The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-07-11
He Says That e Was an 'Tn-
famOus Outrage
Howard, Keleher and Rogers
We're Also Ares ted.
BAIL FOR $4,000 GIVEN
All of Debs' Corresp ondence
Seized and Confiscated.


". Debs, president OF the American
Railway union; George w. Howard.
Its vice president; Sylvester Keleher,
secretary, and L. W. Rogers. one of
it's directors, and shortly thereafter
the men were arrested. They are
charged with conspiracy to commit an
unlawful act that is. to block the
progress of the United States mails
Joined in the indictment with the four
leaders of the railway union was
James M Nurwin, the Rock Island
striker who threw the switch which
derailed a mail train at Blue Island
on the night of June 30
Debs, Howard, keleher and Rogers
were taken into the office of District
Attorney Mi1christ Immediately after
their arrest. and after few hours d e
tention were released on bail by
Judge Grosscup, their bonds being
$40, 900 each.
The bondsmen are Alderman Fitz-
gerald, who qualified to the sum of
$3.50, OoO and William Skakel, who
qualified for $4,000
The federal grand jury spent but a
short time on the case of Debs and
case against them for conspiracy had
been prepared some days ago by
Attorneys AIi1christ and Walker, and
the grand jurors had not been at
work two hours when the indictments
was ready to be presented in court
liz 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 work. and this
stopped the running OF mail trains.
"A large number of kilograms sent
by Debs and from his headquar tiers,
giving directions which extended the
blocade of the trains, were submitted
to the grand jury by f. NJ Milford,
manager of the Western Union tele
graph company. under a subpoena
issued by the United States court,
Judge GrOsscup Overruling the tele-
graph cOmpanys protest that the
messages were privile ged documents
and exempt from seizure
While the bail was being arranged
Attorney John f. Greeting Joined the
party in the district attorneys office
He was retained by the railway union
officers on Monday evening to assist
in their defense in case they were ar
rested Mr.. Greeting said the de Tense
of the men win be directed by Clar-
ence 5. barrow. who is the attorney
Debs, Keleher, Howard, Rogers and
Murwin is founded on sections 5503
and 1896 and $3.50 Of the federal stat
utes-
al interview WIN OtD5~
While waiting for bail to be ar
ranged, Debs, in an Interview, said:
I'VE have been placed under arrest to
answer to an indictment found
against us by the federal grand jury.
in which we are accused of con-
spiracy to commit, and of COM
hitting, offenses against the
United States by obstructing and
interrupting the mails of tie
country Our bail has been fixed
at $40. 900. We don't know when the
case will come to trial Since 1 have
been brought here, I have been in
formed that officers Of the court have
gone to our headquarters in the Ash
land block and taken my personal
correspondence and some of the
records of the A. r. q. do not
know by what right this act has been
committed 1t seems to me to be an
infamous outrage Not only did they
take my personal effects and papers,
but carried away with them
my unopened mail I have never
heard Of that before in this
country, and do not wish to
speak further about il until I am in
formed 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
ear OF Russia, instead Of the act of a
free country. The seizure was made
by an officer OF the court and the
Postof1ce officials 1 am not running q
lottery and cannot understand under
what law the pOstOffice authorities
are a party to the seizure of my pri-
vate mail 1t is an outrage and you
call this free country. It seems to
me not to be compati BILE with the
stars and stripes It is no longer a
question Of right In this country, but
"a question of force and absolute force
Rt that
'sAs to the arrest. have absolutely
nothing to say We have not com
mittec. any offense or crime We are
res ponsible for our acts and Will
answer at the proper time and abide
the consequences. The arrest viii
not deter us from our work We will
90 on Just exactly as we have done.
be an admission we have been in the
wrong"
District Attorney MnchrIst Talks.
District Attorney Bfilchrist. when
questioned about the seizure of the
effects of Mr. Debs, said: These men
were arrested on subpRn nae duces
tecum, q perfectly legal operation,
whereby they are commanded to
bring with them everything apper.
tanning to their business. In this case
we have a corporation to deal with
the A. r. 1.-THE effects Of that
can be brought
into court on a warrant of
the kind issued to-day. These men
were indicted as officers of their or
gamizations for offenses committed az
such officers The records of the