, 1873-04-19
4 TRAUEB-UNION MURDER,

VI "uJ too pol0ly, on thl8 anbjccE.
4 TRADEB-UNIoN MURDER.
Tho murdorous spirit that actuatod tho riotous
iron-pudd1ors ut Knightsyilo, Ind, has boon
found among the ahoemakera of Cincinnati
who arc associated under tho gonoric na1no Of tho
Knights Of st. Crispin. At an inquest hold in
TINT city OH Wednesday oyor tho body Of man
nanlod Michael Rcarlon. It was shown, beyond
reasonable doubt, tl,at tho man had bcen boaton
to death by this association. His ofrenuo waB
that OF earning All honoBt living for himself and
that of his family in d mannor that was not
pleasing to tho craft OF which ho had
onco been nomber. The eyidence showed
that Reardon had t,gico associated him
lRolf with tho Knighta OF st. Crispin, aud
lad twice loft them because ho could not keep
priving his family Of tho nocessarios of life.
Hia widow testified boforel tho Coronors jury
that her husband "loft tho Crispins twico bo-
cause thoy o1tortcd 80 mitch money Ao could not
afford It," Aftor abandoning tho organization
ilo went to work in d "scab Bllop,-tlat is, for
fr1n TINT did not employ union mon. There
upon tho Crispins expelled him, aH they lad
right to do. But their rancor did not stop ut
this Some time after, Reardon was nttaeked on
the street, about 10 o'clock In tho night, BY two
ruilianH, ono Of whom lo recognized aa a
man named Grace, a prominent member
OF tho order Of Crispins, md another
whom Neardon Ind not the opportunity
OF recognizing. Grace wns largo, powerful
man, and he soized neardon by tho arnls In such
n way as to rondor him helploss. Thon Grace
and his companion plmmolod, and Kicked aud
chokcd their victim to their hoarts' contout.
Reardon crawled home where ho mado q diving
statement to hin wife, and, about az o'clocl,
on Taeslay morning, expired from tic Objects Of
the blows and wounds which ho had received.
Tho man lad been literally maulod to death.
Roardon himsolf attributed hts doat], to tho
CriHpins. lIo at first concealed from his wife tho
extent Of Ills injuries, and, IN his dying
statement, told her that ho had done 10
because "ho didn't want to giyc tile Crispins
that much satisfaction AZ to sond for Doctor"
The nun Graco had attacked Reartlon fog days
before, without proyocation, aud had then giyon
him q sevore beating. It doos not appear that
thero WA any personal controversy botwoen
Rearlon and draco. On the contrary, a brother
OF Roardop, who still remained membor of The
Crlspn Society, and who was not Oh good tcrms
with tho murdered man, testified that ho had
heard wish expressed in tho society meetings
that Michael Rcardon might DO made to lcavo
Cosgroye'a shop. THO decoased and Ills wlfo
beloved both attacks to have been prompted by
tho CriBpins al means to force 1ioardon out OF
tho "Bcab7' shop back Into tho union. All tho
circumstances point III the aame direction. Tho
attack was made by two mon, and wns of q na-
turo to Indicate that thoro was no intention to
murder Roardon, bnt to boat him a.ttlicontly to
teach him and others like lin, TINT thoy could
not safely disregard the regulations of tho craft,
It tho riot in Indiana and the murder Of Michael
Roardon in Cincinnati aro followed, aa thoyshould
bo, by tho prompt punishment Of tho ma1ofac-
tors, tho tradcs-uniona may 10 taught to aban-
don somo Of thols present rulca and practicos,
II tho associations did not actually order tho at
tackH, tho customs which they maintain led to
tlons, mud aro responsible for thon1. They
assume acspotio power not only oyor their own
mombera, but also oyor those who do not belong
to their HociotioB. They dictate to tlolr n,embors
wharo thoy sl,all work, and wloro they shall not
work. They say to all mon who refuse to Join
tho!r combinations, that they shall not work at
ALL This Ii clasB-tyranny Of tho most absolute
kind. Being opposed to law, 1t can only 10
maintained by mob violence Or midnight assas-
aination. II this country Is good for anything it
Is because 1t protects overy man in tho right 10
earn his broad by any honest means which may
suit his own iuoliuatlons When tLo trados-
unions declare that mon may labor ut suoE taeks.
In suot places, and for such time only as thcy
may dlotato, tAoy array themselves against luz
tice, and ean only hopa to enforce their dictum
by riding oyor and riding down tho rights Of their
fellows, In defiance Of every law, human or d.
vino. 80 fur as the unona arc combinations for
advancing the intorosts Of their class In lawful
manner, they may be. and gencrally arc, useful
agencies. But when they become organized ooa-