The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-05-16
COxEY EFT AL. GUILTY
Of Carrying Banners the Capitol
Grounds.


WASHINGTON. May s-The three
leaders 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 imposed by the court for their re-
cent demonstration on the capitol
grounds. Thus ends what its leaders
styled the greatest march Of the nine
teenth century"
All three of the accused were convicted
on the first count of the Indictment which
charged them with displaying a banner
designed to bring into public notice the
j. :. COXey good roads association. Jones
of Philadelphia was acquitted of the sec
ond count, which accused them of tread
ing on the grass, but Coxey and Browne
were convicted. The jury retired at 1855,
after hearing a long charge from Judge
Miller, which left the little alternative
but 10 convict If they followed his lead
ings. About $50 the jurors sent for the
Instructions given for the defense, but
the government objected. and they filed
into the court room while the judge read
the instructions. Young Attorney Hyman
endeaVored exCitedly 10 have the fact
that the objection came from the prOsecu-
ton laid before the jury. but he was
suppressed. Judge Miller stated that he
would not have handed over the written
instructions under any circumstances, as
that would have been irregular over
five minutes after this episode the jury
returned with the verdict.
Gen" 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 snil-
ingly except Mr.. LYMAN. who was on
H. E.1F r-F~r. hi h.
IN which the verdict was presented, but
who was sat upon by his colleagues.
The verdict was guilty. as 70 the first
charge-carrying banners upon the CAPT.
tOl grOunds-against all the defendants,
and on the second charge-walking on
the grass Of the capitol grounds-guilty
as to Coxey and Browne and not guilty
as to Jones.
Attorney Lipscombe Immediately en-
tered a motion for a new trial and an
other in arrest of judgment. Judge Mil
Ter gave him four DAYS to file the formal
paper. Then the judge made inquiries
about bail and Frank Hume. a we'll
known wholesale grocer, who several
times had run for the democratic nomi-
nation for congress from the Virginia
district across the Potomac river, signed
a bond Of $500 for each Of the three con-
Ficted COmmonwealers.
Gen. Coxey left the room on the arm Of
his wife. pushing through a curious
q. demonstration.
The conviction of himself and Jones was
q surprise TO the Commonweal sympa-
thizeTs. COxey said that it was evident
that his prosecution wasn't on account
Of what he had done, but because Of the
principles in behalf of which he had
acted
Carl Browne remarked: Il was sur
prised at the conviction of Brother
Coxey, because he was plainly acquitted
by the evidence. For my own part 1 eX-
pected to be convicted
Two weeks may elapse, during which
The trio will be free on bail, before the
motion for new trial is argued and de-
cided. The penalty provided by the law
Is the same for each offense. viz: A
fine not TO exceed 500 and imprisonment
In jail for not more than sixty days or
both. within the discretion Of the court
Accordingly, the maximum punishment
which may be meted out to COxey and
Browne is 5000 and 12O days. while Chris
TOPPER Columbus Jones is subject 10 800
and sixty days.
By a curious congressional error in a
recent bill which reorganized the District
courts, there is no appellate court 10
which a police court case can be carried
The only method Of appealing from
Judge Miller's sentence will be by an
application to a higher court for writs
OF habeas corpus. Attorney Lipscombe
has announced that he will take this step
II Judge Miller Overrules the motion for
q new lAAdA i1O"cNFis SuCn n DellllOn
will not operate as a stay of judgment
70 keep the defendant from serving
their sentences while it is pending
WASHINGTON, May 12-Coxev has
abandoned his Washington camp in ac-
cOrdance with the order Of the district
commissioners issued two days ago. Civ
ing him fOrty-eight hours to abate the
nuisance against the health Of the dis
trict. The only way he could abate il
was to move from the unhealthy loca-
ton. The new camp is about three
miles from the district, a pleasant spot.
well wooded and well watered There
Coxey expects to maintain Headquarters
Tor the army all summer, if need be, or
as he says. until congress takes action
on his bills He says he expects that the
other armies now marching toward
Washington will cooperate with him
and that the movement will increase in
strength.