The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1894-05-12
CoxEYs TRIAL.
Detective Horn. who Was Detailed, Givea
His Testimony No Arms We're with the
Army, and No Inflam matory Speeches.


Army. and No Infiammatory Speeches.
WAsnlNsToS, May 5.--Jacob S. Coxey,
commander of the commonweal OF
Christ: Carl Browne, its chief marshal,
and Christopher Columbus Jones, leader
of the Philadelphia contingent, were
tried in the city police court Friday on
the charge of violating the United
States statutes.
Mr.. Lipscomb opened the case by
fling motion to quash the informa.
tion on the ground that the law under
which they were charged was void, in
that 1t prohibited the constitutional
right of petition for a redress of griev-
ances, and conferred on the speaker OF
the house and the president of the SEN
ate certain prerogatives contrary to the
constitution.
Alexander Mulloweny, assistant
United States district attorney, fol-
lowed Mr.. Lipscomb with an amended
information. which charged Coxey,
Browne and Jones with simply ''step-
ping upon the turf in the capitol
grounds" instead of injuring shrubs
and plants, in addition to the main
charge of carrying a banner or device
luJO ONc CdplJOk TcSeVVbViOu.
Senator Allen then arose and said
that he did not appear Us an attorney,
but merely for the purpose of seeing
the men on trial have fair and impair
tial hearing, which he was sure would
be accorded them.
He held that the law under which
the information was charged was un.
constitutional The power to assemble
and petition congress for a redress OF
grievances carries with it the irresisti.
BILE implication that the right to assem-
BILE is at the seat of government Gould
they assemble and present a petition to
congress by staying in Pennsylvania or
anywhere else?"
Nov, / want to know" Mr.. Allen
said, where the line of demarkation
is?"
Judge Miller interrupted Senator
citizen of the United States failed to
recognize that he had the right to peti.
tion congress for whatever grievances
he might have, but it depended upon
what manner the petition was present
ed, and the laws were clearly against
such an assemblage in the capitol
rounds.
Senator Allen continued by contend
ing that so long as people who had as
sembled did not obstruct the highways
so long as they did not undertake to
enter the halls of congress, the courts
were powerless to interfere. Congress,
he asserted, had the power to legislate,
but not the power to legislate to pre-
vent a peacea BILE assembly
After Mr.. Lipscomb had been heard,
also for the defense, Judge Miller said
that if congress had the right to pre-
senate chamber to present their griev-
ances, they also had the right to say
whether the same body should enter
the capitol grounds.
The motion to overrule was denied,
and then Representative Pence, of
Colorado, notified the court that he
would defend Gen. Coxey, and the trial
began.
The first witness called was.Detective
Horn, of Washington, who was detailed
to watch CoXey's army. He testified that
he had joined the army at Hancock,
Md, under the assumed name of Ed.
ward Home. He made investigation as
to what arms We're carried by the men,
but had not ascertained if Gen. CoXey
had weapon. In response to Mr..
Lipscomb, witness said that in CoXey's
speeches along the route he never
heard any expressions of violence or
threats tending to incite the people.
On the contrary, it was generally un.
derstood that Coxey's intention was to
aid the unemployed. Coxey told him
he was going to make speech on the
capitol steps.
Sergt. Slattery, of the Metropolitan
Police force, said that as far as hs
knew all the damage to the shrubbery
in the capitol grounds was done by
citizens, who rushed across the lawn
toward the capitol building when
Coxey was escorted from the steps.
Coxey's men outside the grounds did
not break ranks.
Maj. Moore, chief of police, then took
the stand. He stated that he gave
Coxey permit to parade, but the per
NIT denied Coxey the permission to
march through public reservations. He
told Coxey that he could not speak on
the capitol grounds, but Coxey replied
that ''as the schedule had been carried
out so far. he intended to complete it. "
The court adjourned till Saturday, a
statement being made that the prosecu
tion would have six witnesses and the
defense twelve. In reply to question
from the court council on both sides
said the case would probably be con-
cluded Saturday.
Default In Interest.
OMAHA, Neb., May 5.-The receivers
of the Union Pacific have announced
that they must default on May coupons