Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-09-18
COHEN IN COURT.
Trial for Disorderly Conduct.
His Raid on the Agricultural De
partnent-t'Ommis lie
Due SnubS Him.

leaving the District government buildings
yesterday, and before going to the Treasury,
as reported in THE STAR last evening" pro
ceeded to the Agricultural department, where,
ing and into the presence of Commissioner
Cook aside.
FORCED INTERVIEW WITH COMMISSIONER
LIE DUO.
sharp co!loquy took place between the iu-
trudelS and Commissioner LIE Due. who was
naturally Indignant at the manner in which
an intel view had been forced upon him. In
answer to his remOnstrances some OF the
party retCT.ed that he was ''the servant of the
people, and that they, the axpayers, owned
there How much taxes do you men pay?'
We pay taxes on the clothes we wear, the
vlctuals we eat the tobacco we smoke, and
even the match to light it, said one. The
commissioner being asked if he would work
for $l.z5 per day, said: 3" Yes, If could get no
more ! have worked for eighteen cents a
Cohenite. g But did live on it, 80 he said, and
am only getting more now because was vii
ling to work for what ages could get, and
men to work for eighteen cents day?" asked
one OF the delegates. "If they can't earn any
more, said he.
ment where they had the interview with Sec
rotary Sherman reported in yesterdays STAR,
and afterwards moved on to the office of the
Secretary of the Interior, but got no hearing
from the officials there. They afterwards
wandered about in the northern portion of
the city followed by detail of policemen and
where they rested and soon afterwards were
dismissed by Cohen, who notified them tn it
there would be meeting there last night.
ARREST OF COHEN
He was unable to meet his followers there
however, as Detectives Miller and McElfreSh,
who held a warrant sworn out by Officer r.
II. Cook, of the Agricultural department.,
that department, took him into custody at his
quarters on New Jersey avenue, and he was
locked up last night at the 18th precinct station.
filed in the police court by Mr.. Riddle, attor-
ney for the district. charging Cohen with
gathering crowd, obStructing the passage
way and creating disorder at the Agricultural
bureau, setting forth that Cohen, on the 18th
OF Septem Der, at the entrance of the Agricul-
tural building, engaged in loud and bOiSter0uS
talking. and did so crowd and abstract the
foot pavement and the entrance to the Agri-
cultural building as to prevent free passage,
and with others assembled there made b5is
ferrous, rude and insulting comments on per-
sons passing and in their hearing.
IN THE POLICE COURT.
This morning there was an extra large at
tendance at the Police Court in anticipation
OF the trial OF Cohen, and during the morning
the crowd patiently awaited the disposition OF
the usual lot of. cases. Cohen was brought to
the court this morning with the other prison.
ers from the seventh precinct and lodged in
the cell below, and when the corporation cases
were called he was brought up with the others
TO the dock; but the case having been post
pOned until after the U. S. cases were disposed
OF, he was returned TO the cells. In the mean
time there were many of Cohen's followers
about the court room, and in j judiciary square
there were small gangs of men hanging about,
supposed to be his followers, awaiting his re-
District, and bis assistant, Mr.. Padgett, ap.
peared, and Cohen was brought out. He
looked rather faded, and his neck was
wrapped in white handkerchief. He eyi.
IDENTIFY did not like the accommodations at the
court, Tor on coming out he remarked to MIR.
Boston, bailiff OF the court, You must have
served four four years in hell to qualify you for
Mr.: ThOs j. Durant appeared as counsel
for Cohen, and on the warrant being read
Cohen plead not guilty.
THE TESTIMONY.
The first witness called was Richard III.
Cook, special officer OF the Metropolitan Police,
on duty in the Agricultural grounds, to the
effect that yesterday about 111 O'Clock from
building, and Cohen, after calling on them to
" dress up, picked out number and started
to 60 in the building Witness told him that
the man ! have come to see, and by G-f'ii
see him." land turning to his men. pushing
witness aside,) said Come on They
d taGn rushed d III ng Tor the the sawsys s
pass back and forth. Cohen appeared
to be in command. The crowd came uD
in double file, and extended 200 yards. Cross
ID
OF - from the ranks to 90 in, and showed wit
ness out OF the way. Never saw as large a
mob there before. Had met excursion parties
manner from these parties. This crowd
looked to him like mOb-Some with shOyels
tin buckets and sticks. Did not hear any OBJ
scene language, but heard loud language in
The Commissioners room, but could not hear
what was said. Witness did not offer to ar
rest Cohen because afraid it would bring on
MIR. +. B. May testified that he saw the crowd
when they came up; Cook tried to keep them
out, but they rushed past him, Cohen saying
Tome on. men" About twenty came in and
examined by Mr.. Durant.-Did not see Cohen
strike the officer, nor did he hear an oath
witness was not interrupted in the discharge
Mr.. 0. d. La Dow testified that he was sec.
rotary to the Commissioners, and was asked
what he heard in the Commissioners room.
MI Durant objected that under the infOr
MIR. Riddle claimed that the law in question
was extended to include public buildings
The Court ruled that the question could be
asked, and he would rule 1t in or out before
the final disposition OF the case.
Mr.. LeDuc continued: His attention was at
a crowd, with Cohen at the head. They
halted, faced the building, and in a little time
there were noises of disturbance in the hail
room. Gen. LeDuc said: What does this
mean? Cohen answered that it was com
mittee of 100, and handed him an en-
velope. The Commissioner said he would
read the resolutions at his leisure. There was
no disposition to leave, and the Commissioner
asked them to leave and directed that assist
ance be summoned and the halls cleared
lhey then commenced to talk about wages
and asked II they were paying iabOrerS $50
and the answer was given that they were and
also below that sum. When the Commissioner
spoke of clearing the halls Cohen said. HAIi
right, bring ON your police and We'll see
whether you will clear us out Or not" They
were there about half an hour, aud some ladies
were excited and appeared frightened, and
there was some interruption of the ordinary
business.
Capt. j. U. Hiltz, superintendent of the fold.
Ing room, testified that he saw the crowd i'm
front heard the orders halt, front dress up"
&c.; saw Cohen come up with Is or 20. Cook
tried to keep them out, when Cohen showed
him aside and told the men to follow. They
prevented him from tranSacting his business
with the chief clerk, which was important.
John L. Bailey testified that he had charge
OF the files room; testified that he saw the
crowd and it halted In front of the building,
Cohen and Is or more swept in past the police.
men, Cohen saying OF the commissioner "He's
the man we want to see," and rushed into the
commissioners room unannOunced, raising
some excitement. Cohen then spoke to the
commissioners as to the labOrers pay, and Co.
hen said. "DOnft y0u knnW lah,ripe man nan