The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1894-05-08

mostly against Wall street.
TILE TRIAL.
"Genornr CoIoy Testiiics In Ills Own Be-
hnlf-Doth Sides Hest.
WAsnSoroS, D. G., May THE de-
iense had Its innings to-day in tho pc.
lice court trial where the three leaders
oi,ho Commonweal, Coxcy, Browne and
Jones, arc on trial for their May day
demonstration at tho capitol. Young
Attorney Lyman, who defends Browne
and Joneu, made the opening statement
for the defense. There was no denial
or defense for what tho Commonwealers
had done, he began. Tho defense
would consist In the lawfulness Of their
actions. He could remember but one
similar occurrence In history the attor.
ney said, and thereupon he produced q
Bible and began to road scriptural
passage. 81 must object TO that" in
tcrposed the district attorney, "The
gentleman should contlne himself to
statement Of facts"
"Doe, the attorney deny that this ls
fact?" demanded tho young lawyer,
holding his Bible alott dramatically.
Hewas permitted to proceed and read
the passage OF the Old Testament, re-
citing that the Lord had commanded
Moses to take Of his hat because he
trod on holy ground. Hc had not talk.
cd long before Judge Miller was COM
pelled 10 make tho same objection raised
by tho district attorney aud to request
the lawyer to devote himself to.the re-
cital OF what was intended to be proved.
Instead Of police, the defense would call
citizens who witnessed the occurrence,
MIR. Lyman said. From his somewhat
discursive statement it was gathered
tina. the defense would be based largely
on the brutality OF tho police In club
bling citizens. 1t was to be shown that
CoSey- had not walked on tho grass, and
that Browne had been driven through
the Hhsubbery by the police.
A-RRANK WITNESS
The first witness for the dofonse was
Mr.. Frank Harper. young newspaper
man from Alexandria, Va According
to his story the police had driven the
citizens on the grass before the process
sion arrived in order to clear tho path.
wava. He saw General Coxoy arrive.
The general woro nothing designed to
draw attention to his organization, but
walked 80 quietly to tho steps that no
was not recognized until the people who
knew him pointed him out. Thirteen
police stood on the steps and surround
cd the general when he arrived. The
witness was certain that Co1ey had not
walked on the grass.
,On ross-examina.ion no said that
thora were fifty or sixty thousand peo-
pie waiting, cheering aud whooping for
Co1ey.
"Disorderly, weren't thoy?" inquired
the district attorney.
"Oh, no; they had a right to cheer,
they were American citizens. The
police came near him. riding down q
little girl in front OF him, Harper said.
IIo had been ordered OF tho asphalt
streets by them two or three times. but
returned every time"
"Then you disoboycd tho pollco2"
said tho district attorney.
''Tho police are not tho law. They
arc the agents Of the people to carry
out tho law" was the reply.
One OF the persons in tho crowd on
the grass was Senator Allen, according
10 the witness.
Witness No. 9 was colored man
named Samuel L. Perry, who when
nskod his business explained: 81 am
one OF the army OF the unemployed just
now." Until tho beginning OF tho
Democratic administration he had been
employed in the Treasury. Flo had fol-
lowed tho procession, had kept by
General Coxcy, and could swear that
general did not touch the grass.
Being called upon to give ruling on
tho question asked this witness, Judge
Miller said that 1t might be mitigat-
ing circumstance bearing upon the in
tent to violate the law that defendant
had been forced upon tho grass by cir
cumstances. The Judge added that n
hundred thousand violations OF tho law
did not excuse one violation OF it. This
witness had also seen police drive the
pooplo onto tho grass.
coXEY, OLD DoY, TEsTlFiEs.
General Coxey himself. in his gray
suit with creased trousers walked into
the witness stand. lIe give his resi-
dence as Massillon, Ohio.
"Nhat is your business2" was asked.
II have stone quarry, manufacture
sand for steel works, aud run stock
farm. am now engaged in lobbying
Tor tho unemployed people"
what Is tho object OF your visit to
Washington
TO petition Congress to pass two
laws 10 give work to tho unemployed on
public improvements.
Tho men who came with him did so,
Mr.. Coxey SAID, upon the principle that
they might as well be with him as any
where. They were out OF work, their
families wero deatitute at home.
Did you obey the laws Of tho
s,ateP IN Y
mo. one chicken feather can be
traced to our camp. We know that the
success Of tho movement depended upon
our awiulness. The men were warned
not 10 beg or drink"
In repeating his conversation with
the chief OF police OF Washington Mr..
Coxey said that 1t was his purpose to
Keep within the laws. He told Major
Moore that the army might break up
aud enter tho capitol grounds as Amer
lean citizens, and the chief said there
would be no. objection to that.
'HH said that We must not carry the
banners into the grounds, because 1t
was against the laws" tho general con-