Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1889-04-04
Mr.. COFFEY ARRESTED.

NIX. COFFEY ARRESTED.
TROUBLE WITH THE GLASS
WORKERS OF BRIDGETON.
The Roiloyg-paEe Blowers Of the
Cumberland GJs lssW0rks Have
Controversy eRegardIng the
Apprentice System, Which Re-
suits in a Strike and Mr. COfEey
is Arrested.
All day long Saturday there were
rumors about the street, that Master
Workman John Coffey, of District As
sembly 149, Knights of Labor, would
be arrested. These ruInors, however,
were generally discredited, and as the
day wore awaJ, were almost forgotten
by the crowds of idle glassblowers who
gathered about the Hotel Cumber-
land and the PIONEER Office.
During the afternoon, a reporter OF
this paper, was detailed to work on
the strike (as it is familarly known
and he was not fer away from the
Hotel Cumberland during the entire
time. The telephone communication
sent 10 the Cumberland Glass Com
pany at noon by Master Workman
Coffey, was expected to- be answered
by the firm, and the men remained
with Mr. Coffey closely, waiting the
decision of the firm. Mr.. Cofey con-
fidently expected an answer. Messrs.
Shoemaker and Bassett, of the firm,
were seen down town early in the after
noon, and the men were positive they
would see Mr.. Coffey, but those gentle
men made no visit to the Hotel Cum
berland
Then Mr.. Coffey appointed John
Holcomb, George Charles and John
Laws to visit the factory and ascer-
tain if the company had any statement
to make. They visited the office Of
the company, but learned nothing,
| and returned to the hotel.
Meanwhile the reporter kept his eye
on Mr.. Shoemaker. That gentleman
visited the law Office of Prosecutor
james R. Hoagland and the news
gatherer looked for interesting devel-
opments. Then Mr.. Shoemaker visited
THE law office of Potter & Nixon, and
from there to the office of Justice of
the Peace Alphonso Woodruff.
Mr.. Coffey was at Hotel Cumberland
directing fifty wrapped copies of the
PIONEER to the glass workers about
the country who were interested in the
strike. He was surrounded by score
of the men, 1t was about twenty
minutes of five o'clock, and J. D.
| johnson was about to call Mr.. Coffey
| to take his bus for the $40 train for
Philadelphia, which he was to take.
when Sheriff Shaw walked in the
hotel Office. That official whispered
something to Clerk Stockton Tice and
| the latter went to the writing room.
and called Mr.. Coffey out in the cor
ridor and introduced him to the Sheriff.
| The Sheriff stepped back near the din
ing room doors and said in a low voice
to Mr.. Coffey Il have a warrant for
your arrest" at the same time produc-
ing legal document from his pocket.
This action awakened the curiosity
OF the men who gathered about the
place, and they crowded toward the
Sheriff and Mr.. Coffey. The Sheriff
seemed to desire privacy, and Mr..
Coffey invited him and the reporter to
his room on the second floor. Then
all the gentlemen were seated and the
Sheriff read the document which
charged John Coffey, in company with
John Mack, Thomas J. Matthias, and
Fritz Weber, with malicious conspir-
acy to control, injure and terrify the
corporation and entice away their
workmen. The complaint was sworn
out by G. w. Shoemaker, Treasurer of
the company before Justice of the
Peace Alphonso Woodruff. The com
plaint and warrant covered several
pages of legal cap paper written with
type writer.
During the reading Mr.. Coffey smil d
and when the Sheriff had finished told
him he was ready to accompany him.
The party went down stairs in the ele-
vator and 'busman johnson was in
formed that Mr.. Coffey would not take
5.10 train. The Master Workman in
formed the glass men who were eager
" crowding about him, that he was
under arrest. One man immediately
sent for a prominent citizen, whom, he
said, would so his bail for $50, 900.
Mr.. Coffey, the Sheriff and reporter
then started for the Justices Office.
The charge was again read to the Mas
ter Workman and in reply to the ques-
tion of the justice as to what he pleaded,
he said, Il am not guilty of anything
contained in that document" The
justice then said it was too late to have
a hporiYas- hn, ALL l., Il