St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-09-08
erwin ,R0ASTS Them,
st. Paul Attorney Causes a
Sensation in the A. R. u.
Cases.
HE SCORES THE JUDGE
And Delivers a Heated Denun-
citation of the PrOSecu-
tiOn.
WOODS QUEER RULINGS.
Judge Decides That Street
Car Lines Are Under In
terState Laws.

CHICAGO, Sept. 1.-THE examination
of railway strikers was begun today in
the trial of the American Railway un-
ion officials. Switchman Kreiger, of
the Chicago. milwaukee & St. Paul,
testified that Con McAuliffe, head of
the Milwaukee A. R. u had come to
him with request from Debs that all
the Milwaukee railway men strike.
"McAuliffe said that Debs was sure
we would win," the witness said, land
urged us to go out. Ireplied that if we
could be assured of our places if the
ssrike were lost we would strike. Not
many of them went out, however"
A fireman on the st. Paul road testi-
fed that he had left his place because of
intimidation, and the engineer on the
same line said he was told that if he did
not leave his cab he would never get
out of Chi cago alive.
William |. Henry, of Kankakee. a
switchman in the employ of the Illinois,
Indiana & Iowa railway. was the next
witness, and one of the most important
offered by the government, because he
had personally received a telegram Or
dering him to call out the men. Mr..
Erwin objected 10 the testimany be-
cause it concerned a road not included
in the Injunction. but the court decided
to admit the evidence as possibly throw
ing light on the intentions of the re-
spondents. Replying to Mr.. Walker,
the witness produced several kilograms
he received at Kankakee, signed E. Y.
Debs. All of these he read. The first
was received by witness on July l, and
read:
Adopt measures to get Big Four out.
Promise protection to all, whether
members or not. Appoint good COM
mittee. and wire name of chairman"
AT that time witness was a member
of the American Railway union. Wit
ness showed the telegram. when he re-
celved 1t. to several swltchmen, but took
no further action.
Woods Queer Ruling.
In the hearing today Judge Waods
expressed the opinion that street car
lines can be considered as engaged in
Ell route to railway stations to take
trains for distant points ride on the m.
He also declared the business of the
Union stockyards to be interstate COM
merce.
At the afternoon session several wit
nesses took the stand and testified to
acts of violence committed at various
points during the continuance of the
strike. Their evidence was strenuously
objected to by the defense. on the
ground that it was wholly foreign to
the issue because it did not show that
any of the actual defendants in the case
-Debs, Howard, Keliher, Rogers or any
of the other directors of the American
Railway upion-were in any way con-
nected with such disturbances. MI.
Walker. assistant United States attOr-
ney, always replied that he would show
how the connection came later, and the
evidence was promptly admitted by the
court upon that assurance.
The defense also objected TO all testi.
mony that dealt with the acts of the
strikers before July 2, the day on which
the injunction of Judges Wood and
Grosscup, the basis of the contempt
suits, were posted. In Overruling this
objection the court said that such evil
denced was admitted to show that the
situation on the days Immediately sue /.
ceeding the posting OF the injunction
was no better than before, or, in other
words, that no attention was paid to the
orders of the court.
Erwin Gets Hot.
Just before the afternoon session ad
journed Mr.. Erwin arose and burst into
pursued by the governments attorneys.
He said:
1.-THE government has no more right
to lay before your honor this strained
condition of public duty than 1t has to
veX the public by this proceeding"
Judge Woods seemed surprised at
Mr.. Erwin's sudden outbreak, then.
leaning forward in his chair. calmly
said:
''The court of course gives counsel
credit for candor In all of his objections,
and has not announced to the contrary
in one way or another, and, so far as
the burden thrown on the court is con-
cerned, the court will necessarily have
to bear it. But 1t is averred in this in
formation these scenes of violence did
go OIL and that your people were re-
sponsble for them. Now l don't pre-
tend TO know or say OF guess how far
the government can carry its proof in
tina. respect, but l don't see because
one witness has testified to thing that
l have not the right to allow another 60
testify to the same thing.
"Of course, so far as the public is con.
cerned it is desirable that no mistake
shall be made, and in the end 1t will be
tine responsible duty of the court to put
the matter in shape so that the public
will understand how we have pro-
ceeded."
Adjourned.