The daily morning journal and courier., 1894-09-06
DEBS TRIAL COMMENCED.
PROMIsEs TO RE 4 BITTERLY CON-
 TESTED LEGAL BATTLE.

Judge Woods Dcciueo Ahht All '"o ~"s's
 Should Be Tried as One-Teiegrams
 Signed by Debs Were Produced in Court
 as Evidence-Dsbs Is Ill.
 Chicago, Sept. I5.-The contempt cases against Eugene V. Debs. George II. Howard, Sylvester Keliher. L. W. Rog- CTS, James Hogan. W. E. Burns. Leroy D. Goodwin, W. J. Elliott and J. F. Me- yean, directors of the American Rail- way union. came up in the United States circuit court this morning.
 At the opening of court Attorney Err win announced that all the defendants were in the court with the exception of President Debs, who was declared to be i'll. The court decided that MT. Debs' presence was not necessary. E. F. Walker, chief counsel for the United States, told the court that since July 2s, from which date the contempt pro- ceedings were continued, supplemental information had been filed against Ho- gan, Burns and others. At that time the judge on the bench denied motion made by the defendants. Debs, Howard, Keliher and Rogers, to dismiss the charges. Attorney Gregory stated that the supplemental cases would be pro- ceeded with the same way, a motion to dismiss them being before the court. These are the cases of the remaining d. rectors. MT. Gregory said he believed the court would of course deny the mo- tion, and the court said he would, and if he found on examination the sup plemental information any reason for different decree form that in the orig inal cases he would change his decree accordingly. MT. Gregory then moved for a trial by jury, but Judge Woods denied it on the ground that this was not criminal proceeding. Ex-District Attorney Gilchrist read the supplement tary information.
 At this point John B. Miller noted his presence on behalf of the Santa Fe road, which Is one of the roads alleged to have been injured by the actions of the defendants. Various legal points were raised, but Judge Woods, declining to listen to quibbling, said: "The essence of all these cases Is whether the de- issued by the United States. court. That is the important point"
 The court decided that all the cases against the various defendants should be tried as one, and the cases of the Santa Fe should go along with those of the government, and witnesses for one be considered as for both. szssss .,ss:s
 The first witness was E. M. Mu1tordsS $ of the Western Union company. He was asked to produce certain telegrams ih court, but refused to do so until the court ruled on 1t. The court ruled that they must be produced. Then a num- Der of objections were made by counsel for the defence on technical points. and it was evident that there will be a bitterly contested legal battle.
 Finally the witness was permitted to read telegrams which passed be- tween Debs and Phelan. Objections were offered to all that they were not sufficiently identified.
 Numerous other telegrams signed "E. v. Debs" were produced. The witness had no knowledge of any of them save that they were filed in the telegraph of1lce Judge Woods said that the gov ernment would have to offer supplement tary evidence to prove that the tele- grams were actually sent by Debs. All were paid for by the American Railway union and bore the initials showing that they were sent from the Revere house, where Debs boarded at that time.
 A telegram was read from Division Superintendent Seal of the Mobile and Ohio, asking Debs to please release the boycott on that road. To this Debs re- piled he would do so If the road was not a member. of the general managers as- sociation. On being assured it was not pebs raised the state of siege on the Mobile and Ohio.
 When court adjourned MT. Mulford was still on the stand.