The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-05-09
Coxey, Browne and Jones TO Be Punished
for Displaying Banners on the
Capitol Grounds.
JONES LET OFF ON ONE COUNT
He Did Not Walk on the Sacred
Grass Like the Other Two.
Penalty for Each 0ffense Nay BE S100
Fine and Jail Sentence of Sixty
Days-Lafe Pence's Speech.

WASHINGTON May s-The three lead
ers of the commonweal-Coxey, Browne
and Christopher Columbus Jones-have
been found guilty OF violating the laws
by a jury of their peers and will have to
submit to a sentence hereafter to be Inn
posed by the court fox their recent demon
stration on the Capitol grounds. Thus
ends what it's leaders styled 1.-The greatest
march OF the nineteenth century" All
three OF the accused were convicted on the
first count OF the indictment, which
charged them with displaying a banner de-
signed to bring into public notice the u.
s. Coxey Good Roads Association" Jones.
of Philadelphia, was acquitted OF the Sec
ond count, which accused them OF treadng
on the grass, but Coxey and Browne were
convicted.
When court opened this morning Repre-
sentative Lafe Pence, Of Colorado, faced
the jury to make the closing argument in
behalf of the commonweal Marshal Carl
Browne had changed the citizens suit he
wore yesterday for his more accustomed
garb of frontier buckskin. decorated with
silver half dollars for buttons. General
Coxey pulled his moustache rather nery-
ously and Christopher Columbus Jones
looked solemn. Several Populist Congress-
men were within the bar and several
prominent attorneys had dropped in TO
hear Mr.. Pence. He began by telling the
jury that no one who had heard the evil
dence expected a conviction; no one want
ed a conviction. except the police officers
who had interested themselves remark
ably in the case. ''Mr. Coxey came to
ask for the enactment Of laws" said Mr..
Pence, which he believes. and thousands
of others believe with him, will be OF in
estimable advantage to the unemployed OF
the country" Coxey's plan might be the
most foolish or the most wise of all plans
for relief from the present state OF affairs.
He had come to present 1t peaceably at
the head of an orderly body Of American
citizens, and had as much right 70 peti-
ton Congres as anybody else. Repre-
sentatiyes Of large interests coming here as
paid lobbyists to corrupt the Congress
met with warm welcome, but were the
men who came barefooted tramping
through the snow led by a man who had
the courage OF his convictions, to be in
through taxation upon the citizens? Mr..
Pence commented on the fact that for the
first time this term the district attorney.
himself the representative of the Attorney
general, had come into Police Court to
prosecute a case. thus showing that the
administration was behind the prosecu-
tion.
NOT A GOOD PROPHET.
Tomorrow Mr.. Coxey, a free man by
your verdict" said Mr. Pence, will ap-
pear before the labor committee OF Con-
gress with Mr.. Bell, OF Colorado to de-
wise ways Of giving employment TO the
unemployed. He will present his arguments
peaceably and quietly, and will be listened
to more attentively than any paid lobbyist,
/ can assure you. Whatever shall be writ
ten of the Coxey movement when it be-
comes. as it will become, a part of history,
let it not be said that twelve citizens Of
Washington branded this honest, WELL
meaning, patriotic a criminal" !"
District Attorney Birney, who is a mild
speaking man, and a grandson Of the old
Abolitionist candidate for the presidency,
followed with a calm discussion OF the
case. He spoke of the Senator from Ne
braska looking far over the heads OF the
jury to talk TO a constituency on the dis
tant prairie, the member from Kansas talk
ing to the cornhelds of his state. and the
gentleman from Colorado talking to an
open-mouthed constituency.
Judge Miller then charged the Jurors,
seeking TO impress upon them the fact
that OF whether the defendants violated
the law by, seeking to collect a crowd upon
the Capitol grounds. Judge Millsr's charge
vict If they followed his leadings.
The. jurors retired at l2:55. About half
for the defense, but the government OBJ
jected, and they filed into the court room,
while the judge read the instructions
citedly, to have the fact that the objection
came from the prosecution laid before the
Stated that he would not have handed over
the written instructions under ans circum-
stances, as that would have been Irregular.
About five minutes after this episode the
jury returned with the verdict.
THE VERDICT.
General Coxey had been visiting with his
wife and his daughter. the goddess OF
peace OF the May day demonstration. but
took his seat within the bar, and all the
party received the result smilingly except
Mr.. Hyman. who was his feet with
some objection TO the form in which the
verdict was presented, but who sat
upon by his colleagues. The verdict was
guilty as to the first charge-carrying BAN
ners upon the Capitol grounds-against all
the defendants, and on the second charge
walking on the grass OF the Capitol
grounds-gulty as 10 Coxey and Browne
and not guilty as 10 Jones. Attorney Lips
combe Immediately entered motion for a
new trial and another In arrest OF judg-
ment. Judge Miller gave him four days TO
file the formal paper. Then the Judge made
inquiries about ball, and Frank Hume,
well-known wholesale grocer. who several
times has run for the Democratic nomina-
ton for Congress from the virginia dis
trict across the Potomac river. signed a
bond in 500 for each OF the three convicted
commonwealers.
General Coxey left the room on the arm
of his wife, pushing through a curious
crowd, which made no demonstration. The
conviction OF himself and Jones was sur
prise TO the commonweal sympa athtzers-
Coxey said that IL was evident that his
prosecution was not on account OF what
he had done, but because Of the principles
in behalf OF which he had acted.
Carl Browne remarked: II was sur
prised at the conviction OF brother Coxey,
because he was plainly acquitted by the
evidence OF any technichal violation Of the
statutes. For my own part. i expected 10
be convicted"
Two weeks may elapse, during which the
trio will be free on bail. before the mo-
ton for a new trial Is argued and decided.
The penalty provided by law Is the
for each offense, viz: fine not 10 exceed
Sl00 and imprisonment in jail for not more
than sixty days, or both. within the discre-
ton OF the court Accordingly the maxim
punishment which may be meted out TO
Coxey and Browne Is $40 and 10 days.
wntie Christopher Columbus Jones Is sub
iect TO 500 and sixty days. BY a curious
congressional error in recent bill which
reorganized the District courts, there Is no
appellate court 20 which a Police Court
case can be carried. The only method OF
appealing from Judge Miler's sentence will
be by an application TO higher court for
writs OF habeas corpus and certiorari At
torney Lipscombe has announced that he
Will take this step II Judge Muller over