Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-11-14
THE HOMESTEAD TRIALS,
Cases of the Strikers to Come Up Next
Wednesday.


Wednesday.
The Homestead trials, which will prove the
most sensational tried in this country for
years. will begin next Wednesday at Pittsburg.
the first will DO that of Sylvester Critchlow for
the murder Of Thomas Corners. a Pinkerton
detective. On the following Monday Jack Cliff
ford will stand trial on the same Indictment
Several days later Hugh O'DonneIl will be put
on trial. These are the only men confined in
Jail and for whose release bail was refused.
After the third trial it is hard to say what will
be done. The other thirty-fve or forty cases
may be tried together, as District Attorney
Burleigh says he cannot stand the strain Of
prosecuting every one separately for murder.
After the murder cases have been disposed Of
the treason charges will be taken up. They
will be the most sensational and exciting, AS
they are the first in the state. Lawyers say
that the questions involved are varied, SO
many fine distinctions may be made, that It
would be impossible TO for see the result of
the trial. An array Of learned counsel has been
engaged. The commonwealth viii bs repre-
sented by District Attorney Burleigh, John s.
Robb, d. F. Patterson and E. Y. Breck. with
Knox & Reed "a advisory counsel For the de-
PENDANTS will appear Thomas NJ. Marshall,
William NJ. Reardon, William ]. Bremen, John
F. Cox and Major Z. A. Montoo:h. All are
good lawyers and brilliant orators. Mr.. Reed
was appointed judge OF the United States dis
trict court by President Harrison. but resigned
because he could make more money at bis
practice. On the side of the defense Thomas
Marshall and William Reardon are two Of the
best criminal lawyers in the state. Mr.. Bremen
is chairman of the democratic county COM
mittee and John Cox was a candidate for Con-
gress on the kicker" republican ticket in the
twen,y-fourth district Major Montooth is
also known as a prospective candidate for
governor on the republican ticket.
When the treason cases are reached it is ex.
tremeiy probable that other counsel will be
engaged both for and against the strikers
They will be men of national reputation. The
trials will consume weeks, as no limit can be
placed on the number OF witnesses. Nearly
every citizen in Homestead is possessed OF
actual knowledge of the matters complained of
in the indictments and n great many viii be
called on both sides. 1t is expected the argu-
ments will consume ten days at least.
What the outcome of the cases will be is hard
to determine. In all there are 1877 defendants.
Twenty-Five are charged with murder. thirty
one with treason against the state. thirty-four
with conspiracy and eighty with aggravated
riot In addition to these are the cases against
H. c. Prick, F. I. F. Lovejoy. John G. Leish-
man, H. NJ. Curry, Nevin Mcconnell, James
Dovey and Superintendent Potter OF the Car
negie Steel Company. On August 4 they were
charged Win murder DIV striker hugh EOSs and
arrested the same day. Later they were charged
with riot and conspiracy. The informations
were based on decision rendered nearly ten
years ago BY James A. Logan, who was at one
time president judge of the West Moreland
county courts. He was trying a case agains,
one Armstrong and others charged with riot
during a labor dispute. Armstrong was pro
prietor of coke works, and while trying to put
non-union men to work in his plant a RIO. oc
CURED and two men were killed Judge Logar
charged the jury that the owner of the works
who brought the non-unionists there, was
party to the killing, and the jury rendered .
verdict accordingly. The judgment was sus
tanned by the Supreme Court.
The general opinion among people not inter
ested in the trials is that tho strikers will be
sent to the psnitentiary. The attorneys Of thu
Carnegie Company will use every possible mean,
to convict them on the treason charges The,
claim to have all the evidence necessary, ani
say it is only question Of getting Jury. The
maximum sentence is twelve years. Attorne,
Knox says the only cases approaching then
were the proceedings growing ont OF the French
commune All the cases will be tried By Judge,
Kennedy, Porter and McClung. Il the prelinni
nary court proceedings are any criterion, the
strikers will get little sympathy from the judges
The latter have referred to them time and again
as outlaws. aud, the strikers claim. prejudice
their cases in the minds Of the people