The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1890-10-15
NUMBER 42.
The Conspiracy Case.

examined, and nearly two days of time
were consumed. Most of them were OBJ
jected to because of their having expressed
an opinion in regard to the merits of the
case. The first witness examined was
Theodore j. Beach of the granite firm Of
Hall & Beach. The next witness was
Mr.. Pearsons, who kept boarding
house at which two of the respond
ents boarded at the same time and with
Col. Mcclure. Witness rected certain con-
versations he had heard between the re-
spondents Morrill, and Sherburne and Col.
Mcclure, the tenor of which was that the
latter must join the union or they would
not work with him that he would
have to Join or get out. Colonel Nc
Clure vas then called and told the over
lures that had been made to him look
ing to his becoming a member of the
stOneCutters union. He declined, but Of
fered to pay dues and fees that might be
assessed. The union men-respondents--
pressed the colonel, telling him again the
consequences If he didn't join, and he still
declined. Then they came on November
Dist and said meeting had been held the
night before, and it was unanimously voted
that he must join the union, and that a
meeting would be held in the Wetmore &
Morse shed that day at noon to swear h M
McClure-into the union. He again refused.
They threatened him again and he told
them to go to hell. Then the next day he
left his work and got job at Eagan's, but
before he commenced on his job it was
learned by Eagan what the trouble was at
Wetmore & Morses, and the result was
that Mcclure had to relinquish his job at
Eagans. Mr. Eagan, in the afternoon testi-
fed that he gave lettering job to Mcclure
and, after the trade was closed to do the
work he learned of the trouble at Wetmore
& Morse's. On the request of Mcclure, the
witness made inquiries and saw Heron,
who worked for him, Eagan Heron said
he would inquire. The next day Edgan
again spoke to respondent Heron, who
said he had seen the vice-president of the
| Montpelier branch of the union and he had
stated that If the men would not work with
| Mcclure at Wetmore & Morse's they would
| hardly work for him anywhere else, or
! ia any other shed where union men were
al work. Fearing trouble if he took
Mcclure, and not wishing a strike, be
| told Mcclure he couldn't give him work
! Witness on the Sunday following saw
respondent Dyer, and two other men,
telling them they ought not to try and force
the old gentleman (McClure) to join the
union. Dyer replied they would not have
| insisted upon his joining if Mcclure had
! not been so saucy To which Eagan an
swered that Mcclure would have joined if
they had asked him in more gentlemanly
! manner. Two Witnesses Carey and Suli-
van, testified their understanding as to some
of the respondents belonging to the union.
! The only testimony Friday morning was that
| of G. b. Putnam, who testified in relation
| to Granite Cutters journal, that it was
! tulUtu anu uldUdBtu Dy ItSDOuutub
| Dyer. Witness worked on the paper a
short time in the summer of 1889 Mr..
! Mcclure, recalled, testified to a con-
versaton with respondent at Quinan's in
which the latter told him he had to do as he
| did because it was ordered by the union.
The state then put in copy of the Gran
! ite Cutters Union constitution and by
! laws and two copies of the Granite cutters
journal, and rested In the case of re-
spondents Quinlan and Hockings, mo-
| tions We're made to order an acquit-
tai, as there was no evidence tending
to connect them with any overt act or with
any conspiracy. This motion was granted,
and the jury will be so ordered at the proper
time.
Mr.. Lamson commenced the argument in
this important case Friday afternoon. He
passed over the testimony, commenting
| upon the evidence tending TO show com
bnation of the Granite Cutters Union,
Montpelier branch, to prevent Mcclure
from working, as shown by the evidence of
the witnesses Beach and Hall This brought
the speaker to the testimony of Mcclure
| and afforded scope for good argument
based upon the inherent rights of citizen
of this free country. BY what authority
] had tins union or any of its members COM
manded "A peaceful and law-abding citizen
to appear at a certain place at fixed time
and take "A certain obligation? Mcclure
had acted manly part, and when he saw
the result likely to follow to his employer
]
down his tools and left his employment
i Mcclure was a man of character aud of
moral stamina. As a soldier he had fear
lesSly faced the shot and shell of the enemies
of the Union. AS fearlessly, he stood up in
his manhood to fight for his conscientious
belief and declined to ally himself with a
union of another sort. II such things could
be in Vermont that man at the behest OF
any other man. or any body of men, could
be compelled to quit wo king for his daily
ral1 no ,l,t,, yt~aa mn
chased with so much blood and sacrifice.
The story of Mr.. Mcclure stood absolutely
uncontradicted, and it was the duty of the
Jury on their oath and under the conscience
of each individual member of it TO return
verdict of guilty and thus set the blistering
seal of condemnation upon such mon
strOsity.
Mr. John II. Senter, in opening the case
for the respondents, called attention TO their
appearance. They looked like intelligent
well-behaved, law-abiding citizens, and
close scrutiny of the evidence would fail 10
convince any reasonable man that they
were in the least degree otherwise. As
members Of union, they had right to
associate and combine for their mutual
good. They had also perfect right To use
their hest endeavOrs to persuade others to
Join their union. This was all that had
been done in the present case Whatever
action had been taken by any of the re-
snondents was confined TO two of them. As
evidence to connect them with Colonel
Mcclure or any action in regard to him.
When advised that it would be for his bene-
fit to join the union, he had replied " Go to
hell" McClure's course was well calcu-
lated TO make other men who belonged to
an institution and believed in it dissatisfied
i'm working with man who never failed to
take opportunity to condemn the aSsoci
: alton. What was the result? The men had
taken action that if Mcclure would not
; ioiu--in other words would not cease his
condemnation and opposition to the union
they would not oork lcuh him. Was that
conspiracy? Had not they perfect right
10 refuse To work with any man with whom
they could not agree? Each man was
al liberty to go away and it was lawful
for him so To do if he so chose. Colonel
Mcclure had not been driven away. He
had left of his own accord. A careful and
conscientious scrutiny of the evidence must
resultin an acquittal, and the speaker looked
with confidence TO such a result.
Senator Grady of New York made a very
effective and eloquent plea on behalf of his
clients. lie took each respondent sepa-