St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-02-14

Defense Will Be That the Riot |
Was Against His Coun-
sci.
PITTSBURG, Feb. 13.-By far the NEST
interesting and important trial growing
out OF the Homestead riot is that of
Hugh O'Donnell, for murder, which was
tahel up this morning before Judge
Stowe. Hugh O'Donnell was unques-
tionably the leader of the Homestead
men i'll the earlier and more stirring
period of the famous Struggle. His
strong personal magnetism impressed
his fellow workmen long before June
20. He had been, unconsciously per-
hapS, their leader for several years, and
when the crash came on the 9th of June
he was by unspoken but by unanimous
consent made dictator. In that posi-
ton he became the idol of his followers
and of the Workingmen of the entire
country for weeks. He had but to APP
pear and golden showers followed his
appeal for aid. He was offered many
positions, but elected to remain at home
as chairman of the advisory beard, and
at that time Mr.. O'Donnel was the adj
vlsOry board. His downfall was more
sudden than his elevation. The cause
was never satisfactorily explained. But
one day it was announced that Mr.
O'Donnel had gone East. He dIsap-
peared for two weeks, returned for one
week, and again lett with the same
meteOric SuddennesS. 1t was cOutended
by his friends that jealousy on the part
OF other members OF the advisory board
led to his transportation from Home
stead. AT all events he had scarcely
left when the advisory committee gave
out that he had resigned, and Thomas
j. Crawford was elected in his stead.
About one week after Hugh O'Donnell
was arrested and
Cast Into Jail
from where he has only been out twice,
once TO an alderman'S office ami another
time into court Oh an application for
bail, which was refused.
1t was astonishing how soon ODon-
nell passed from the public mind at
Homestead. After his deposal from
the board the strong influence which
secured that also sealed the tongues of
gossip, and ODonnelPs name seemed
tabooed there. Even i'll JAIL save for
his faithful wife. lie had few callers,
and when his trial called him once
again into public attention, O'Donnell
hnd II,y IA
those who once delighted most to couple
his name with eXtravagant praise
Hugh O'Donnel was the sole occupant
of the prisoners box at 10 O'Clock. Long
confinement had intensified the natural
pallOr of his cheeks, and his night
black hair. eyes and mouStache accent
uating this, made him very striking
figure. He was attired in SOmbre colorS,
too. a departure from the dressy, jOvial
O'Donnel of year ago. He wore a
black Prince Albert coat, black tie and
turned down collar. AS he sat in the
box he looked weary, and pressed his
head with his handkerchief to relieve
the aching caused by a sleeplesS night.
When his attorneys came and shook
hands with him, his face Frightened,
and he said he felt fairly we'll consider
ing his long confinement. He is indicted
for the
Murder of II C. Connors,
as were Clifford and Critchlow. When
the indictment was read to him, and he
was asked whether he was guilty,
O'Donnell replied in clear, ringing
voice, Not guilty."
The work of selecting jury was
tedious, and occupied the greater part
of the morning. The jury as finally
made up was as follows: Frederick
Vogel, dairyman; William Richardson,
policeman; Charles Buechler. saloon
keeper; John Sproul, bricklayer: w. J.
Byrne, liveryman; Henry Brooker,
farmer; A. G. Flood, laDorer; Henry
Eisenhauer, shoemaker; John Mccain,
paperhanger; John Geisler. mOulder;
Peter Stragen, miner; William Dram
Bile, waiter. Court then adjourned for
dinner. With but two exceptions, men-
DerS of the jury are WOrkingmen, and
this seemed to please the defendant
greatly.
When the court resumed in the after
noon Attorney Patterson, in the alb
sence of the district attorney, opened
the case for the prosecution. He re-
viewed the circumstances leading up to
the riot at great length, giving every
detail of the trouble from the time of
the lockout until the surrender of the
barges on the evening of July 6. and
said the prosecution would prove that
Connors came to his death from gun
shot wound
Fired by Some One
of crowd of persons OH the river bank
at the Homestead mills: that the COM
mon purpose of this crowd was to kill,
and that Hugh O'Donnell formed one OF
the number. AS member he aided,
Allotted, assisted and encouraged the
work which went on there and was,
therefore, guilty of murder.
DR.. McKenna. of the West Pennsyl-
vania hospital, was the first witness and
he told of attending ConnOrs. Rev. !
Father Lynch, who administered the
last rites of the church, and several
other unimportant witnesses followed, |
and then Capt. Cooper, of the Pinker-
ton forces. took the stand. He repeated
the story of the trip OH the boat and !
fight and surrender at the mill landing. |
When court adjourned he was still on |
the stand.
What the defense will be is not |
known, but in all probability will set !
up the claim that the riot was against |
his counsel, and that he did all in his !
power 10 stop the battle and to protect !
the PInkertons. His attorneys in the |
case are MeSsrs. Bremen, Marshall. |
Cox. MontOoth, Readdon, Erwin and |
Anderson. The case for the common
wealth will be presented by States At
torney Burlelgh. Assistant Gehering, j.
S. Robb, d. +. Patterson and F. \. !
Brock.