The Portland daily press., 1877-11-09
United States Circuit Court

THURsDAY.-United States by Indictment vs. G 60,
W. Stevens, George W. Keep, Warren II. Walker,
Charles A. Stevens, Benjamin Written, Taylor S.
Dodge, Henry G. Mills and Edward Merrill
superintendent Furber's testimony continued For
several days after the strike crowds were about the
depot causing so much obstruction that 1t was diff
cult to do the business Of the road The engine dis
patcber under my direction attends to the employing
and dscharging of engineers. had orders from the
directors not to discharge the men, but let them
leave they chose to do so. In consequence of the
strike, was obliged to reduce the number of trains
substitutes put in place of strikers also left work
without notice. and were afterwards seen associating
with strikers no train that would be due after four
O'Clock, on the day of the strike, came in on time
Cross Examined-After the 18th day of February,
1877, never saw any of the defendants upon the
grounds or about the depot in Boston exceptI Think
Mr. G. W. Stevens; saw him but once; don't think
either Of defendants worked for three or four days
preceding the strike; began to employ men to take
the place OF strikers week before the strike; had
about sixty men employed, conditionally; some Of
them were about the depot on the 18th; 1 made no
secret OF employing men to substitute in case the old
men should leave; told Stevens two or three days
before strike that didn't want the men to leave but
fthey did, that should fill their places; brought
men to Portland for that purpose on Sunday; said
to the men that it was their right to co. if they could
better their conditions there was no specific contract
with the engineers as to tine.
he-Direct-Had an interview with George W.
Stevens day or two before the strike in the depot
In Boston; told him knew what he was about
that ne was organizing strike that il he thought it
Tor his interest he better go ahead and do it, he said
he could not talk about the matter then.
Re-Cross-Engines might suffer damage from
freezing iflet out doors in the month GOT February
with water not drawn of, and might be damaged by
heat IL fires were not banked.
VIM. Smith, train dispatcher, testified that nu-
merous trains leaving Boston on February 18th in
charge of the regular engineers were not brought
back by the same that other trains being abandoned
by their regular engineers, went out in charge of
new men-some on time, others mott no train then
after o'clock in on time; three trains did not
come in at all; train from Portland did not arrive
till next morning; engineers stopped their engines
at O'clock but some held till g. in these latter the
fires were dumped and water drawn; some of the
engines were delivered up before six; some of them
were disabled in their machinery; only two engineers
previously employed remained on duty; twenty or
thirty new men quit work within two or three DAYS
after the strike Witness testified to several engi-
neers leaving their coats in closet in the round
house. apd after the strike sending for them that
taking them down letter fell out addressed to T. O.
Page; put coats back and new lock on close.
Charles e. Somerby, expert, testified that the
handwriting of the letter is the same as that of the
three papers signed by the Committee of Engineers.
A. K. Paul, expert, testified same as previous wit
ness. Letter excluded by the COURT
Edw. A. Smith, Road Master-got on train az
Saco and rode to Wormwood crossing; heard whis-
tie and the train stopped time about o'clock; went
with conductor, Mr. Wentworth, to the head of the
train and in pursuit of the engine. accompanied by
passengers got near the engine and it started away;
then it Ieturned it moved too fast for us to get
about twenty miles an hour; the conductor swung
his hat; the engineer, Benz Whtten one of the de-
PENDANTS, beekoned to us and ha.ooed, "Stop them
two men and you may come up, Tll receive you.''
We got on and Written told he was going to hold
the engine till O'clock unless he received some Or
ders from the Brotherhood or committee. 1 said,
benjamin, won't you carry us to the depot" he
carried us to within thirty or forty rods OF depot;
then went off mile or SO; the engine was found af-
forwards abandoned-a "dead engine'-that is with
out fire or water.
Charles I. Richards, Postal Clerk on the 18th Of
February left Boston with mails at 8 O'Clock; arrived
at Portland a. M next day; should have arrived at
8p. on the 18th; on the 18th and 14th the mails
were similarly delayed both to and from Boston.
Yesterday much time was occupied by counsel in
arguments as to admissibty of evidence.
Hon. Nathan Webb for .. s.
Col. G. P. MattocKs for
Taylor S. Dodge and Henry G. Mills
A. A. Strout, Esq, and Fl. A. Hayes
for the other defepdanfs