The daily morning journal and courier., 1894-07-24
DEBS TRIAL COMMENCED.
HE WAS NOT IN COURT WHEN TIE
 PROCEEDINGS OPENED.

PROCEEDISGS OPENED.
 A Marshai was Sent Arer Him and Hts As
 sociates and When They Entered tho
 Room Each Wore White Ribbon In His
 Button Hole-Had No Hardship.
 Chicago, July 28.-The hearing of the contempt proceedings against President Debs, Vice President Howard, Secretary Keliher and Director Rogers, under the attachment issued by Judge seamans on Thursday last, was the special order in the United States circuit court this morning. Judges Grosscup and Woods, the former being the presiding judge, put in m appearance at l0:1S, and Special Counsel Walker and District At torney Milchrist for the government and Attorney Meecher of the Rock Island, with s. s. Gregory and W. W. Corwin for the defense, followed close behind.
 Special Counsel Walker set the ball rolling by calling attention to the sup elementary attachments that had been issued for W. II. Overton, J. A. Dris- coll, N. R. Catlin, Charles E. Anderson and John Phillips, and asked that they be called to the bar. Only the two first named were in court and their cases were set for Tuesday. At this point it was developed that Debs and his asso- cintes were not in court and the mar shal was ordered to produce them in- stanter. A lew minutes later they were ushered in through the judges entrance. Each man conspicuously displayed new white ribbon in his coat.
 When all the preliminarles had been adjusted, Counsel Gregory caused . ripple of surprise by the announcement that at the proper time he should ask that the contempt matter should stand over until the trials of the defendants on the indictments found against them, on the gronnd that the act of the pres ent court would initiate against fair trial for the defendants and that if they were imprisoned for contempt the preparation of the defense would be seriously interfered with. MT. Milchrist was about to argue on tho im-
 
 Judge Woods cut him short, and Counsel Gregory entered the formal motion for the dismissal of the informa- tion and the discharge of the defend- ants. This will be argued later. Next Judge Grosscup insisted that the information and the answer should be read in open court. Judge Woods sug- gested that he had already read the in- formation, but his associate was obdu- rate. It took an hour to read the gov- ernments information and as much longer to dispose of the reply of the de- fendants. The latter denied ill toto every Allegation made against them and insisted that they had in no way placed themselves in contempt of the court. At the close of the reading of the answer, Attorney Irwin briefly sum- marized, attempting to show that there had been no violation of the injunction. MT. Gregory followed. elaborating on the same points and pleading for a trial by jury. He was in the midst of 8 long list of citations in support of his cause when a recess was taken. At 2 o'clock Mr. Gregory continued his argument for dismissal. He quoted from numerous decisions to show that the defendants answer in the case should be taken as conclusive and all testimony excluded. He finished speaking at o'clock and Edwin H. Walker immediately opened for the government. His remarks were in brief.as follows:
 "This bill charges that the defendants have entered into @ confederacy to in- terfere with the mails and interstate commerce through the crippling of rail- ways. The railway union speaks and even boasts of tieing up the companies. When this attachment was issued to force a cessation of interference the government was severely criticised and 1t was said that we had given notice to show cause, while as a matter of fact the principal defendant and his counsel were in court and consented to the at- tachment. The defendant was asked to give bail' for his appearance and not only refused, but refused to allow his friends to have it done. Therefore I do not think that any hardship has been practised on him.
 These defendants were ordered by this court to cease doing a certain thing, and if my information is true they continued doing just what they were ordered not to do. I submit that the issuing of every order by these de- fendants since the injunction was is- sued has been an open, direct and vicious violation of the law, and don't care whether learned counsel advised it or not. do notice that particular care has been taken not to mention who the learned attorney was who gave such advice. This boycott emanated from the offices of the directors of the Amer lean Railway union and they are re- sponsble for every act of violence that has followed the orders"
 MT. Walker ceased speaking at o'clock and the court adjourned until tomorrow.