Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1892-07-23

bula, O., and were put on the barges at a
point near Youngstown, .. Pinkerton
replied 10 all the above questions in the
freest and frankest manner, except as TO
the contract. Then he said in reply to
question IS: "The arms on the barges were
in boxes. and were destined for the yards
and private property of the Carnegie COM
pany. Our positive instructions were that
they should not be given TO the men until
after they had been sworn in by the sher-
if. and we were assured that would be
done upon the first signs OF trouble. Our
men were not to commit a breach of the
peace, ana there was no understanding
that they were TO with the Carnegie people
or any one else. We would not permit the
men to use force to recover possession of
the works unless they had been sworn in
by the sheriff"
Some Other Points Answered.
The men would not have fired had they
not been attacked and six of their mum Der
killed; it was understood by the agency
ton to the authorities, and that the men
were going to Homestead with the ap-
prevail and consent of said authorities; the
agency was advised by counsel that it had
a perfect right to send watchmen from one
state to another; it never sent armed
body anywhere; the principal deputy of
the sheriff OF Allegheny county went
with the men to Homestead. AS to the
question of toe right to send 10000 barges
etc, Pinkerron said that was question
of law upon which he would not presume
to instruct the committee
Answer to Question No "a.
In reply to the last question PinkertOn
said: AIN all our experience not single
instance can be cited where our men fired
upon strikers except as a last resort to
save their lives. In twenty years three
men have been killed by our watchmen up
to the time OF the Homestead affair. In
every instance they were sworn in
deputy sheriffs or peace officers, and when
ever tried have been acquitted" His men
went armed when on duty peace officers
or when defending life or property. He
referred in reply 10 questions to number
of instances where his men had acted as
guards for railways when strikes We're in
progress. II his men at Homestead had
fired to kill they would probably have dis
lodged the mob.
Challenges the Labor People.
In reply to further questions Pinkerton
said that he never knew of IA strike where
the labor organizations did not attack and
inJure non-union men. He could cite
number OF cases where members of labor
organizations We're arrested and imprisoned
for such crimes He did not know of a
single case where his men had begun the
people to show such Il case.
Declined to Answer a Question.
He was asked if he ever detailed men
to act rs Knights of Labor, but declined
to answer, that related to his private
business. He believed that his men fired
over the heads of the mob at Homestead,
as if they had fired To kill there would
have been greater mortality. William A.
Pinkerton WAS Lext examined. He con-
firmed his brothers testimony and said
the agency did not seek employment in
labor troubles-lu was forced upon them.
Concludes the Testimony.
After few more words from Robert
Pinkerton the testimony closed as
far the Pinkertons are concerned prob
ably. Chairman Oates thanked the TWO
brothers for their evidence, and Robert
Pinkerton returned the compliment for
the committees kindness to them. He
said he wished the committee could visit
Chicago and examine the books and pa
pers of the agency.