The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1894-05-12
Leader of Commonwealers Convict
ed of Violating District Laws.
PENCE TALKS POPULISM
The Three Leaders, Coxey, Browne and
Jones. Are Found Guilty-Were
Surprised at the Verdict.

their peers and will have to submit to
the sentence hereafter to be imposed
by the court for the recent demonstra.
ton on the capitol grounds. Thus ends
what, as the leaders stated, was 1.-The
greatest march of the nineteenth CEN
tury." All three of the accused were
tried by the first count of the indict.
ment. which charged them with dis
playing banner designed to bring into
public notice the Coxey Good Roads as
ISOLATION. Jones of Philadelphia was
acquitted of the second charge, which
accused him of treading on the grass,
but Coxey and Browne were convicted.
The jury retired at five minutes be.
fore l o'clock, after hearing long
charge from the Judge, which left them
little alternative but to convict. At
$3.50 the jurors sent for instructions
given for the defense, but the govern
ment objected, and they filed into the
courtroom while the judge read his in
structions. Young Attorney Hyman
endeavored to have the fact that objec-
ton came from the prosecution laid be.
fore the jury, but was suppressed.
Judge Miller stated that he would not
have handed over written instructions
under any circumstances, as that would
have been irregular. twenty-five min
utes after this the jury returned with
verdict. Coxey had been visiting with
his wife and his daughter, but took a
seat within the bar, and all the party
re :eived the result smilingly except
Hyman, who was on his feet with some
objection to the form in which the yer.
dict was presented. Attorney Lips.
comb Immediately entered motion for
a new trial and another In arrest of
judgment. Judge Miller gave him four
days to file formal paper. Then the
Judge made inquiries about bail, and
Frank Hume, the well-known wholesale
grocer, who several times has run for
the democratic nomination for cong1 ess
from Virginia district, signed bond
in $500 for each of the convicted COM
monwealers.
Coxey left the room on the arm of his
wife. The conviction of himself and
Jones was a surprise to commonweal
sympathizers. Coxev said it was evil
dent this conviction was not for what
he had done, but because of the princi-
pies in behalf of which he had an
nounced himself. Browne remarked:
81 was surprised at the conviction of
Coxey, because he was plainly acquitted
by the evidence of any technical viola
ton of the statutes. For my own part,
1 expected to be convicted" Two weeks
may elapse, during which time the men
will be free on bail, before sentence is
imposed or a new trial ordered.
Congressman Pence of Colorado made
the closing argument on behalf of the
commonwealers. He said no one. who
heard the evidence expected convic-
ton. "a. Il. Coxey came for the en-
actment of laws" said Pence, (Which
he believes and thousands of others be-
lieves of inestimable advantage to the
unemployed" Coxey's plan may be
foolish. He had came to present 1t
peaceably at the head of an orderly
body of American citizens, and had as
much right to petition congress as any
body else. Representatives of large
interests were coming here as paid
lobbyists to corrupt congress and met
a warm welcome, but these we're men
who came barefooted, tramping through
the snow, led by man who had the
courage of his convictions, to be in
vited to the open doors OF the Jail built
through the taxation of the citizens.
Pence commented upon the fact that
for the first time this term the district
attorney himself had came into the
police courts to prosecute case, thus
showing that the administration was
behind the prosecution. Tomorrow
Coxcy free man by your decision"
said Pence, twill appear before the
labor com nittee of congress under a
resolution of MIR. Bell of Colorado, TO
devise means for giving employment to
unemployed and will BE- listened to
more attentively than any paid lobby
list. beseech you that whatever shall
be written of the Coxey movement, let
it not be said that IL citizens of Wash.
ington branded this honest, well mean
ing man as criminal
District Attorney Bierney discussed
the case calmly. He spoke of the SEN
ator from Nebraska looking far over
the heads of the jury to talk to his con.
stitueucy on the distant prairie, the
member for Kansas talking to the corn.
fields of his state, and the gentleman
from Colorado talking to an open
mouthed constituency.
"The penalty provided by law is the
same for each oHense, viz: A fine not
to exceed 500 and imprison nent in
jail not more than 60 days, or both,
within discretion Of the court. Accord.
iugly the punishment which may be
melted eut to co4ey apd Browne is $500