The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1892-07-23
THE PINKERTONS
Make q Written Statement Before
70 the Committee.
PRoMIsEs MADE TO TIE AGENCY.

a The Watohmen We're to Have Been
Made Deputy Shreins Before They
Were Armed : Questions Pro.
pounded TO the Pinkcrtons hy
knights of Labor. -
WASHINGTON, July o3.-The sub-com-
mittee Of the house committee on judi
ciary, charged with the investigation of
the Homestead labor troubles. resumed
Its session in this city yesterday The
investigation, it will be recalled, was
begun In Pittsburg, the inquiry there
being devoted to the outbreak at Home
stead and the difficulties of the Amalga-
mated Association with the Carnegie
company. The hearing here is to be de-
voted to the organization and manage
ment of the Pinkerton detective agency.
Robert A. Pinkerton, of the Pinkerton
Agency, was the first witness called. His
brother William, Mr.. Guthrie, of New
York, with his attorney, and Messrs.
Hayes, Wright and Devlin of the
Knights of Labor were also in attend
anca.
Before the examination of witnesses
was proceeded with Mr.. Devlin, of the
Knighte Of Labor, submitted a number
of questions which he wished the com
mittee e asA tAs witness.
Chairman Oates seceived the ques-
tions and said they would be considered
by the committee and If found proper
would be asked. The committee then
went into secret session to consider the
questions submitted by Mr.. Devlin; also
a statement submitted by the Pinkerton
eothers, and at the conclusion Of the
secret session the committee took u
Fecess.
Pinkertons' Statement.
The following is the statement sub
mitted by the Pinkertons.
"You have asked US to appear before
you and testify in regard to the business
conducted by us under the name Of
the Pinkerton's National Detective
agency. The present inquiry by your
committee arises from the recent deplor-
able events at Homestead, in the state of
Pennsylvania, and we are informed that
statement on our part of our connec-
tion with strikes and of the general
method of earring on this branch of our
business will aid the committee in it's
investigation.
"The agency was founded in 1850 by
the late Allan Plnkerton and during tine
last twenty years it has frequently fur
nished private watchmen to protect the
property of individuals and corporations
during strikes. The men employed by
US in this strike were selected with
great care, and only after full inyesti-
CATION of their characters and anteced-
,. ents. Not single instance can be cited
where we have knowingly employed
unreliable or untrustworthy men or
where any Of our watchnen have been
convicted of q crime.
Authority to Bear Arms.
''We have constantly refused to per-
snit our watChmen to bear arms with
ont special legal authority, or as deputy
sheriffs, even when on private property,
and we had no intention of varying
from this rule in the Homestead strike"
The statement further says that the
Pinkertons refused to send men unless
they were sworn In as deputy sheriffs;
that they werosassuredI that the sheriff
OF Alleeta any county knew of their EN-
ployment, and that upon any disturb
aace they would be sworn in. The state
ment further says:
"On that condition only did we con-
sent to furnish about three hundred
Watchmen. A large number of these
men were our regular employees, who
could be thoroughly trusted for integ-
gity, prudence and sobriety. The re-
mainder were men whom we employed
from time to time or who were known
and recommended to u.s. They did not
no into the state OF Pennsylvania as an
armed body or force, and we should
pot have permitted or assented to this.
There was no intention or purpose what
ever Of arming them until they were on
the property of the company at Home
stead, and until, and unless they had
been sworn In as the sherffs deputies.
Instructions to the Men.
"fSs instructions to our men were
chat they should not be armed unless
previously deputized by the sheriff. AS
b matter of Sact, the boxes on board the
barges were not opened and thes arms
and ammunition were not distributed
until after the strikers commenced fir
ing on the watchmen. Klein had been
murdered by the strikers and about five
other watchmen shot and wounded be-
fore our men began their fire in self-de-
Tense. Even then it was impossible to
attempt to shoot those firing at the
bArges, because the strikers made a
breastwork for themselves by placing
women and children in front and firing
behind them. Not a single woman OF
child was injured by our men.
After the Surrender.
"When our men surrendered the
-
Ieaders of the strikers promised full
protection to life and property. They
knew that our men surrendered because
the wounded required attention and fol
the purpose of saving further loss ol
life. After the surrender all our men
including the wounded and helpless
were brutally beaten and robbed by tlat
strikers, and the leaders made nc real OIL
honest effort to protect them.
A(luF man VVern r0bbn1 of watches
money, clothing, in fact everything, and
tnen mercilessly dubbed and stoned
Conners, unable to move or defend him
3elf, was deliberately shot by one of tht
strikers and then dubbed. Edwards
also wounded and helpless, was clubbet
By another striker with the butt end o
smuslzet. Both died, and subsequently,
another watchman becamej insane ant
committed suicide as result of the fear
ful beating after having surrendered"
The rest of the statement is devoted
10 a recital OF the outrages committee
by labor organizations in recent year
and the necessity Of private watchmen
Tho Labor Peoples Questions.
Chairman Oates stated that the com
mittee had examined the questions sub
pitted by the labor people, and as tn
Hinkerton people did not object q
answering them, they would be pro
pounded.
The twenty-four questions requires
answers as 10 the names and residence
Of the principals composing the so calle,
Pinkerton agency; number and location
OF tho offices, principal and subordinate
nature of the several branches or kind
II business the agency undertakes :,
conduct; number Of firearms and weap
ens of offense. OF all kinds, in contro
on July 4, 1892, and where were they de
posted; the number and the names ant
Residences Of the persons regularly EN-