The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-07-11

We're taken into the office of District At
torney Milchrist Immediately after their ar
rest. and after few hours detention were
released on bail by Judge Grosscup. their
bonds being $4,000 each.
The federal grand jury spent but short
time the case of Debs and the other
leaders of the strike. The case against
them for conspiracy had been prepared
some days ago by attorneys Milchrist and
Walker, and the grand jurors had been at
work two hours when the indictment was
ready TO be presented In court 1t was
based on some of the public utterances
Of Debs and the other leaders, and this
was clinched by the original orders in
writing sent out by Debs directing men on
the different railways TO quit their work,
thus stopping the running of mail trains.
A large number of kilograms sent by Debs
from his headquarters. giving directions
which extended the blockade of the trains,
were submitted to the grand jury by E. NJ.
Mulford, manager of the Western Union
Telegraph Company, under a subpoena is
sued by the United States court, Judge
Grosscup overruling the telegraph COM
pany's protest that the messages were priv
ileged documents and exempt from seizure.
Mr.. Mulford had left the grand jury room
filed out and walked into Judge Grosscup's
court. Foreman Sanborn handed to the
court the indictment, which was at once
taken to the Office of the district attorney
Marshal Arnold and deputy sent
out with warrants. Shortly before 5 o'clock
Marshal Arnold returned with President
Debs as prisoner Debs was taken into
Mr.. Milchrist's private Office. He was ac-
companied by Theodore Debs, his brother,
who was with him when the arrest was
made. There were in the office when the
head of the American Railway Union ar
rived as prisoner Edward Vilker and Mr..
Milchrist, and these were soon joined by
Judge Grosscup, who had been sent for to
take bail. Debs sent his brother out to look
for bondsmen, and, while walling for his
friends to appear. sat with the judge, the
two attorneys for the governmen. and the
marshal who had arrested him, while the
door of the office was locked to all comers.
1t was not long until Deputy Logan ap-
peared with Keleher, the secretary. In
short time Theodore Debs returned with
attorney l.. r. Bisoee, who had been re-
tained TO defend the prisoners At 6 o'clock
Deputy Logan appeared with Rogers and
Vice President Howard. The latter was the
only one of the four whose face bore traces
of anger or resentment as he was taken
into the back room. The others took their
arrest calmly.
RELEASED ON BONDS OF $4,000.
1t was after half past Z o'clock before
Clerk Burnham appeared and the bail bond
was legally accepted The bondsmen are
Alderman William Fitzgerald who qualified
to the sum of $250OO0. and William Skakel,
who qualified for $4,000, the bonds being
time later when the formality of signing
was completed and the indicted ones left
the building in company with their bonds
men.
Marshal Arnold found Debs in his apart
ments at the Leland. when he took him
into custody. The strike leader was sit
ting in an outer room, which he used as an
office when the marsha appeared. and
there were several persons with him. When
the marshal introduced himself Debs
stepped back into al inner room. asking
the marshal to go with him, and then the
marshal showed his warrant.
Il am ready to go with you,'' said Debs.
with apparent cheerfulness. as he walked
into the outer room and reached for his
hat and walking stick. II have been in
dicted and arrested" he said to those who
remark he hurried away with the marshal
While the bail was being arranged, at
torney John F. Geeting joined the party in
the district attorneys office He was re-
tained by the Railway Union officers on
Monday evening to assist in their defense
in case they were arrested. Mr.. Geeting
said that the defense of the men will be
directed by Clarence S. Darrow. who is
tbo Oft Of fha no
against Debs. Keleher, Howard, Rogers and
Murwin is founded on Sections 55OS. 500
and 1896 Of the federal statute.
While waiting for bail to be arranged.
Debs, in an interview. said: I'VE have
been placed under arrest to answer to an
indictment found against us by the fed
eral grand jury, in which we are accused
of conspiracy. to commit, and of COM
mitting offenses against the United States
by obstructing and interrupting the mails
of the country. Our bail has been fixed at
10000 We do not know when the case
will come to trial. Since 1 have been
brought here 1 have been informed that
officers of the court have gone to our
headquarters in the Ashland Block and
taken my personal correspondence and
some other records of the A. r. L. /
don't know by what right this act has been
committed 1t seems to me to be an in
famous outrage. Not only did they take
my personal effects and papers, but car
ried with them my unopened mail. 1 have
never heard of that before in this country
and l don't wish to speak further about IL
until 1 am informed by what right the
act was committed. In Russia and not out
of that country have such things been
done. 1t seems like the act of the Car OF
Russia instead of the act of a free coun-
try. The seizure was made by an officer
of the court and a postoffice official. / am
not running lottery and 1 cannot under
stand under what law the postoffice au-
thorities are a party to the seizure of my
private mail. 1t is an outrage, and you
call this a free country? 1t seems TO me
not to be compatible with the stars and
stripes. 1t is no longer a question or
right in this country. but a question OF
force and absolute force at that
ARREST WILL NOT DETER HIM.
GAS to the arrest I have absolutely moth
ing to say. We have not committed any
offense or crime. We are responsible for
cur acts and will answer at the proper
time and abide the consequences. The ar
rest will not deter us from our work. We
will go on just exactly as we have done
II we were to do differently it would be
an admission that we have been in the
wrong"