The Wichita daily eagle., 1894-05-08

WASHINGTON, May THE trial of the
Commonweai leaders, which has dragged
along in the police court for three days,
will be concluded tomorrow. Coxey's ex-
PLANTATION of his plans for redeeming the
| government was the PRINCIPAL feature OF
the days proceedings. apart from the
speeches by the lawyers. It is apparent
that the case is being tested on the broad
grounds of justification for Coxey's move
| msnt, for the assistant district attorney in
his opening address called Brown a crank
and did not hesitate to insinuate that
| Coxey was a knave, while the opposing
| lawyers eadeavored to make the trial ap-
pear as a persecution by the plurocrats of
the people and appealed to animosity
| against Wall street.
Concerning the banner carried by the
army, General Coxey said they had been
| provided for the men, in order to bring
intO notice the two bills which were de-
signed to bring peace on earth, good will
towards men. The organization itself was
| a minor affair, merely an emblem of the
bills. He did not know that Browne had
| the banner when he started for the capitol
steps and he did pot consider the avenue
| leading to the steps as a part of the
grounds.
Bland of Missouri. After some wrangling z
over objections TO questions Judge Miller
refused to permit the congressman TO tell
how the police had ciubtd the citizens.
Representative Pence argued that the de-
Tense wanted to show that all the trouble
| was caused by the police and said they had
"A dozen members of congress to testify to
that effect. Finally the member of con-
gress was allowed to tell that the police
had driven women and children and men
over the grass in their charge.
w. f. Longstreet of Worcester, Mass,
and Mr.. StetstuZ. law student in Mr.
Lipscombe's office, testified that paths
were made across the capitol turf by peo-
pie who took short cuts.
w. o. Shelby, lawyer, described
Brownies arrest, telling how the policemen
placed their climbs on the people aud that
the officer who arrested Browne had
showed him the stick taken from Browne
1t had no flag on it.
The defense closed its case and Mr.. Lips
combe asked Judge Miller to charge the
jury that the act of 1885 was not intended
to restrict the right OF citizens to peace
ably assemble and petition congress and
also that the banner carried was displayed
and designed to bring the organization to
notice; they must acquit Coxey unless he
advised or abetted tue others to display
banner and to walk on the grass
Judge Miller said he would charge that
the jury must find that the defendants
willfully and knowingly trod upon the
grass. The attorney for Christopher
Columbus Jones asked the judge to in
struct that his client was to be acquitted
on the second count; that there was no evil
dence that he had walked on the grass.
Assistant District Attorney Mullowney
made the opening speech. Representa-
tive Hudson of Kansas, who began for the
defense, said it was plain the defendants
were not tried for the technical charges
against them, but because they held po-
litical opinions contrary to the opinions of
those in power.
These men are not being tried for STEP
ping on the grass" he argued. "The dis
trict attorney will argue to you against
Mr.. Coxey himself and the Coxey move
ment."
Mr.. Hudson was followed by Mr.. Lips
combe, also for the defense, and then the
court adjourned.