Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-05-05
GEN. COXEYIN COURT
CARL BROWNE AND CHRISTOPHER CO.
LUM6US JONES ALSO ARRAICNEO.
PopuIist Congrcssmen for the Defendants
The Camping Ground Of the Com
monwealers u Puddle.

WASHINGTON. May i-Jacob ;.
Coxey. commander OF the "Commonweai
OF Christ: Carl Browne. It's chief mar
shal. and Christopher Columbus Jones,
leader of the Philadelphia contingent OF
the army OF peace" were tried In the
city Police Court to-day on the charge OF
violating the United States statutes In
unlawfully displaying banner or device
in the Capitol grounds. and in breaking
shrubs and plants there. The courtroom
was by no means crow dcd. Andrew
Lipscomb formerly associate District at
torney, who had been retained by the de-
PENDANTS, was surrounded by niue
group OF Populst congressman, includlfs
Iafe Pence. Of Colorado; Hudson. OF
Kansas: Boen. Of Minnesota. and KEN,
OF Nebraska, and Colonel Redstone the
local Coxey agent and Mrs. Rucker'
lawyer and CommOnweal sympthizer
Mr.. Iipscomb opened the case by ming
a motion to quash the Information asdlS'
the defendants on the ground that 'nc
law under which they were charged was
void in that IL prohibited the constitu-
tlonal right of petition for redress Oh
grievances and conferred upon the
Sneaker Of the House and the Presideh'
OF the Senate certain prcrogauNeS con-
trary TO the Constitution. AlcNander Mu'-
lowney. assistant United states Dis''l0'
Attorney. followed Mr.. LpscomD win an
amended information when chai 80
Coxey Browne, and Jones win shhp.y
"stepping upon the turf IN tne '"P'.'
grounds" instead Of injurlhS sii' "o, a.
plants. in addition 10 the main ch"ise
OF carrying "A banner or uc''N0
Capitol reservation. -,
Mir Mullowncy told the Court that Mr.
4 Hiruey. the United States Dl5t1c'
Attorney. would represent the boN'i" .
ment. and a minute later he enterea'
Samuel Hyman. who appeared LOT
rrowno and Jones. opened the case. VII"
a motion to uuash on the ground tldI t"'
| Information was bad In substance. ~.
The PopuIist Senator Allen ol ~
h-asL, arose and said that he did not
appear as an attorney. but mercy ~,
| tbe nurnose of seeing the men on tIiti
have q fair and impartial hearing, which
| n. was sure would be accorded 'hei''
Tho Senator took the position that on
/ gross could not pass law, the op'' '"',o"
| of which was TO depend upO"
| Judgment of some individual. Inc poMel
| to assemble and petition CohsItS9
| a redress of grievances carries WIN IT. 'i.c
irresistible implication that the flsht 10
assemble is at the seat OF goVrrht'eh.' t.
| coulI thcv assemble and present a p'u-
tiou to Congress by staying IN fehIls3'
vania or anywhere else?
After Mr.. IipscOmb had been hearu
| also for the defence, Judge MilIer SaIN
that if Congress had the rlght 10 PIeN'h'
| a body of men from entering the Scild''
chamber TO present their grievance 'hey
| certainly had the right to say whether
far llnlfnl
grounds. The argument made by counsel
for the defence was perversion ana
subtcrfuge. and should receive no serious
attention. The invasion of the Capitol
| grounds was a gross violation of the
police regulation made TO carry out the
| law of Congress. The right TO petition
was germane to the issue, which was
whether the laws for the protection Of the
| Capitol grounds had been violated by Mr..
CoXey.
BROWNE SAT DOWN UPON.
The Judge went on to explain his view.
and the question. when Carl Browne.
who was standing directly In front Of the
| Judge. made a remark. interrupting the
magistrate. Judge Miller rcpriman1el
Browne. and said that IL he made another
comment he would order him locked up
Representative Van Noorhs. who was
present as a spectator. held that the
complaint was not sufficient to place Mr.
CoNev behind iron bars. It was the most
trivial case imaginable. This gentleman.
whom he did not know. and had never
seen before. walked peaceably from Ohio
win petition in his hand. and while on
the way was dubbed by n policeman.
AT this point Judge Miller interrupted
10 say That facts were not yet under CON
sideraiion; the question was whether the
Indictment was legal and triable.
| Inc motion TO OVerrule was denied and
then Representative Pence. Of Colorado
notified the Court that he would defend
General CoNcy. Mr.. LipscOmb made a mo-
ton for severance Of the cases on
the ground that the various offences
charged against CoXcy and Browne oc-
CURED AT different places ana times. but
| ne was also overrul by Judge Miller
| and an appeal was noted.
| 1he court reasscmhlcd at l20 o'clock.
ana after some delay Il jury was Sc
| lccted and sworn
| Assislant-District Attorney Mullownev
| then addressed the jury explaining the
| charges against Coxey. Browne. and
Jones, and tn law applicable to the
| charges The hearing of the testimony
! was then begun.
| The principal witness was Major Moore
|
! given CoXey permit to parade. but that
| the permit denied CoXey the permission
| 10 march through public reservations. He
told CoXcy that he could not speak on
| the Capitol grounds. but Coxey rcpIied
| that 'as the schedule had been carried
| out so far he intended to complete il -
! The case will probably b. completed TO-
| morrow.
| WORK DECLINED.
y real estate owner. who wished 70
clear and improve suburban tract.
| offered CoXey healthful location for
| his camp and 500 I'm cash If tno Com
| monwealers would do the work. which
would occupy them several weeks The
offer was made in good faith, and Coxey
| was inclined TO accent it,. but Browne
was unwilling 10 move the camD so far
| from Washington. So the offer was de-
| clincd.
CoXey said in court to-day that he had
| not yet been successful in renting a
| new place for a camp. His object is 10
| keep the men in the city i'm sOmts accessl-
| Bile place SO that he can continue to cx-
| hbit them and gather in the quarter
| dollars paid to see his show, but the
novelty OF the whole business has now
| worn off, and the few people who sought
| notOriety by Offering sites at first are now
| holding back.
| Heavy showers to-day have made the
| camp mud-puddle and increased the
| danger To the public health. Paying visl-
| tors are decreasing in number and inter
! est in the camp is confined chiefly to
| sanitary considerations
| KELIY'S MEN DISCOURAGED.
| DIES MONIES. IOWA. May 4.-General
| Kelly was obliged 10 go down into his
| pockets after army money this morning
| before his men could breakfast. The sup
| ply OF bread was abundant. but meat
| and coffee were scarce. The men in the
| camp are becoming disheartened. The
| shortage Of food and tbs unsuccessful
| attempts at securing TRANSPORTATION have
| led to numerous desertions. and more
| are expected. If Kelly marches out of
| Des Moines, as he Will unquestionably
i !. Ii aI a. ~.