The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-05-08
COXEY INA WITNESS CHAIR
The General Tells Of His RCpulSe
From the Capitol.

Lawyer Lyman Promises to Prove
That the Arrest of the Defendants
Was a Most Brutsl Affair-He Also
Expects to Show That Conspir-
acy Exists for the Conviction of
the Defendants.
Washington, May THE trial of Com
monwealers Coxey, Brown and Jones,
charged with violating, May /,
the act regulating the use of
the capitol grounds, was resumed this
morning in the district police court be-
fore jury. The courtroom was filled to
its full capacity by spectators.
The trio of defendants came into court
promptly and took their accustomed
seats
The proceedings were opened by MIR.
Lyman in an argument for the defense,
who said that he would prove by promi-
nent citizens that the arrest of the de-
PENDANTS was one of the most brutal
affairs ever heard of. The witnesses will
testify to the action of the police in the
use OF their clubs, not only upon the de-
fendants, but upon others not connected
with the commonweal. He expected to
show by unquestioned proof that a con-
defendants.
CoxEY A WITNESS.
After several witnesses were examined
to show that Gen. Coxey did not trespass
on the grass, Gen. Coxey was called in his
own defense. In the course of his testi-
mony he stated that, according to the
! programme, the march was to be on the
north side of the capitol, but they were
! under the lead of police, and if the army
had not been escorted to the south Of the
! grounds the misdemeanor might never
! have been committed.
A banner presented to the common,
weals by the Knights of Labor of ALE
! ghany, reading: "Pittsburg and ALE
| ghany, more money, less misery, good
roads no interest on bonds" which Gen
! Coxey had promised would be planted
| on the foot of the capitol steps, was given
| to Maj. Moore, and was offered in evi
dence of the fact that no banner or flag
| had been carried through the grounds.
| Gen. Coxey spoke of his efforts to secure
| permission from Speaker Crisp and Vice
! President Stevenson to speak on the
| capitol grounds. He then went on to tell
| how, after pushing his way through the
crowd, he had reached the capitol steps
! Two men whom he did not know were al
his side the while, and he had said tC
them that he could get through without
assistance, but they did not leave his side
until he was escorted from the steps AT
the steps he saw the police assembled
there to prevent his making a speech.
BRIGHT's RIGHT BOWER.
''Col. Bright's right bower" he con.
tinued, ''said 70 me that he had charge OF
the capitol police and that l could not
make an address there. / had a protest
in my pocket to present in case they
would not allow me to make a petition,
but he would not even allow me to read
that. l then said TO him. 1 wish to tender
it to you as the officer in charge He re-
piled, 4 won't take it, He then told me
l would have to move away, and wanted
to know where l wished to go, and told
him to my carriage. | did not want to do
anything contrary to law, and | went
away peacefully with the officers, who
escorted me from the steps"
CoxEY CRoss-ExAMINED.
In cross examination he was asked.
Are you responsible, Mr.. Coxey for
encamping your men on the manure dump
in South Washington"
II am, and l think the people of Wash
ington are indebted to us for cleaning
the place up
"Did you not know, MIR. Coxey," said
MIR. Blrney that you were violating the
law in trying to speak"
Il am an American citizen and
thought had that right. Besides, the
constitution gives me the right, and ]
don't think the law that was passed was
intended to repeal the constitution"
The witness was then questioned as tC
his reasons for carrying the commonwea
"bannerets He said it was for the pur
pose of bringing about good feeling and
demonstrating the brotherly spirit Of the
organization.
NO MORE ADVERTISING.
The district attorney objected to the
question asked by Mr. Lpscomb for the
purpose of putting in evidence tho protest
Gen. Coxey had offered to the capitol
police.
1--WE are not going to give Coxey any
more advertising" :" said Mr. Birney
tWell, " said Mr.. Lipscomb, "what did
you arrest him forl''
The attorneys on both sides began tc
get excited, but Judge Miller cut the mat
ter short by refusing to allow the protest
to be put in evidence.
The argument by the lawyers began
this afternoon, half an hour being allowed
to each speaker. Before the argument
was concluded the court adjourned until
tomorrow.
KELLEY'S MEN IN A ROW.
The Sacramento Contingent Think