The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1888-07-26
BROTHERHOOD
Convention of Railroad Men at
st. Joseph, Mo.-A Shorthand
Reporter Caught,
Negro Official LynGhed in Crit
tender County, Ark.-Race
Troubles Renewed.

ST. JOSEPH, Mo-, July PA joint meet
ing of engineers, firemen, switchmen and
brakemeD, to consider the Burlington
strike, convened at Tootle's opera house
this morning at about $3.50 O'Clock. About
700 delegates were present, representing
lodges in the United States, Canada and
Mexico. Great care has been taken to
keep the proceedings as quiet as possible
Frank p. Mcdonald, chairman of the
grievance committee of the local Brother
hood of Engineers, called the meeting to
order.
All the morning the COM
mittee was at work looking for spies.
Finally a pair of shoes were found above
the ceiling of the gallery. This excited
sus picion and the stage carpenter was
asked about the shoes. He said they be-
ionged to him, but described them as
buckle shoes when they were fastened with
strings. Search was made for the owner
of the shoes, who was found secreted on
the chandelier supports. His name Is
David E. Seplagle, short hand writer.
He was escorted down the ladder amid the
yels of the Brotherhood members who be-
lieved Seplagle was Pinkerton employe.
Seplagle stated that he had been hired by
Jake W. Spencer, proprietor OF the
journal of Commerce, to take the pro-
ceedings of the convention in short
hand. He said he was paid
1925 for the work and admitted that the
stage car penter had shown him his hiding
place. A large crowd gathered around
him when he was brought down on the
stage and but for the interference of
cooler heads Seplsgle would have been
roughly handled. He had taken lunch and
a bottle of water up to his hiding place
and was prepared to remain there all day.
1t was suggested by one of the Brother
hood members that he be photo
graphed and that his lIkness be
published in the Police Gazette and the
Burlington scab circular, but the opera
house vas too dark to have photo
graphs taken. He was marched to
police headquarters through the streets in
his bare feet, where he is still confined.
Charges will be preferred against him
this afternoon. Great excitement pre-
vailed while Seplagle was being taken
from the opera house, and cries of
"Pinkerton Spy" and "Scab" were made
by the Brotherhood.
Chairman Mcdonald asked the men to
behave like gentlemen, and not offer any
violence to the man, saying that if there
was any mode for punishment, the man
would be dealt with accordingly. The
Impression of the legal profession here
is, that Seprsgle cannot be punished, as
there is no statute in Missouri concerning
methods of securing news for the public
print.
After the excitement subsidized, the CON
yention proceeded to business, and elected
Frank p. Mcdonald, permanent chair
man. The forenoon was spent IN
speech making by Frank P. Sar-
gent, of Terre Hsute, Ind, grand
master of the Brotherhood of
of Locomotive Firemen; R. Powers, master
of the Local Brakesmen's brotherhood,and
M. Hutchens, general chairman of the
Kansas City, Fort Scott and Gulf road,
W. M. Sullivan, Chas. Porter and R.
Morus, all of st. Joseph, were elected
secretaries.
A delegation of twenty-five, appointed
at the Chicago convention last week, ar
rived at o'clock this morning over the
Rock Island road in special sleeper,
rendered them by Mr.. Pullman.
At 1915 the convention adjourned until
2p.m. 1t is expected that the session
will continue for four days.