The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-07-12
Judge Grosscup Talks Sharply to the
District Attorney, and Mr.. Olney
Disavows Intention Of Wrong.
TEXT OF THE INDICTMENT
Labor Leaders After General Man.
ayers of the Railways.
They Charge Them with Obstruction of
the Mails and Claim They Ought to
Be Indicted as Well.

CHICAGO, July 11.-Judge Grosscup sent
for Debs and also for District Attorney
Milchrist to-day. When both were before
him he said: II understand from state
ments published in the newspapers that
among the books and papers taken from
this defendant there were private letters,
some of which were still unopened. 1 want
to know the truth about the matter"
lit is true" said the District Attorney,
that the books and papers in Debs's Office
were seized by government officers and
some of them are private papers. but since
they came into possession of the govern
ment the papers have been locked up in
the vault of my office and have not been
interfered with by any one"
"Mr. Debs.' said the Judge, stands ac-
cused I'm this court of a grave crime, but
he has all the rights of a private citizen.
His private affairs are not to be inquired
into. and if you have in your possession
any private papers or letters or other doc
lments of that character it is your duty
to return them, and without making any
copies of them. If there is any question
as to the character of any of the papers,
whether they are. private or not, the dis
trict attorney will bring them before the
court"
Mr.. Milchrist said the officers who made
the seizure had taken papers which they
should not have seized. This was due, he
said, to the excitement of the moment and
not 70 any desire TO disregard private
not been copied and had not been seen by
any one since they were brought to this
Ctfice. The sealed letters had not been
MIR. Debs said he was satisfied with the
statement of the district attorney. II de
sire to thank the court" he said, for the
kindness. and consideration and the pro-
lection given me-"
The leader of the strike then accom-
panied Mr.. Milchrist to the %latter's office
and the letters which were seized last night
were given to him. All the books of the
railway union and the records, filling sew
eral large baskets. were kept for the use
The federal officials, from Judge Gross
the blunder made by the overzealous deputy
marshals and postoffice inspectors who
seized President Debs's papers. a labor
leader says: THE seizure was wholly ile-
gal, unjCstifable and unwarranted. II was
an outrage against the rights of the citizen,
committed by ignorant petty officials in
their zeal to serve the corporations which
are prosecuting Debs and his ASSOCIATES.
1t was a fragrant violation of law, decency
and everything else that makes up the lib
erty OF the Individual. So gross vas this
tt orday. '" VirtS Sanse apoiogized to G BeSs. 'G and
ordered that his papers be returned to
L. w. Rogers. editor of the Railway
Times, and one OF the men indicted by
the federal grand jury yesterday, said to-
day he thought the proceedings of the past
twenty-four hours would tend to Solidify
labor. THE seizure of President Debs's
personal mail" he said. land all the Off
cial documents of the union seem to me
an outrage such as one could expect in
Russia alone. There has never been n par
allel in this country, L am sure. To de-
scribe it as high-handed and unjustifiable
would be but a weak expression of the
truth in the case. 1t was an indignity that
will bring more sympathy 20 us and will
show the means that are being used to de-
feat the laboring man in a battle for or
ganization. AS TO the walkout among local
trades, although we have not received re-
liable accounting of the number of men to
quit to-day, L feel certain of its ultimate
success. Few unions will go back or their
promises, and all organizations have given
their word TO go out"