Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1892-07-28

Tho following are additional portions of
the statement of the brothers Pinkerton
made to the Congressional investigating
committees
As matter of fact the boxes on board
the barges were not opened and tho arms
and ammunition wore not distributed ua.u
after the strikers had commenced firing on
the watchmon and it became evident that it
was a matter of selt-detense, tor life or
death. Klein had been murdered by tho
strikers and about five other watchmen shot
and wounded before our men began their
fire in self-defense. Even then 1t was i'm
possible to attempt to shoot those firing at
the barges because the strikers made u
breestwork for themselves by placing
women and cniidrsn in front and firing from
behind them. Not u single woman or child
was injured by cur men. Whom cur
men surrendered, the leaders Of the
strikers solemnly promised full protsc
ton 10 property and Lille. They knew
TINT our men surrendered because the
wounded required attention and for tho
purpose OF saving further loss OF lie. Altor
the surrender all our men, lnciudln; the
wounded and helpless, We're brutaIly beaten
and robbed by the strikers, aud the leaders
made no real or honest effort to protect
them. cur men We're robbed OF Watches
money, clothing, in fact everything, an /
then mercllessly dubbed and stoned Con-
ners, unable to move o. defend himself
was deliberately shot by one of the strikers
and then dubbed. Edwards, also wounded
and helpless, was dubbed by another striker
with the butt end of a Idusket. Both died;
and subsequently another Waterman be-
came insane and committed suicide as Il
result OF the fearful beating after having
surrendered. All orr men were more or
less IN jured.
The business of watching and guarding
private property is now extensively carried
on IN large cities in this country not only by
ourselves, but by many other reputable
concerns. thousands Of banks, residences,
warehouses, offices, stores, etc, are thus
protected and guarded by private watch
men. Ii man cannot lawfully act as pri-
waite wetchmen in large manufactng
plant, then it must follow that the bank or
tie private house or Office cannot be pro-
ttcted or guarded. /. would, We think,
surprise the community if it should he de-
c.ared 10y Con ross that the right to protect
one property and to hire servants aid
agents to ussst in So doing no longer exists
IL tuls country.
We were advised by our cousel, Messrs
| Seward, Guthrie aud Morawsta Of Now
| York, That We were not violating any Jaw OF
| the United States or of the State OF Ienusyl-
| vaulHi that our acts were Lawful, that we
had tue right to employ and soni msn 10
| Homestead to act a. watclneu, that If
thoy were attacked, they had the right to
Kill If absolutely necess AIRY for self defence
that they had the right to bear arms on the
| premises OF the Carnegie company in order
to protect life aud private property whether
on not they were deputized by the sheriff OF
Allegheny county; that we had the right to
snip arms from Chicago to the Carnegie
| yards at Homestead for the purpose
o. arnng our men, il and after
they We're deputized hy the sheriff that In
view Of the attack on tho barges cur men
bad the right TO bear arms aud TO defend
/ themselves and that all their acts in firing
in sel.-defence from the barges after tho
attack on them were legally justiaable under
the laws OF the United States and OF the
state OF Pennsylvania
Yours respectfully,
WIN A. PINKERTON,
ROgFRT A. PINKERTON