Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-04-08
FOR OBSTRUCTING THE STREET CARS CAR
RYING THE MAIL.
Fined One Hundred Dollars Each, but Sentences
Suspended TO Future Day Of Court
The Strong Charge Of the
Judge to the Jury.

day morning was the mOtner or one OF
the boys, and nothing additional was
brought out that has not been hereto
fore reported.
Judge Jackson then charged the jury
in very vigorous language, the import
Of which will be found below. The jury
after a short absence returned a verdict
OF guilty as charged. The Court then
imposed a conditional fine of 500 In
each case.
The cases of the two Bonda brothers
were called, and they plead guilty by
their attorney, Hon. g. w. Atkinson,
and were fined in an equal amount.
Judge jackson then remanded the
cases to future term of court, the
prisoners in the meantime giving suf-
ticient bond.
THE JUDGES CHARGE.
The charge OF the Court to the jury
was delivered in the presence of small
coterie Of spectators, but it was lis
tened to with profound attention by
those present, including the relatives
| of the accused.
Judge Jackson, in his charge to the
jury, was very impressive In his Ian
guage and feeling in his tone. He spoke
at some length on the rights of the en-
ployer and employe and their reciprocal
relations. 81 do not know anything
about the merits Of this street car
strike" said he. THAT has virtually
nothing to do with this case. Matters
between the employer and employe
ought to be settled in an amicable man
ner. In this free country every man is
the architect of his own fortune. II a
man is not satisfied with the wages he
receives from his employer he can leave
that employ and seek work elsewhere
assert his INDEPENDENTLY there is
no known law that compels the employ
er to hire him at set price. Employ
ers might as well combine to compel an
employe to work at their wages.
"If workingmen have differences with
their employers they can have recourse
to the law, but they have no right to
combine to stop the wheels of traffic, or
interfere with trunk line railroads, or
do anything that will discommode the
general public. / make these remarks
in the hope that they will reach the
class that is now obstructing the bust
ness of the railway in question. Men
have a right to combine for their own
protection, but they have no right I'M
der the law to say who shall or shall not
take the places they have vacated.
They have no right to form themselves
in communistic bands, to stop mills and
take the bread out Of the mouths Of
furnishing families.
Coming down to the case before the
jury it is plain by the evidence pre-
sented by the prosecution that these
boys placed distractions on the tracks
of the street railway, and that the cars
so delayed by the distractions carried
the mail between this city and Ben
wood and Martins Ferry. These boys
were positively identified by the mo-
tormen and conductors. The defense
is an alibi. They have done well, but
have not accounted for the presence OF
the defendants every hour OF the day
on which these unlawful acts were
charged. Why did not the defense
bring to this Court as witnesses OF the
mates? The evidence of the prosecu-
ton has been unimpeached, but that OF
the defense has been somewhat contra
dictorv.
at is not possible that these youths
performed the acts charged without
some suggestion. They obtained an
education at the fireside which prompt
ed them to this infraction of the law.
There were also towards and miscre-
ants back of them, who encouraged
them, and had not the manhood to do
acts which they melted these boys to
commit. want to say here to parents
that when they encourage any infrac-
ton of the law that they are paving the
way for their sons to greater crimes
than they think of. 1t is a serious
matter tn stop the passage OF the United
States mails, and the jury has only to
consider whether the prisoners are
guilty as charged in the indictment.
AN ALLEGED CONSPIRACY.
81 believe that there is a conspiracy
in the section from which these prison
ers came, and l direct the District At
torney to inquire into the matter and
take the proper proceedings"
Judge Jackson then handed the pa
pers to the jury, who filed out to con-
slider their verdict.
The jury returned In few mo-
ments with a verdict OF guilty"
The Judge then addressed the de-
PENDANTS, telling them to retire to
Commissioner Campbell's room with
that gentleman and District At
torny Sturgiss, and If they truthfully
answered all questions put to them he
intimated that be would be lenient in
their punishment. Judge Jackson's
purpose was to get sufficient evidence
to arrest other persons, as he believes
that a conspiracy was formed, and the
boys who INSTRUCTED the mail were but
tools in the hands OF the conspirators.
The Judge imposed a fine on the accused
Of 500 each. Immediately on the an
nouncement of this decision Attorney
G. w. Atkinson for John and Will Bon
da, brothers, sons of John Bonda, who
were indicted with the others, plead
guilty and were fined the same amount.
The four boys, after consultation
with their parents and their counsel.
returned TO the Commissioners office,
and frankly and without hesitation an
swered all questions asked OF them by
Mr.. Sturgiss.
The result of the private examina-
ton Of the boys will probably be other
arrests. Commissioner Campbell is IN
decided as to what course he will pur-
sue, between arresting the persons i'm
plicated by the testimony Of the boys.
and submitting the whole matter to the
grand jury.
When the defendants were again
brought into Court, both Mr.. Stur-
giss and counsel for the defen-
dants made brief statements.
Mr.. Sturgiss said that he was