The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-05-08
GRASS TRAMPLERS.
Jake Coxey and Carl Browne
Are Found Guilty
OF Walking on Congress- Pretty
Grass Plot, -
Also of Carrying Banners in It's
49, Front Yard.
THE JURY WENT OUT
And Came Back Soon With the
JVict-
Congressman Lafe Pence Makes
Concluding Speech.

WASHINGTON, May s.-Congressman
Life Pence, of Colorado, faced the police
court jury today to make closing argu-
ment in behalf of the commonwealers.
Carl Browne had changed the suit he
wore yesterday for the accustomed garb
of buckskin decorated with silver half
dollars for buttons "GeneraP Coxey
pulled his moustache rather nervously
and Christopher Columbus Jones looked
solemn.
Several Populist congressman were
within the bar and several prominent at
torneys had dropped in to hear Mr.
Pence, He began by telling the jury
that no one who had heard the evidence
expected a conviction; no one wanted
conviction except the police officers, who
had Interested themselves in the case
"Mr Coxey came to ask for the enact
ment of laws" said MIR. Pence, (which
he believes and thousands of Others be-
lieve with him, will be of inestimable
advantage to the unemployed of the
country" Coxey's plan might be most
foolish or the most wise of all plans for
relief from the present state of affairs.
He had come to present it peaceabIy at
the head of an orderly body of American
citizens, and had as much right to pc
tition congress as anybody else.
How Paid Lobbyists are Treated.
Representatives of large interests
coming here as paid lobbyists to corrupt
congress met with warm welcome, but
were the men who came barefooted,
tramping through the snow, led by man
who had the courage of his convictions
to be invited to the open doors of jail
built through taxation upon the citizens?
He commented upon the fact that for
the first time this term the district attOr-
ney himself, the representative of the
attorney general had come into police
courts to prosecute case, thus showing
that the administration was behind the
prosecution.
Tomorrow MIR. Coxey, free man by
your verdict" said. Mr.. Pence, "will ap-
pear before the labor committee of con-
gress. under the resolution of Mr. Bell of
Colorado to devise means for giving work
to the unemployed and will present his
arguments quietly and peaceably and will
be listened to more attentively than any
paid lobbyist | can assure you.
Coxsy in History.
ssWhataver shall be written of the
Coxey movement when it becomes as it
will become, a part of history, let it not
be said that twelve citizens of Washing
ton branded this honest, well meaning
patriotic man criminal"
District Attorney Birney who is a mild
speaking man and grandson of the old
abolition 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
liant prairie, the member for Kansas
talking to the corntields of his state and
the gentleman from Colorado talking to
an open mouthed constituency.
Judge Miller charged the jury, seek
Ing to impress upon them the fact that
there was no other issue before them
than that of whether defendants violated
the law by seeking to collect a crowd
upon the capitol grounds.
The jury retired at :0J.
At 1880 p m. the commonweal jury re-
turned 10 the court room and at their re-
quest, Judge Miller read the instructions
of the defense to them, after which they
retired.
Found Guilty.
The jury in the Coxey case has re-
turned a verdict finding Coxey, Browne
and Jones guilty of carrying banners in
the capitol grounds, and on the second
cnarge-walking on the grass of the
capitol grounds - Coxey and Browne
guilty; Jones not guilty. Motion was
entered for "A new trial