Iron County register., 1886-05-27
TURNED LOOSE,

The Grand Jury Refuse to Indict the Depu.
ty Sheriffs Who Took Part in the Cahokia
Bridge Massacre, and They are Released
BY Order of the Court-An Indignation
Meeting-Approval By Conservative Citl-
zens.
BELLEvILLE, ILL.,, May 20.-The sensa
tion of the day at Belleville yesterday Y
was the discharge of the Louisville &
Nashville special deputies, by order of
Judge Snyder, to whom the grand jury
made report refusing to find bill of in
dictment against them. Judge Watts ar
rived from Nashville on the morning
train for the purpose of hearing the ha-
beas corpus proceedings which had been
instituted in their behalf, but took
no action in the matter, as he was in
formed what action the grand jury
had taken. During the afternoon hand
bills were circulated on the streets call
ing for an Indignation meeting at the
courthouse for eight O'Clock last night,
at which addresses were to be made by
Alexander Flanagan, of East st. Louis,
and others. The action of the grand jury
is generally approved, and a number of
prominent citizens called on the mayor
to request him to forbid the holding of
the Indignation meeting. He decided
not to interfere, but took steps to pre-
vent any disorderly or riotous proceed
inGS. The released deputies left for
their homes last evening.
About three hundred men assembled in
front of the Courthouse and were called
to order by Charles Nesbit, who intro
duced Mr.. Flanagan as the orator of the
evening. He commenced his address by
stating that he had consented to speak
upon condition that the meeting was to
)e an orderly one, and he cOunseled the
labOrinG men never to resort to
the Winchester rife in defending
their rights or redressing their griev-
ances, but to do so by means of
their ballots. He then stated the object
of the meeting to be to denounce the
murdcrers free, and in effect had told
them to do it again. He said he did not
desire to direct the vengeance of his
audience against any man or men, and he
hoped that no lawlessness would char
acterlZe the meeting. His address,
which lasted an hour, was di-
rected mainly to q denunciation of
the railroad corporations, claiming that
they controlled st. Clair County, and al
though they might conspire against the
laboriDg man, yet they could not be
IedCHeu Dy lnUlCImcnG, Wnllc Jne laDOrer,
who went to his fellow laborer and in
duced him to desist from work, was
liable to indictment. He claimed that
no need existed for militia in East st.
Louis until the Louisville & Nashville
road brought their special detectives
there and, arming them with VIM
chesters, brought on the collision with
the people at the trestle. He wound up
his address by referring to the fact that
he was the only speaker present, and that
he had been advised not to speak, but
that he had no axe to grind and had
determined to speak his sentiments even
if he should be condemned for it.
Other speakers were called for, but,
none responding, the meeting adjourned
at nine O'Clock.
The gathering was a very orderly one,
and was composed mainly of working
men, who frequently applauded the senti-
ments expressed by the speaker. No
resolutions were adopted. No unusual
excitement was occasioned by the re-
lease of the deputies, for they rambled
around the city unmolested until time for
them to depart for their homes.