The evening world., 1892-07-22
THE PIAkEa1oAs' SIDE OF IT.|
Statement Of the Detective Chiefs
Before q House Committee.
Accusing Labor Men Of Wanton
Acts Of Murder and Revenge.
nv AssorIATvp pulss,I

nv AspCIATTD phnhl
wAsHiSGros, July :..-The Pipkerton
brothers were given an opportunity this
morning to explain and defend the working
OF their system before the special committee
Of the House Committee on the judiciary.
which has been engaged in an in-
vestigation OF the labor troubles at
Homestead and Of tho operations OF the
Ptnkerton system. Ncssrs Hayes, Deviin ani
Wright. Of the Knights Of Labor, were
present. to watch the proceedings.
Tho two Pinkcrton brothers, Hobert A. ana
William A., were present with their counsel,
VI. D. Guthrie. Of Seward, Glthrie 4 Mora.
wetz, OF New York City.
Robert Finkerton took the stand and laid
before the Committee prepared statement,
which was accepted as evidence.
The statement says the agency wa,
founded in 1850 by the late Allen Pinkerton.
ana during the last twenty years It has fre-
quently furnished private watchmen TO pro-
tect the property Of individuals and corpora.
tions during strikes.
The men employed In strike work are Sc.
lected with great care. aud only atter full
investigation Of their characters and anteee.
dents.
Moreover" says the statement, 1--WE have
seldom permitted our watchmen to carry
arms for the purpose Of protecting property
and life unless they were authorized by the
proper legal authorities or sworn In as depu. 3
sheriffs.
"Our men have never wantonly or recl-
lessly fired single shot In any Of these strikes.
and have only used their arms as the last
extremity In order to protect life. We have
consistently refused to permit our watchmen
to bear arms without special legal authority
or as deputy sherifYs, even when on private
property, Ind we had no intention OF vary ing
from this rule in the Homestead strike.
when FIRST requested to send watchmen
to protect the Homestead plant. the property
OF the carnegie steel Company Limited,
we refused TO do so unless oil our
inen should be sworn In as Deputy
shcrlfrs before going TO Homestead. We
we're then assured that the Sheriff OF
Allegheny County, IA, knew that our men
were gting TO Homestead to act as
watchmen and to guard the property Of
the Company, and protect its work
men from violence. We were further
assured that the sheriff had promised
ihiuiSutotcAy uPoh uhs cVboie"S VI uAoN" "
ance to deputne all our watcbmsn as
sherif1 deputies II 1t became necessary for
the protection OF life ana property. On that
condition only did we consent 10 furnish
about 800 watchmen.
They did not 20 into the state Of Pennsyl.
,ania rs an armed body or force. and We
should not have permitted or asscnted TO this
There was no in:endon or purpose whatever
OF arining them until they were on ths
property OF the Company at Homestead, ant
until and unless they had been sworn In ..
the Sherlfr's deputies. The sherins chic
deputy, Gray, accompanied Our men. beinf
on the tu. towing the barges, and I, was dis
tiuctly understood that he had the nuthorit!
TO duly dcputizc them In case Of necessity.
"The boxes containing the arms and am
muut,ion were shipped from Chicago ont
were to te delivered at the Homestead yards
"As matter o; rae. the boxes were NO
opened and the arms and ammunition wer;
not distributed until after the strikers hst
commenced nring on the watchmen and q
became evident that 1t was = matter OF SELF
defence for life or death.
Klein had been murdered by the striker
and about nve other watchmen shot ant
wounded before our men began their fire 1,
self-defense. Even then 1t was impossible I,
attempt to shoot those firing at the barge
because the strikers made breastwork fo
themselves by placing women and childreI
in front and firing from behind them.
when our men surrendered, the leader
Of the strikers solemnly promised full pre-
lection to property and life. They knew tha
our men surrendered because the wounded
required attention and for the purpose 0
saving furth + loss Of life.
"Atter the surren der all our men. includin,
the wounded aud helpless. wers brutal!
beaten and robbed by the strikers. and tn
leaders made no real or hont $, erIcrt TO pro
tect them. our urn were ro5 5bed OF watches
money, clothing. in fac everything and the
niercilessly dubbed AID stoned.
"Conuers, unable 10 move or defend him
self, was deliberately shot by one Q
the strikers and then dubbed. I'd
wards. also wounded and helpless, va
clubted by another striker with tn
butt end OF = nlusLet. Both died, and sub
| seQuenily another watchman became insan
and committed suicide a> a result OF the fear
full beating after having surrendered. Al
our men were more or les, Injured"
The state ment says: The coming nurde
triais ought 10 bring out the truth and uphol,
the law. our actions will then he shown I
have been legal from beginning TO end.
Whatever may be the presen
prejudice sgainst our agency. we stsl
patiently walt the sober reflection q
tns country. In the confidence that tn
cu )rtnity uf the wrong and outrae
done 10 our men at Homestead Will be ulti
mately recognized. although the example vii
| In the meantime have caused incalculaole In
| Jury to I b. community.
The statement, concluding. says: w
| nave no quarrel with organized Labor. an
! hey have no cause OF complaint against us
except In 80 far a. they attempt 10 deStrO
property ana life and 10 violate the law"
| II is charged tnat In every large strike Il /
! shown that labor org ani1alions will "murde
and destroy property out ot sheer wantor
hess aLd revenge"
/ As Instances are cited alleged attempt
! by strikers TO blow up the chicago stov,
/ Workt, to dynamite trains OH toe Burlington
! road and 10 wreck an express at IVES
! Albany On the New York Central.