The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1894-05-16
POSING AS MARTYRS.
A Washington Judge and jury Play to
COXey's Hand.

SOSey y hSDG.
WASHINGTON. May 9.-The tree
leaders of The commolweal, Gen. Jacob
Schlec C0xey, Marsh2l Carl Browne
and Christopher Columbus Jones, were
found guilty yesterday OF violating
the laws by jury Of their peers, and
will have 20 submit to sentence hereat-
ter to be imposed by the court for their
recent demonstration On the Capitol.
All three Of the accused were convicted
on the first count Of The indictment,
which charged them with displaying IN
the Capitol grounds the banUec Of the
Coxey GH0d rOads Association. Jones
OF Philadelphia was acquitted of the sec
oDd count which accused him CT tread.
ing OF the grass, hut Coxey and Browne
we're convicted.
The jury retired at five minutes bs-
fore / O'Clock, alter hearing long
charge from Jadge Miller, which lett
them little alternative but 10 convict if
they followed his leadings. About half
past O'Clock The jurors sent for the IN
structions gwen for the defense, but the
government objected and they filed into
the court room while the judge read the
Instructions. Young Attorney Hyman
endeavored, excltedly, to have the fact
that the objection cane from the pro-
secuhon laid before the jury, tu: he was
Suppressed. Judge Miller stated that ne
would not have handed over the written
instructions under any circumstances, as
that would have been irregular. Only
five minutes after this episode the jury
returneded with the indictment.
General Coxey had been visiting
with his wife and his daughter, the
GODDESS Of peace" Of the May day
procession, but took his seat within the
bar and all Of the party received the re-
suit smillingly, except MIR. HYman, who
was on his feet with somo objection to
the form on which the verdict was pre-.
sented, but he was sat upon by his col
leagues. Attorney LipscomD, immedi
atelY entered a motion for new trial and
another in arrest of judgment. Judge
Miller gave him four Gays TO file the tor
NAL paper, then the judge made inquiries
about bail and Frank Hume, well
known Wholesale grocer, who several
times has been candidate for the Dem.
ocrstlc nomination to Congress from the
Virginia district across the Potomac
river. signed Oond N $500 for each CT
The three convicted commonweaiers.
Gen. CoXey left the court room Oh the
arm of his wife, pushing through curl.
Gus crowd which made co demcnstra.
ton. The conviction Of himself and
Jones was surprise to the common
veal sympathizsrs. Coxey said that it
was evident that bis prosecution was not
on account OF what he had done, but
because of the principles IN behalf OF
which he had acted. Carl Browne re
marked: II was surprised at the coa.
viction of Brother Coxey, because he
was plainly acquitted by the evidence OF
any technical violation of the statutes.
For my own part, expected to be con-
Victed."
Just sfler tho closing plea for the DE-
fense, Brownies layer had asked per.
mission to read to the jury statemenr
written by his client, bat JUDGE Miller
declined to admit it saying that Browne
had been gwen al his rights 10 being de
Tended by able attorneys. The paper
was written In Brownies usual graDdilo.
quent style and ayerted TIA. he differed
from his lawyers regarding the line OF
defense, that he would have admitted
the technical violations of the law and
have asked the jury to acQui5 him on the
ground that he was merely exercising
his constitutional rights.
Two weeks may elapse, during which
the trio will be free on bail, before the
motion for o new trial is argued and de.
cided. The penalty provided by law is
the same fer each cftense, viz: & ine
not to exceed $l00 or imprisonment in
jail for not more than thirty days, Oh
both within the discretion of the court.
Accordingly, the maximum punishment
which may be meted out to CoXeY and
Browne is 5000 and 120 days. while
Christopher Columbus Jones is subject
to 800 and sixty days.
By curious Congressional error in 9
recent bill which reorganized the Dis
trjct courts, there is 10 appellate court
to which police case can be carried.
The only method Of appealing from Judge
Mlller's sentence will bs By an applics-
ton to higher court for writs of habeas
corpus and certiorari. Attorney Lips
comb has announced thai he will take
this step if Judge Miller overrules the
motion for new trial. However, such
petition will not operate as stay OF
judgment to keep the defendants from
serving their sentences while it is rend-
ing.