People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1894-05-11
LAYS THE BLAME ON THE POLICE,
The Object Of the Army In Going ia
Washington Set FORTH Again Gets
In His Free Advertising Work
The Bible Quoted in Defense
of the Movement by the
Defending Attorney.


e the commonweal, Browne and Jone
made the opening statement for the
defense. There was no denial or de
tense Of what the commonwealers hat
done The defense would consist O.
the lawfulDe7s of their actions. He
could remen Ger but one similar ocea
sion IN history, and thereupon he
produced bible and began to read a
scripture passage.
Il must object to that, interposed
the district attorney THE gentle
man should confne himself to a state
ment of facts"
Does the attorney deny that this
is 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 hat
because he trod on holy ground. He
had not talked long before Judge
Miller was compelled to make the
same objection made by the district
attorney and to request the LAWYER to
devote himself to the recital of what
was intended to be proved.
Instead of police, Hyman went on
the defense would cali citizens who
had witnessed the occurrence. From
his somewhat diScursive statement II
was gathered that the defense would
be based largely on the brutality of
the police in clubbing citizens. It
was to be shown that Coxey had not
walked on the grass and that Browne
had been driven through the shrub.
berry by the police. ~zgs77s,sEe a.,
The first witness for the defense
was Frank Harper, Young news
paper man fl IN Alexand- ID, Va. Ac-
cording to his story the police had
driven the citizens on the grass before
the procession arrived in order to
clear the pathways, He saw General
Coxey arrive. The general wore moth
ing designed to attract notice to his
organization, but walked so quietly
to the steps that he was not recoG.
nized until the people who knew him
pointed him out Thirteen police
stood N the steps and surrounded
the general When he arrived. The
witness was certain that COxey had
20t walked on the grass, On cross
examination he said that there S.ere
$4,000 Or 10000 people waiting. all
cheering and whooping for Coxey.
The police came near running down a
little girl in front of him. He had
been ordered off the asphalt streets
by them two or three times, but re-
turned every time. He d declared:
The police are not,the law; they are
the agents of the people to carry out
the law"
One of the persons in the crowd on
the grass was Senator Allen.
Samuel L. Perry, colored, asked his
business, explained: Il am one of
the army of the unemployed lust
now" Until the beginning of the
Democratic administration he had
been employed in the treasury. He
had followed the procession. had kept
by General" Coxey and could swear
that the general did not touch the
grass. He had seen the police drive
people onto the grass.
rnyt,x- TINY = 49, ...---
Coxey himself, in his gray spring
suit, with creased trousers, walked
into the witness stand. He gave his
residence as Massillon, Ohio, and said
that he had stone quarry and manu-
featured sand for steel works and ran
stock farm. He was now
engaged in lobbying for the
unemployed people. The object
OF his visit to Washington was to petit
ton congress to pass two laws to give
work to the unemployed on public
improvements. The men who came
with him did so upon the principle
that they might as well be with him
as anywhere else, They were out of
work and their families were destitute
at home. Asked if his men obeved
the laws of the states through which
they passed, he said: Not one
chicken feather can be traced to our
camp. We knew that the success of
the movement depended upon our be-
havior. Men were warned not to beg
or drink"
In repeating his conversation with
the chief of police of Washington.
Coxey said that it was his purpose to
keep within the laws. lie told ior
Moore that the army might or ak uu
and enter the capitol -'rorndo S
American citizens, ana the chie1 said
there would be no objection to that.
but that they should not carry
the banners into the grounds
because it was against the
law. Witness said that there was one
banner from Pittsburg given by la.
boring men that he had promised to
plant there if his life was spared and
would like to carry that However.
the banner was packed into the wag-
ons with the others or he gave Mar
shal Browne the orders to pack them.
Here Mr.. Lipscomb exhibited the
banner. 1t 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 CoXey, was to present to con-
gress my two bills-tae good roads
bill and the non-interest- bearing
bond bill, and TO address the congress
OF the United States and the Ameri-
can people on them. | demanded the
protection of the police, who seemed
to be Colonel Bright's right hand
bower, to present to congress the
petition from labor organizations in
favor of the bills"
Judge Miller would not permit the
introduction as evidence the speech
Mr.. Coxey intended to make, OF the
protest he issued, saying they had
nothing to do with the trial,