The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-11-23
A SINGER OF lNvECTIvES
Attorney Erwin Makes a Sensational
Speech to the Critchlow Jury.
He Says the Strikers Should Have Followed the
Pinkertons Into Bades ard Shot Them
Down-To Go to the Jury To-Day.

PIrTsBuRG, Nov. 22-The testimony in
the Critchiow case was continued to-day.
The defense closed and the prosecution be-
gan its rebuttai. The defendant was first
call ed TO the stand. He denied being near
the Carnegie plant on the day of the riot
and said he did not fire gun. He was not
crossexamined. Mrs. Critchlow testified
that on July 6she reached her home at 4 P.
NJ. and found her husband asleep. The de-
Tense rested here. Tho prosecution called
several witnesses in rebuttal. whose testi-
mony was unimportsnt. The law srgu-
ments were then commenced. The points
submitted wero those usual in murder
cases. One of those advanced by tho de-
fence was that where two or moro persons
are charged with committing crime and it
is uncertain W hich. ali must bo acquitted.
At / p. NJ. attorney John s. Robb began
his address to the jury. He said. in part:
ut makes little difference In this case who
fired the first shot. but there is no doubt in
my mind that the first shooting cRme from
the shore. and am certain you believe me.
The murder of I. j. Conner took place long
after this first assault, and his murder was
premeditated. deliberate and willful. If
the defendant was there that day. aiding
and abettlng, armed with gun and shoot
Ing. he IS guilty of the crime with which
he Is charged. Six witnesses swear that
Critchlow was there. and ell swear he had
a gun In his hands. and one witness swears
he saw Critchlow behind the reastworks
firing his gun through the portfolios In the
breast-wOrks."
William NJ. Erwin. of Sioux Falls. s. D.,
said the jury could not presume that there
was any strike at Homestead; 1t was not in
the evidence; there was no proof that there
was any diesension. There was no evil
dence that Frick, who sends armed in
vaders TO the shore of Homestead, had any
property there There was no evidence
that men. women and children were there
Ior unlawful purposes, but tie common.
wealth said they must infer. Inferf A
All the jury knew was that there were
armed foreign inva ders there. There was
no evidence that those men were hired
rs watchme-not the slightest; and
they had no right to assume they
gives rise to the + assumption that the peo-
pies territory had been invaded by armed
foreign men-armed by Quartermaster
Frick: Why, he did not know, but pre-
sumed the purpose was SO damnable that
open forum of the court Was the battle
at Homestead q riot or was 1t an unwar-
ranted invasion7 If the latter. that's the
end OF 1t. for the people never delegated
away tntlr ElRnJ 10 Tepel INVASION.
Continuing. he said: Unless the right
of the PlnkertOns to be there was made
PLAIN the people should have shot them
down; should have shot them after leaving
the barges; should have followed them to
DOWN I there; Should have shot them
at Gods own altar, and If possible
to follow them across the great boundary,
should have followed them across the
grave and shot them down as they lay on
a Is H. It Ill D..x =
case you do not agree with that the force
was an illegal armed invasion, was there
any organized resistance to the landingf
Not a bit of evidence was introduced to
show that. There was cry of .Scabs you
sistance to legally authorized watchmen.
The people were there not for riot" Con-
Timing, he said: Testimony has been
given by detectives; by that human hyena.
the hunter of men, who will not do Gods
of his brow. Those detectives are
indicted. and so measure how far
they Will stretch the truth to prevent q
jury from stretching their necks. The first
shot came from the boat; aimed at WHAT
Strikersf No. Men, women and children.
God in keaveni Do you deny the right to
those on shore to defend themselves. No.
Hasten the defense. Fire, oil and dyna-
mite should be used upon those who fire
upon the people"
Mr. Erwin reviewed tho evidence given
by the witnesses for the prosecution and
argued to show much of it unworthy of be-
lief In conclusion he said: II leave my
client in your hands. and you in the hands
of the Almighty"
Tomorrow morning Thomas NJ. Marshal.
ST., will make the closing argument for the
defense and Clarence Parleigh for the pros
ecution. Judge Kennedy's charge will let
the case go TO the jury early in the after
noon and verdict may be expected before
evening" 1t is now confidently believed
that the verdict will be one of acQuittaI.