Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1877-11-28

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A DESPATCH from Pittsburg, on the
Goth inst, gives the pith Of the Pre-
sentiment of the Grand Jury of that
place on the July riots, thus:
After calling attention to the fact
that the matter was specially given
them IN charge, they state that they
were met by an unexpected impedi-
ment IN the refusal of the State Off
cials to testify. The refusal" say
they, ''of those who wrought the mis-
chief reduces the scope OF our in
vestigation within very narrow limits. -
The report then speaks of the origin
of the trouble here, which was the
discomfort brought about among rail
road men by reduction of wages,
In which common cause was made
through secret organizations, extend
ing through several States and over
many thousands of miles of railroads.
The jury then give an account of the
Sheriffs action, and are of the opin-
ion that he had not exhausted his
power before calling upon the mill
tary, although this, they say, is Il
question they are not called upon to
decide. The authorship of the proc
lamation which was issued in Cover
nor Hartranft's name, or the author
ity for it. they have been unable to
trace beyond the Pennsylvania Rail
road depot. The Governor certainly
did not authorize 1t, as he was slum-
bering in his special car near Salt
Lake City. The document then pro-
ceeds as follows: Before any COLI
sion occurred the Pennsylvania Rail
road officials We're importuned not to
attempt harsh measures. On Satur-
day the crowd was augmented by
reason OF the suspension of work III
the numerous mills AZ noon. and Sun
day, another idle day, following,
would further add to the excitement ::
but sad fatality seemed to attend
these councils, and orders were given
to clear the tracks. This was accom-
plished, when a pistol shot was fired
from the crowd and some stones were
thrown at the Philadelphia soldiers.
The testimony is conclusive and over
whelming that without orders from
the commanding officers, the sol
diers commenced to fire at the crowd
and before they could be checked.
the firing resulted in the immediate
death of 10 citizens. The Coroner's
report gives % deaths On Saturday
and Sunday. This was the unauthor-
lied, willful and wanton killing by the
private soldiers which the inquest
can call by no milder term than muir
der. The jury lays great emphasis
on this chapter of the tragedy, as it
was the beginning of the riot. Speak
ing Of the Philadelphia troops in the
round-house and the dispersement of
the Fourteenth and Nineteenth Regi-
ments in a denoralized condition,
they say the whole military operation
from first to last was blunder, and
exhibited pitiable absence of train
ing and executive ability worthy of a
commander-in chief who selects Ma
jor Generals for their political or
social, rather than their military,
qualifications. The occupation of the
round house was a fatal mistake, if
not crime. and invited the mode of
attack resorted to, which was firing
the cars to burn them out The oc-
cupation of the adjacent hill could
have been accomplished before or
after the fire without loss, and the
hill held against any odds. The jury
speak of the retreat of General Brin
ton from the ound-house, and of the
flight of the State officials to Beaver.
They deny the allegation that the al
legation that the citizens were in SYM
pathy with the mob, and say they
stopped the fire and restored order.
They deplore the fact that a military,
rather than police force, was brought
into conflict with the mob; and
speaking of the question of liability,
reject the doctrine that the city or
county should pay for damages in
ficted by mob which was excited to
violence by the unlawful acts of the
State military.
In conclusion they say:
This completes review of the
events we have been instructed to in
quire into, and that it is not more
precise is due to the fact that the
Grand Jury has been thwarted openly
and privatelyin its endeavors by those
to whom the whole truth should have
been a welcome vindication. Its sup
preston compels the opposite con-
clusion. The final incident remains,
and that is the arrival here, days after
the people of Pittsburg by their un
aided efforts had suppressed the dis
turbances, of gallant array of citi-
zen soldiery, several thousand in
number, gathered at immense expense
from every part of the Common
wealth, headed by the Commander
in Chief of the Army and Navy of
Pennsylvania, backed by the com
bined military genius and civic lustre
of seven Major Generals and host
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