The Washington times., 1894-08-12
One View of HyattsyiIIe Justice.

EDITOR TIMES: Outrages upon those who are
so poor or unfortunate as to be unable to defend
themselves are so frequent that it is almost
waste of time to call public attention to them,
but certain phases of the latest performance at
Hysttsville should not pass unnoticed.
For several months large body of men has
camped in the neighborhood of that town, con-
Quoting themselves excellently so far as any
police reports show. Upon application OF some
unknown individuals last Thursday morning
the Governor of Maryland sent a train load Of
policemen 10 arrest these persons The preced-
ing night the local justice spent in preparing
commitments for men who had not been con-
yicted, much less arrested AT about O'Clock
in the morning defenders of the peace under
color of an Illegal warrant went 10 the camp
where the prospective criminals were To be
found discovered them sleeping In place
where there they had been invited to live, and
in tents and huts which were their own prop
erty. and put them all under arrest.
By o'clock in the morning they were brought
before the justice, delay refused them, an oppor-
tunity to consult an attorney denied them. and
their names rapidly they could be taken
down written in the ready-made commitments
and by little after o'clock they were on their
way 20 the Maryland house OF correction for
three months All this occurred-not in Russia,
although kennons travels have furnished US
with such precedents-but within six miles OF
the Capitol of the United States.
How do such actions agree with the provisions
of the Maryland constitution? That instrument
says that every man hath right" to have a
copy of the indictment or charge in due time (if
required) to prepare for his defense. This was
denied. Also "to be allowed counsel. This was
denied. Also "to be confronted with the wit
nesses against him; to have process for his wit
nesses" This was practically denied
Again, it declares that "all general warrants
to" "apprehend suspected persons
without naming or describing" 1.-The
person in special are illegal and ought not to be
granted" The justice confesses to THE ZINES
that his warrant was FOR two persons named
land other unknown persons" therefore COM
mitting in issuing his warrant the very ouense
against which the constitution sought to guard.
Every right of the citizen was trampled upon
in this -o'clock-in-the-morning trial
The point at issue now is, not whether the
Coxeyites committed any offenSe, but whether
those who sought to disperse them have violated
the fundamental law OF the land; whether they
have not been law breakers of the worst sort
But we NAV glance at the question whether
this arrest should have taken place. The Cox
eyites were not vagrants in any reasonable
meaning OF the word. They had a local ha bita-
tion, where they rightfully belonged. They had
erected structures to protect themselves from
the elements Some were employed, others
picked and sold daily black berries and grapes.
They did not contravene the law cited by the
justice which denounced those who are with
out any fixed place of rest" They were not
tramps wandering "about in this State and
lodging in market-houses market places, or in
other public buildings, or in barns, outhouses
barracks, sheds or in the open air." The law
the Justice cites TO excuse himself "hosts him
by his own petard." And the Justice confesses
that it had never been formally proved that
these men were pilfering.
If such gross violations of law and decency in
the conduct of criminal business can go un-
whipped OF Justice then may any poor man who is
out OF work and not liked by more fortunate
neighbor tremble lest in an extra judicial man
ner he may unexpectedly find himself in Jail
liberty is a grayer offense than TO belong to
CoxeyS army. A PLAIN CITIZEN.