Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1894-05-10

Commonwealers Reads Scriptures
to the Judge and Jury-Senator on
the Grass Too.
Washington, May THE defense
had it's inning today in the police court,
where the three cOmmonwealerS,
CoXey, Browne and Jones are on trial
for the demonstration at the capitol.
Young Attorney Lyman, who de-
tends Browne and Jones, made the
opening statement for the defense
There was no denial of what the COM
mOnwealers had done, he began. De-
Tense would consist in the lawfulness
of their actions. He could remember
but one similar occurrence in history,
the attorney said, and thereupon he
produced bible and began to read
a Scriptural passage.
Il must object to that" interposed
the district attorney. The gentleman
should confine himself to a statement
Of fact"
Does the attorney deny that this is
a fact?'' demanded the young at
tOrney, holding his bible aloft dra-
matically. He was permitted to- pro-
coed and read the passage of the old
testament reciting that the Lord had
commanded Moses to take off his shoes
because he trod on holy ground. He
had not talked long before Judge Miller
made the same objection as the dis
trict attorney, and requested the law
yer to devote himself to the recital of
what was intended to be proven. In
stead of police, the defense would call
citizens who had witnessed the Oc-
currence, Mr.. Hyman said.
From this somewhat diScursive
statement it was gathered that the de-
Tense would be based largely on the
brutality of the police in clubbing cit
liens. 1t was to be shown that Coxey
had not walked on the grass and that
Browne had been driven through the
shrubbery by the police.
The first witness for the defense
was Mr. Frank Harper, a young news
paper man. According to his story the
police had driven the citizens on the
grass before the procession arrived, in
order to clear the pathways. He saw
CoXey arrive. The general wore moth
ing designed to attract notice, but
walked so quietly to- the steps Of the
capitol that he was not recognized I'M
til the people who knew him pointed
him out. Thirteen police stood on the
steps and surrounded the general when
he arrived. The witness was certain
that CoXey had walked on the grass.
On cross examination he said that
there were $4,000 or 10000 people wait
ing, all cheering and whooping for
COXey.
"Disorderly were they not? inquired
the district attorney.
"Oh, no; they had a right to cheer;
they were American citizens"
The police came near running down
a little girl in front of him, Harper
said. He had been ordered off the
asphalt streets by them two or three
times, but returned every time.
Then you disObeyed the police?'
said the district attorney.
THE police are not the law. They
are the agents of the people to carry
out the law" was the reply. One of
! the persons in the crowd on the grass
was Senator Allen. according to the
, witness.
Witness No. 2 was a colored man
named Samuel l.. Perry, who when
asked his business, explained, Il am
one of the army Of the unemployed
Just now" Until the beginning of the
democratic administration he had
been employed in the treasury. He
had followed the procession, had kept
by Gen" COXey and could swear that
the general did not touch the grass.
| Gen. CoXey himself in his gray
spring trousers walked into the wit
! ness stand. He gave his residence as
Massillon, o.
What is your business?" was asked
II have a stone quarry, and run a
stock farm. [ am now engaged in lob
! bying for the unemployed people"
| What is the object of your visit to
| Washington?'
''To petition congress to pass the
| laws to give work to the unemployed
on public IMPROVEMENTS
| The men who came with him did so,
Mr.. Coxey said, upon the principle that
they might as we'll be with him as
anywhere. They were out of work,
their families were destitute at home.
Did you obey the law Of the state?'
Not one chicken feather can be
traced to our camp. We knew that the
success of the movment depended on
our behavior Men were warned not
to beg or drink"
Here Mr.. Lipscombe exhibited the
banner. It was of white satin with
green letters, and read: "Pittsburg and
Allegheny. More money, less misery;
good roads; no interest on bonds"
MY object in going to the capitol,
said Mr.. CoXey, was to present to
congress my two bills, the roads bill
and the Notwithstanding bond bill
and to address congress on them"
Judge Miller would not permit the
introduction as evidence of the speech
CoXey intended to make.
Next came to the stand Representa-