The Portland daily press., 1894-05-08
CoxEY ON THE STAND,
Says He Is 500 Out SO Far Because of the
Army.

Washington, May THE trial ofsthe
Commonwealers, Coxey, Browne and
Jones, charged with violating on May 1
an act regulating Jhe use of the Capitol
grounds, was resumed this morning in
the district police court before jury.
The trio of defendants came into court
promptly, and took their accustomed
seats.
After several witnesses had been ex-
pass on the grass, Coxey was called in
his own defence. In the course of his
testimony he stated the circumstances
of his arrest substantially as reported.
On croass-examinaJion he was asked:
"Are you responsible, Mr.. Coxey, for
encamping your men in the manure
dump III South Washington"
= :" am. ..and / think the people of WASH
ington are indebted to US for cleaning
the place up"
did yousnot know, Mr.. Coxey," said
MIR. Birney, "that you were violating
the law in trying to speak?n
II am an American citizen. and l
thought had that right. Besides, the
Constitution give me the rights. and l.
don't think the law that wasspassed was
intended to repeal the Constitution. - ---
Witness was then questioned as to his
reasons for carrying the Commonweal
bannerettes," He said it was for the
purpose of bringing about good feeling,
and demonstrating the.brotherly spirit of
the organization.
Representative Bland of Missouri then
took the stand for the defence. He, said
that while he was standing on the Cap
itol steps he saw 20 police coming tow
ards the Capitol from the southern part
of the grounds, and around them was an
immense number of people.
did you see any of the police use
their clubs?" asked Mr.. Pence.
Objection was made to the witness an
swering.
After answering some more questions
as to the action Of the police and citi-
zens, Mr.. Bland was dismissed, and at
IL. 40 the court took::a recess.
This afternoon9MT. Coxey,was recalled
and said: Previous to leaving Massil
lon, received SIS for the support Of the
army. Since that time there have been
penses were paid by charging an admis-
sion see to our camp. I a de no memo
randum of receipts and exFen ditures. /
am $500 behind on my own account"
The court refused to admit in evidence
trunk full of petitions in favor Of good
roads and no interest on bonds, which
Coxey's attorney attempted to introduce.
Train Stealers Foiled.
Tacoma, WASH, May 7.-Coxeyites
put torpedo on the Northern Pacific
railroad track mile and half east of
Easton last evening, and stopped the
east bound freight train. More than
100 boarded i5. The engineer backed
the train into Easton and side tracked
it, Deputy United States marshals were
sent from Stampede to eject the tramps
1t is estimated tht only one-half of the
band originally encamped at Puyallup
crossed the mountain.
With Kelley's F1oaters.
Des Moines, Iowa, May 7.-The propect
of prolonged boat ride is holding Kel-
ley's men together, and desertions are
rare. The army had good meal this
morning. The work on the fat boats is
progressing rapidly, and nearly 100 were
finished at 1 O'Clock The boats will be
decorated by the different labor unions
of Des Moines General Kelley says the
start down the Des Moines river will be
made tomorrow morning, and the army
willsbe in Washington July 4th.
At meeting of the labor leaders held
here, Grand Master Workman Sovereign
being present, it was decided to issue an
appeal to the Knights of Laborsof Amer
lea and Canada, asking each Individual
member to contribute ST. to Kelley, lead
or of the industrial army now located
here.