Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-07-23

I o.
a. Pinkerton and Robert a. PinkertOn.
Alter a recess Robert a. Pinkerton
was called 10 the stand and required TO
answer the questions which had been
prepared by the repreSe entatives of the
X. of l.. The replies were in substance
as follows:
The Pnkerton Agency owns about
ESQ rifles, about 400 pistols and an equal
number of CLUBS, and they were deposi-
ted az Chicago. In all it's various
branches the firm never had at any one
time more than 500 persons
In their employ. The employed
were advised exactly what they were
expected to do, and understood that
they were at perfect liberty TO refuse
any employment 70 which they object
ed. The men sent 70 Homestead were
obtained in New York, Chicago and
Philadelphia. All of them knew the
exact nature of their employment.
Tne bargeS were not constructed for
the purposes Of protection, and were
not lined with iron or steel and could
not resist small arms. The men would
never have been allowed to start on the
expedition n il hsd been known that
they were TO be attacked before land
ing.
The barges were employed because it
was believed that the men would be en-
ab.ed % land without a breach OF the
peace, and the landing was made at
night for the reason that the Sherif's
force had been resisted in the day time,
and it was expected that the strikers
would be iu bed. The sole desire was
10 avoid by all means a breach OF the
peace. Otherwise the men would not
have been permitted to 90 unless au-
thorized by the Governor, or deputized
by the Sheriff.
The only purpose was 10 put the men
upon private property and then protect
it from attack. The men would not
have fired except as a matter OF self
defence Ii was understood that the
Carnegie Company had applied to the
proper legal authorities, and that the
men were going to Homestead with
the approval OF the sheriff.
"Haye YOU ever furnished men as
guards 10 travel on trains transporting
the mails or Interstate Commerce.
Answer-YeS, sir. In the case Of the
Burlington strike and In the New York
Central strike. l think wherever we
have done strike work for railroads at
times we have furnished men 10 ride on
the trains. They probably were armed,
but it would depend on circumstances.
They went armed in the New York
Central strike TO protect themselves
from assault. As witness had 10 reason
10 anticipate an attack on the bArgeS,
no orders were given 10 his men, On
the contrary he had every reason TO be-
lieve they would land peacefully at the
company's works. he thought that II
the detectives had fired 70 kill more
lives would have been lost aud the
works could have been taken at that
time, but not without great loss Of life.
Mr. PinkertOn stated that he was
sworn police ofticer-a deputy sheriff
and ne made il rule always to swear
in mis- men, except In the case OF rail-
road service.
Mr.. Oates a ,ked witness what he had
20 say OF tue statement that fifty geod
soldiers could have scattered the Home
stead mob and that cOwardice was
shown by the PinSertons.
w ALAENC AUk4ltA NLl4N AD AAhA NAtANN
with his men. They said they could
have taken possession Of the works al
most any time before 10 O'Clock; that
seventy-fve men could have taken pos
session of the works, but they would
have had 20 kill number OF people,
men, women and children, and they
concluded not TO do anything OF the
kind. The first firing, bis men told
him, was over the strikers heads. His
men were armed with WincheSters. At
the start not over twenty of them were
given arms and afterwards arms were
given TO about forty in all.
Mr. Boatner having asked how 1t was
that trouble occurred when the strikers
claimed always that they did not en-
courage violence aud only persuaded
men not 10 work, and the Pinkertons
were instructed not 10 use violence.
Mr. Pinkerton made an answer that
hit sCuarely al the Knights of Labor
men present. He said that he had never
seen 3 strike when labor organizations
or their men had not abused non-union
men. He had seen men knocked of
trains: he had seen them beaten almost
10 a Jelly; he had known members Of
this very Knights of Labor whose rep
reSentatives were present to put OBJ
Structions on the track and to put dyna-
mite under cars; he had seen men who
wanted 20 work treated worse than saw
ages by representatives Of secret labor
organizations, and he had sent them to
prison for 10.
William A. Pinkerten was next sworn
and corroborated all that his brother
had said.
The committee adjourned subject to
the call Of the chairman. II further
testimony touching the new points is
offered within day or two il will be
received, otherwise the mmittee will
begin the preparation Of its report very
s0nD