Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-09-28
THE WYANDOTTE WRECK.
Interesting Facts Again Promised by the
Railroad.

Railroad
ST. LOUIS, No, Sept. 27-Important de-
positions bearing on the great strike of
1886 were taken yesterday, and when the
result becomes known in Knights of Labor
circles il is likely to create a large sized
row. The recent war between NJ. D.Shew, of
this city and Master Workman Powderly,
in which number of prominent Knights
OF this city became involved and which is
bringing Master Workman Powderly and
his entire executive board to St. Louis, is
really the cause which has led to the pres
enr effect. The dispositions were from a
number of dissatisfied Knights of Labor
who, having been in the inside of affairs
of the great strike, have been able to give
testimony of great importance to the Mis-
souri, Pacific railway which will be used in
the defense of the damage suits instituted
by the men prosecuted for the Wyandotte
train wrecking These dispositions contain
startling charges against the leaders of
the Knights. Among other things alleged
is a plot to blow no the big Eads bridge.
THE WRECK AT WYANDoTTE.
The causes which led up to the suit are
very interesting and have an important
bearing upon the recent developments in
labor circles. During the great strike,
which lasted from March through April
and into the month of May, 1856, the
she Missouri Pacific railway was almost
entirely tied up by the strikers. Near the
end of the strike, which was the hardest
fought and the most strongly contested on
both sides that was ever known, and
when the leaders of the movement fore
bat ba NxruC mn I l,ar nod
had been accomplished by their actions,
a wreck occurred on the liue near
Nyandotte, Kan, that was attributed to
the Knights OF Labor or TO members of the
order. The rails had been torn up and OBJ
structiors placed upon the track which
caused the deralment and almost total
wreck of a freight train, resulting III the
death of the fireman named Horton and
The head brakeman of the train. 4 num-
Der of arrests followed, AL being knights,
and including men named Hami ton,
Lloyd, Leary, Beers, Newport, Nossen and
others These men were indicted for the
murder of the fireman, Horton.
\ test case was made of Hamilton, who
WAS charged with being the ringleader.
These arrests were made after Il long
search by the secret service of tie Missouri
Pacific, under the leadership of Tom Fur
long, who has gained so much notOriety
Through his candidacy for tie position of
his trial two of the accused turned states
evidence. and told on the witness stand the
story in all lis details-how the spikes
had been drawn and the rails turned,
causing in the which resulted
in the two deaths The prosecution
on behalf of the Missouri Pacific was con-
ducted bg Il Il. Waggener. assisted by H.
;. and Marshal Mcdonald and judge
Laughlin. The result of the trial, much
10 the surprise and chagrin Of the prosecu-
lion, WIS the acQulttal or Hamilton, and
this case being the strongest, those against
the other defendants were dropped. it
was charged at ,he time that the knights
Of Labor had spent very large sum of
money 10 secure the aCQuittal OF the men,
and this hes been brought mp at
various times since, and recently
IN the Shaw-Powderly controversy.
These charges were 60 tie effect that the
money had been used for purposes Of brib-
cry as well as counsel ices.
After the prosecution of the men charg-
ed with train-wrecb.ug had been dropped.
subsequent to the acquittal of Hamilton,
two suits Wee fled against the Missouri
Pacific by Mike Leavy and GeerS, asking
Ter heavy damages Tor false imprisonment
ana defamation o. character, and 1t was II
connection with lese suits that the depoSi-
lions We're taken yesterday.
DISPOSITIONS TAKEN.
The subp9nas were issued several days
ago for number OF St. Louis men. ana
also for several witnesses living near Wy
Rndotte woo had been expected in the city
yesterday. Tie witnesses expected from
Kansas arrived here dav before Yesterday.
and yesterday morning officers swere sent
out to serve the papers on all swho were
wanted in the case. Some proved willing
witnesses. but Others made serious object
i.oas. The order OF the court could not be
gotten around, hewever. and unwilling or
not. they were compelled 10 answer such
questions as were put to them, the ques-
lions and answers ali beng taken down
! he result OF he questioning. according 10
The statements OF "a person who Is in a po-
sition to know, was OF a very startling ma
ture, and exceeded even what the defence
had hoped To gain. According TO this
gentlemsn's statements, the dispositions
not only elected facts regarding TIE train
wrecking that viii cause the abandon
ment of the suits OF Leary and Geer. but
Ii gave the Missouri Pacific facts on which
TO base resumption of the prosecution OF
those originally charged with the train
wrecking and the murder OF the fireman
and brakeman.
A leader was seen last night. He had
not heard that the Missouri Pacific was
taking GepositionS in the matter Of the
train wrecking near Wyandotte He said
however. that the hnl&htS OF Labor court
ed the fullest sort of investigation and If
any member OF the order was guilty O. any
misdemeanors he, Tor one, wanted to see
them punished. As TO the burning OF the
Nandalia depot in East 81. Louis and the
Missouri car works AT 81. Charles, Mo-. he
had never heard that any knights of
Labor had anything 70 do with these &C
tons. Il they had. il had been q purely
personal matter of which the Knights of
Labor knew nothing and for which the
order should not Dc blamed.