Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1894-05-10
WAS ON THE GRASS
TECHNICAL CHARGE AGAINST
GENERAL" CONEY
SAYS NO ONE HAD AUTHORITY
TO PUT HIM OFF.
Defense Closes Its Case and Argu-
ments Begun Attorney FOR the
Commonwealers Reads Scriptures
to the Judge and Jury Senator on
the Grass Too

Washington, May THE defense
where the three commonwealers,
Coxey, Browne and Jones are on trial
for the demonstration at the capitol,
Young Attorney Hymau, who de
tends Browne and Jones made the
opening statement for the defense,
There was no denial of what the com
monwealerS had done, he began. De
Tense would consist in the lawfulness
Of their actions He could remember
but one similar occurrence in history,
the attorney said. and thereupon he
produced a bible and began to read
Scriptural passage.
81 must object to that" interposed
the district attorney THE gentleman
should confne himself to a statement
Of fact"
Does the attorney deny that this is
fact?' demanded the young at
torucy holding his bible aloft dra-
matically. He was permitted to pro
cecd and read the passage of the old
testament reciting that the Lord had
commanded Moses TO take off his shoes
because he trod on holy ground He
had not talked long before Judge Miller
made the same objection as the dis
Hict attorney, and requested the law
yer to devote himself to the recital Of
what was intended to be proven, In
stead Of police, the defense would call
citizens who had witnessed the oc-
currencc Mr. Hyman said
From this somewhat diScursivc
statement it was gathered that the de
tense would be based largely on the
brutality of the police in clubbing cit
liens Il was to he shown that Coxey
had not walked on the grass and that
Browne had been driven through the
Shrubbery by the police.
The first witness for the defense
was Mr.. Frank Harper, young news
paper man. 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
CoNoy arrive, The general wore moth
ing designed to attract notice, but
walked SO quietly to the steps of the
capitol that he was not recognized I'm
til the people who knew him pointed
him out Thirteen police stood on the
steps and surrounded the general when
he arrived The witness was certain
that Coxey had walked on the grass
On croSs-eXamination he sai0 that
there were $4,000 or 10000 people wait
ing, all cheering and whooping for
Coxey.
'Disorderly, were they not? inquired
the district attorney.
"Oh, no; they had a right to cheer;
they were American citizens"
The police came near running down
a little girl in front Of him, Harper
said. lie had been ordered off the
asphalt streets by them two or three
times, but returned every time.
"Then you disobeyed the policcT
said the district attorney.
The police are not the law. They
are the agents Of the people to carry
ont the law" was the reply. one of
the persons in the crowd on the grass
was Senator Allen. according to the .
witness.
Witness No. was colored man
named Samuel l.. Perry. who when /
asked his business, explained, 81 am .
one Of the army of the unemployed
Just now" Until the beginning Of the
administration he had
been employed ia the treasury He
had followed the procession, had kept
by Gen" CoXey and could swear that
the general did not touch the grass
Gen CoXcy himself in his gray
spring trousers walked into the wit .
ness stand. He gave his residence as
Massillon Q.
What is your busincssF" was asked. /
II have a stone quarry and run a .
stock farm. / am now engaged in lob .
bying for the unemployed people"
what is the object Of your visit to
''To petition congress to pass the ,
laws to give work to the unemployed .
On public Improvements"
The men who came with him did so.
Mr. CoXey said, upon the principle that /
they might as well be with him as
anywhere They were out Of work, .
heir families were destitute at home
Did you obey the law Of the state?'
Not one chicken feather can be
traced to our camp. We knew that the
success Of the movment depended on
our behavior Men were warned not
10 beg or drink"
Here Mr. Lipscombe exhibited the
banner 1t was Of white satin with
green letters. and read: "Pittsburg and
More money, less misery;
good roads; no interest on bonds"
MY object in going to the capitol"
said Mr. Coxey, was to present to
congress my two bills the roads bill
and the Notwithstanding bond bin, 7
and to address congress on them"
Judge Miller would not permit the
as evidence Of the speech
,oxey intended to make
Next came to the stand Representa-
tive Bland, Of Missouri Judge Miller
refused to permit the congressman to