The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-03-11
PRICE TWO CENTS.
W0RKINGMEN PRISONERS.
THIRTY-NINE CRIsPINs BEFORE
JUDGE GILDERSLEEYE
Wholesale Arrests under an Indictments
Found upon the supreme Court Decisior
In the Case of The People AGAINST Fisher.

Wholesale Arrests under an Indictment
Found upon the supreme Court Decision
In the Case of Tho People AGAINST Fisher.
On Thursday the Grand Jury, on the
complaint OF Hannah & Redlsh OF 35 Warren
street and other employing shosmakers, found
an Indictment against some Knights OF st. Girls
pin, charging conspiracy to defraud trade and
commerce." Thirty-nine bench warrants we're
served by many policemen before the OPEN
ing OF the General Sessions yesterday, and the
prisoners were marched in body from the city
Hall police station to tho court room, each Cris-
pin accompanied by police officer. The march,
Ing column was viewed with interest by loungers'
there, and by many friends Of the prisoners.
Inc byst tanders loudly applauded as the prison.
building. and this manifestation Of sympathy
was responded to By them with subdued cheers.
c,s, oOi' CnarIes >; spencer, counsel for the so
ing formal arragnment, had n plea Of not
guilty entered for all. with leave to Withdraw u
as TO any, upon nling special plea, II he should
desire to do 40. He said that II was evident thai
conviction upon the indictment could not be
procured against the socletv's membership in
discriminatory and as the prisoners were work.
ingmen, with families to support, and were not
at all likely to 90 out Of the Jurisdiction OF the
court, he moved that thoy be liberated upon
their own recognizances until tho court was
ready to try them.
Assistunt District Attorney Russell opposed
this motion, saying that while no was willing that
men actually at work and not intimidatlng and
mnltrcating non-society men, should be released
upon nominal bail, he should insist that tho
prisoners who belonged to another Gloss should
be he Id until they gave substantial bail.
judge Gtdersleeve suggested that Col. Spen-
Ger and Mr.. Russell should confer and " post
ble agree upon classhatiOn OF the prisoners,
saying that he would entertain a motion upon
the subject OF bail at any time. This was as
senied to, and the counsel and the friends Of
the prisoners were busy arranging about the
bail throughout the day. by night all the men
were either released upon their several recoQ-
$1,000.
The indictment Is founded upon the decision
OF the Supreme Court In the case of The People
against Fisher and others (Crispins). the frat
case renortcd In IA N. Y. Supreme Court Re-
ports. lhe supreme Court then distinctly nf-
hrned the proposition that the members OF a
traces union, when they resort to measures Of
Intimidation and commit an overt act, are
chargeable with conspiracy to dcfraud and
hinder commerce. Mr. Russell says 1t Is rot the
purpose Of the prosecution to do moro than
protect non-society men from molestation and
persecution.
On the Other hand, tho Crispins disavow any
purpose to Interfere with fellow workmen who
have not joined them In their strike. and they,
as body, dcprecate the violence Of few indi-
vlduals, who. they say, should bO held account
able for their own acts. They know Of no acts
OF violence committed bv any member Of their
society," and their rules not only forbii all illegal
measures, but prescribe fines and expulsion for
members who violate them.