Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-09-29
THE NEW YORK TRAIN-wREcEERs


THE NEW YORK TRAIN-WRECKERs.
In all the history of strikes probably
nothing more sensational has developed
than the revelations concerning the derail-
ing of trains on the New York Central
Railroad few weeks ago at Kaners and
Castleton, near Albany, New York. Two
of the men engaged in the infamous work,
Cain and Buett, have confessed to the
crime, and admit that they attempted to
wreck the trains to get even on the
railroad company. They are all members
of the Knights of Labor, and it is charged
that Master Workman Lee was privy to
their acts. Indeed, the detectives 60 so
far as to say that he furnished them money
with which to escape from Justice, and one
of the confessions sets forth the same
charge. There were FIVE men concerned in
the crimes. The first attempts were made
on the 29th of August, and the third on
September 4th, when the Montreal Ex-
men seem to have blinded themselves to
the fact that they put in peril the lives of
innocent people-people not at all con-
cerned in their troubles with the railroad
company. The two who have confessed
have not shown any feeling Of horror what
ever at having made war upon women and
children in order to damage the company
to the extent of few broken cars. All
the men were strikers, and while it is de-
MED that some of them were in good stand
ing in the Order, it is admitted that at the
time of the strike and the crimes they
were in communication with the Order,
and in and about the meetings held in AL
bany relative to the strike. The state
--ynents that Master Workman Lee was
privy to the acts after their commission in
aiding them to escape to Canada, where
they were taken prisoners, are borne out
by what appears to be strong circumstantial
evidence
1t viii be conceded that it is incumbent
upon the Knights of Labor in their own
interests, and that of the cause of labor, to
show that the Order in no. way aided, ad-
yised or abetted the crime; that it in no
manner gave encouragement TO thoughts
or suggestions of violence, and mat it alb
hors the action of these criminals. It has
been already stated by the officials of the
Order that the men acted independently,
that the Order had no knowledge OF their
intention, and that il is expressly forbid
den by its laws that there shall be resort
to force in support Of strike. But the
Order is bound to do more than this to
retain any hold upon public confidence; it
must go to the bottom of the matter, and
aid in securing due punishment of these
men who wrecked the trains. We are
willing to believe that the Order will do
so, and viii clear its skirts of completely
in the affair, and we sincerely hope that it
will be able to do so right speedily. Labor
in none of its organizations ought to be
subject to the faint of criminality.
As for Lee, he asserts his innocence, and
it behooYes him to establish it; of course
the detectives must make it clear that he
was priyy to the crime before it will be
lust to hold him to proof to the contrary.
At the same time, if he has any evidence
establishing his innocence he should not
wait for the affirmative 10 make its case
before presenting it. No one wants to
think that any person holding the position
he does in the Order, would resort to such
infamous means TO wreak vengeance for the
collapse of a strike. 1t will be impossible,
however, for the Knights of Labor to
wholly escape smirching, no matter how
diligent they may be in prosecuting the
train-wreckers. 1t will remain in the
public mind that there was some sort Of
relation between the Order and the crimes.
The men were strikers, they are members
of the Order, they did commit the crimes,
and put in peril hundreds Of innocent
lives. and involve the wounding OF people
quiltless of any wrong-doing 10 them 1t
will be held, therefore, that their action
was the indirect result, at least, of associa-
ton in the Order, or under its influence in
the strike ii commended. Since the writ
ten confession of one of the wreckers posi-
tiyeIy asserts that all the men went to
Lees house, and there consulted with
him, and that be gave them money to fee,
it seems improbable that Lee can remove
all suspicion from him, no matter what he
sets up, and the Order of knights among
its other duties, viii be expected to re-
move Lee from the Order, unless it can be
shown that he is the victim Of perjury and
conspiracy.