in charge of the arrest, who answered that he would help if Lysias made it worth his while.