The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1875-10-04
THE MINERS, CoSsPIRACH rRIAL.
Jchn siney's Testimony In his own Behalf
Asserting that His Influence was Exert
ed TO Euppresa. not to CreaIe, Disorder.


CLEARFfELD, Pa.. Oct. 2.-To-day Siney
took the stand aud testified that the purpose OF
his visit was, In conf lance with the require
men's Of the Constitution Of the Miners Nation
al Union, to ascertain the actual condition OF
affairs, and whether the strikers were entitled
to receive pecuniary assistance from the Union.
He enphatlcally contradicted the testimony Of
the iacendiary character OF his speeches, assert
ing that his ad dvlce.and influence were to repress
disorder, and that, upon realizing bis efforts
were unavainng, he was preparing to leave
the region, after a three days visit, when
he was arrested. He testified that In
his speech at Houtsdale, upon his arrival In
that region he said he was opposed 10 the strike,
and II never ought to have bcen entered into;
that the men should he extremely careful not
to violate the law, as the importation OF Italians
and Others with no mining experience, and who
could not mine coal without loss, was part OF a
scheme of the operators to exhaust the funds
Of the strikerr In paving the fares OF new
comefs back again, and to eoad them to dee
peraie acts. which would bring troops among
which he was President. He offered TO go to
0oss Run alone TO keep strikers from going
there to interfere with blacklees, and onally
went along with the crowd, 50 as to plcify them
there. lie had the discussion with Mine owner
Fisher as to whether the road on which the
property, and he was on one Of the commi tees
that unsuccessfuly interviewed the blacklees
to get them to leave He denied that bo said to
the crowd, Come on, boys, this Is public prop.
erty," or was In front when the crowd assalied
the boarding houses but told some Of them
they we're doing wrong, and that he appre-
hended that they would get IN trouble for II.
The next morning, to crowd of citizens who
had met near MOshannon to induce the men
there to join thom, he said. addressing some Of
the Moshannon men. he supposed they were
he had noticed on the railroad some Phiadel-
phia and Reading Railroad cars that ought TO
on strike. lie did not ask the Moshannon men
10 go along and bring the sterling men out, but
what he said W 3 that, as II was reported that
tho sterling men would come out ~ the
Moshanon men did the latter should go
not true, the Moshannon men should go to work
also, that some would not be idle while
Others worked There was no disorder or
threats. He then vent to Sterling with the
crowd, and seeing the possibility Of trouble,
left. after cautOning the men, and Others vito
them, about their turbulent disposition. lie
went to Houtsdale that afternoon to leave the
region, but meeting joyce, one OF the defend
ants convicted at the former trial, was pre-
vailed upon by him TO attend miners demon
straIon to come on at Nutbal's switch.
A processi" n and there met Parks for Inc ir,t
time In the region. The Moinsdale men not
| coming TO the meeting, as expected commit
tee was sent to their mine. wncte, a. one Of the
committee. Sincy criticised the treacheiy of the
men in continuing to w"rs after having voted
| pull together with the rest. Several votes were
taken v the men uusatisfactorlly, and Parks
made a speech upon tnt necessity " the men
| ct,ng III concert with the other miners, urging
| the adv nee a. duo t1em, and contrasting their
/ novels with the Uhllft@ OF tnNif employers. y
| final vote resulted In favor uf quitting work.
| Siney then went back to Phiilipsburg with the
| in ention OF leaving tho county nnd was there
| arrested and gave bail.
| AppIehending thnt MS Parks was supposed 10y
many TO be stll 10 jail, the news of his own ar
rest wOuld further cxHeperate the men, he went
| up the next morning to Houtsdale 70 advise the
| men against beirR either excited or DISCOURAGED.
| i be sheriff having applied TO him for that pur
| pose, he there assisted that otficer IN making
| arrests. The same dsy, In IA speech to the Iiti-
| zeps of Houtzdaie upon the conspiracy laws OF
the State, Siney complained that, white under
! the laws the shooting Of hiehwayman Or burg
| lar in defence OF ones property or life was
| justi1abe, he and his associates were held
| amenable TO the law II they merely went TO rea-
| with men who came among them TO take the
| bread ana butter from their plates.
An offer nv the defence to show that under
the usage OF the national association strikes are
never resorted to until after arbitration and
ncgoti ,tion through committees have failed and
that all other peaceful and lawful means for OBJ
tanning TIE purpose - the ,;,inc are discoun-
tenanced Oy II. was objected to and oyerruled.
| number OF witnesses substantiated Slnoy' $
testimony.