The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-05-08
MIR. COXEY TESTIFIES
The COmmonweal Leader on the
Stand i'm His Own Behalf.
He Explains the Object of His Tramp to
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. of Other
Witnesses-TriaIt to End To-Day.

"a AAo RAoAA
government was the principal feature Of
the days proceedings. apart from the
speeches by the lawyers. 1t is apparent
that the case is being tested on the broad
grounds of justification for Coxey's move
ment, for the assistant district attorney,
in his opening address. called Browne a
crank, and did not hesitate to insinuate
he was a knave. while the opposing law
yers endeavored to make the trial appear
a persecution by the plutocrats of the peo-
pie, and appealed to animosity against Wall
street.
Attorney Hyman, who defends Browne
and Jones, made the opening statement
for the defense when court met this morn
ing. There was no denial or defense for
what the commonwealers had done, he be-
gan. The defense would consist in the
lawfulness of their actions. He could re-
member but one similar occurrence In his
tory. the. attorney said, and thereupon he
produced a Bible and began to read a
Scriptural passage.
81 must object to that" interposed the
district attorney. 1.-THE gentleman should
confne himself to a statement of fact"
Does the attorney deny that this is q
fact?' demanded the lawyer. .oiding his
Bible aloft dramatically.
He was permitted TO proceed, and read
the passage of the Old Testament reciting
that the Lord had commanded Moses to
take off his hat because he trod on holy
ground. He had not. talked long before
Judge Miller was compelled to make the
same objection raised by the district at
torney. and to request the lawyer to de-
vote himself to the recital Of what was
intended to be proved. Instead of police.
Tho dafonc> urar1H coll Dif{xapa Uhn hoA
witnessed the occurrence. My. Hyman said.
From his somewhat discursive statement
it was gathered that the defense would be
based largely on the brutality of the police
In clubbing citizens. II was to be shown
that Coxey had not walked on the grass,
and that Browne had been driven through
the shrubbery by the police.
A REPORTERS TESTIMONY.
The first witness for the defense was Mr..
Frank Harper, a young newspaper man
from Alexandria, Va. According to his
story the police had driven the citizens on
the grass before the procession arrived, in
order to clear the pathways. He saw Cox
ey arrive. The General wore nothing
designed ito draw notice to his organization,
but walked SO quietly to the steps that he
was not recognized until the people who
knew him pointed him out. Thirteen po-
lice stood on the steps and surrounded the
General when he arrived. The witness
was certain that Coxey had not walked on
the grass.
On cross-examination the witness said
there were fifty or sixty thousand people
waiting, all cheering and whooping for
Coxey.
'Disorderly, were not they?' inquired
the district attorney.
"Oh, no; they had a right to cheer,
they were American cftizens,' was the
rQnlV The nOlicR Cama near riding down
a little girl in front Of him, Harper said.
He had been ordered off the asphalt streets
by the police two or three times, but re-
turned.
Then you disobeyed the police?" said
the district attorney.
THE police are not the law. They are
the agents of people to carry out the
law" was the reply. One of the persons
IN the crowd on the grass was Senator Al
len, according TO the witness.
Samuel l.. Perry, who, when asked his
business, explained: II am one of the
army of the unemployed just now" Until
tration he had been employed in the
treasury. He had followed the procession,
had kept by General Coxey. and could
swear that the General did not touch the
grass.
Being called upon to give a ruling on
the question asked this witness. Judge
Miller said that 1t might be a mitigating
circumstance bearing upon the intent to
violate the law, that a defendant had been
forced upon the grass by circumstances.
The Judge added that a hundred Violations
of the law did not excuse one violation.
This witness had also seen the police
drive the people on the grass.
COXEY TAKES THE STAND.
General Coxey himself, in his gray spring
suit, with creased trousers, Wake into
the witness stand. He gave his residence
as Massillon, o.
What is your businesS?' was asked.
Il have a stone quarry. manufacture for
steel works and run a stock farm. I am
now engaged in lobbying for the unem-
ployed people"
What is the object Of your visit to
ITO petition Congress to pass two laws
to give work to the unemployed on public
Improvements"
The men who came with him did so.
they might as well be with him as any
where. They were out OF work. and their
families were destitute at home.
did you obey the laws Of the States?"
mot one chicken feather can be traced
to our camp. We knew that the success
of the movement depended upon our law
fulness. Men were warned not to beg or
drink"
In repeating his conversation with the
chief of police of Washington Mr.. Coxey
In the laws. He told Major Moore that
the army might break up and enter the
Capitol grounds as American citizens, and
ule chlSk odiu thcic was ho oDJection 10
that. He said we must not carry the
banners into the grounds, because IL was
against the law" the General continued.
II said there was one banner from Pitts
burg given me by the laboring men that
] had promised to plant there If my lie
was spared, and / would like TO carry
that. However, the banner was packed In
to the wagons with the others; at least,
/ gave Marshal Browne orders to pack
them"
Here Mr.. Lipscomb exhibited the banner.
IT was of white satin, with green letters,
and read: "Pittsburg and Allegheny; more
money; less misery; good roads; no interest
on bonds"
my object in going to the Capitol" said
my two bills-the good roads bill and the
Notwithstanding bonds bill-and to adj
dress the Congress of the United States
and the American people on them. / de-
manded the protection Of the police, who
seemed 10 be Colonel Brights right-hand
bower. to present to Congress the petition
from labor organizations in favor of the
bills"
duction as evidence of the speech Mr..
Judge Miller would not permit the intro
Coxey intended to make or the protest he
issued. saying they had nothing to do with
this trial.
Mr.. Coxey told the story of the march to
Washington without any embellishments.
Concerning the flags of peace. he said they
had been provided for the men TO bring
into notice the two bills which were de-
signed to bring peace on earth. good will
toward men. The organization itself was a
minor affair. merely an emblem of the
bills. He did not know that Browne had
the banner when they started for the Capt.
toll steps, and he did not consider the ave
nue. leading TO the steps as a part of the
grounds.
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