Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-05-07

would prove that so far from any trans
gressions Of law being committed. the face
was that the men were brutally used by
the police. BY the testimony of some OF
the best men in the city they would prove
tnat the defendants were guilty OF no Of
Iense, but. on the contrary. were the VIC
TINS Of what came very near to being n
conspiracy. The government had not acted
squarely In this matter and had shifted ant
records that the arrests were not originally
made upon the charge upon which the men
were now being tried.
The first witness placed upon the stand
tor the defense today WAS Frank Harper Of
Alexandria, an advertising agent for the
virginia Sun. Harper testified that he was
present in front Of the Capitol last Tues
DAY and saw pretty much all that occurred
there CoNey, he said did not walk or stem
upon the grass. but made his way 20 the
steps over the asphalt. He was so inoffen-
slVe IN his actions that few people even
recognized him beyond those who had seen
him before. :
On cross-examination the witness said
that there was no disorder there that day.
He thought that there were $1,000 or 60 600
people whooping and yelling but ne did not
thlnk this constituted disorder All were
Gaining Tor CoNey. for American citi-
zen they desired that he should be given an
opportunity TO make an address They all
wanted TO hear Coxey, and they hooted al
the police TO show their disapproval OF the
inoignities to which he was subjected. II
MS opinion, the people were Unanimously
In sympathy with Coxey and opposed TO the
police and their opprsssicns.
The police, said the witness. ARE the
ninions OF the people; the agents OF the
law. They are not the law"
Il thank you for this nice little lecture"
said Mr.. Birney.
You hatter me-" replied the suaye war
correspondent from Virginia.
Coxcy NaIkin' Right Pcart.
Samuel l. Perry. a middle-aged colorsd
man. was next placed upon the stand In
answer to q question from Mr. Lipsconb
he said that in 1872 he was employed in the
Treasury Department, but since then Lad
had no regular work. and was NOW a mem
Der Of the great army of the unemployed"
He stated that he followed CoNey's car
riage along 10 the Capitol. and from The
carriage he followed him to the steps He
was with him and close TO him all the way,
and al 40 time did Coxey step on the grass
The witness was asked at what rate Mr..
CoNey was going, and he answered. Mr..
CoNey was walkin' right pearl sab, but ne
wasn't runnin' at no time"
Mr.. Lipscomb questioned the witness as to
the conduct OF the police. MIR. Birney cb-
Jected, and Mr. Lipscomb told the court
that he Intended to pursue a line that would
show that the police were clubbing the peo-
pie freely that Mr.. Coxey would never
have thought Of going upon the grass.
Furthermore, they desired 10 prove that
there were thousands of other people who
were on the grass. and that the police did
not raise any objection.
In other words" said Mr.. Birney. your
defense is that Mr.. Coxey dil not go upon
the grass. but that IL he did there was no
intention TO violate the law"
The questions were finally allowed. Judge
Miller telling the jury for what purposes
tney We're proper. The witness replied that
there were thousands OF people ON the grass.
and that they were forced there by the po-
lice, who drove them of the asphalt Moth
ing of any particular Importance was OBJ
tained from this witness on cross-eAamir,a-
ton beyond a recital Of his own experiences
In the crowd and the difficulties that he
surmounted in his efforts 10 reach the
Capitol steps.
Walked on the Asphalt.
A. NJ. Saltzstein, a teweler. was the next
witness called by the defense. and he de-
scribed Mr.. CoNey's march from his car
riage 10 the steps. Mr.. CoXey kissed his
wife goodbye. ana entering the grounds
by open driveway ne went all the way
to the steps the asphalt and not once
did he step on the grass. The witness de-
scribed the scene on the steps II was de-
scribed in The Star On that day and by The