The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-05-24

| VIVA hAhHA va eAO AhhAShto VI bhUOE, H6B-
terday afternoon gave information be-
fore Alderman John Fitzsimmons
against H. B. Martin. of Indianapolis, o
member of the general executive board
Of the Knights of Labor, charging him
with criminal libel.
The complaint Is based on IN inter-
view with Mr.. Martin, published in yes.
terday's Scranton Truth, in which it
was alleged that MIR. Powdsrly had
been suspended from membership in
the knights Of Labor because he had
refused to turn over to his successor in
the Office OF master workman certain
books and papers belonging to the or
der. The information made by Mr..
PowdeIly. is couched in the following
language:
On this twenty-third day OF May, 1891,
before me, an alderman Of tho Eighth
ward, of the city Of Scranton, appeared 7.
V. PowderlY who being duly sworn, doth
depose and say: That he is q citizen of
scranton. Pennsylvania, and held the Of
ice OF general master workman of the or
der of Knights of Labor for upwards of
fourteen years until his resignation in No
vember, 1893; that on or about Dec. &.
1873, deponent forwarded to his successor
In Office, namely, j. r. Sovereign, all
books, documents and property whatso.
ever in ~deponent's possession or control be-
longing to the order OF Knights OF Labor,
and the said j. r Sovereign acknowledged
the receipt OF same; that Notwithstanding
the premises one IL. b.. Martin, claiming to
be q member Of the executive board Of said
knights OF Labor, on the twenty third day
Of May, 1894, in the city of Scranton afore.
said, did unlawfully, wiltully and malic-
iously publish and cause to be published
and printed in q daily newspaper of large
circulation, to wit, the Scranton Truth,
published at Scranton, Pennsylvania, u
certain false, malicious and defamatory
libel tending to blacken the reputation Of
deponenJ and thereby expose him to pub
lie hatred, contempt and ridicule, which
said false and malicious libel is in the fol-
lowing words:
THE LlBELoUS WORDS.
"Mr, Powderly has been suspended for
refusal to turn over to his successor in
office, the property Of the order in his
charge. This pharaphernalia relates to the
secret work Of the organization, books,
documents and other articles, all Of which
are specified in the correspondence which
has passed, demanding that the property |
be handed over" And in answer TO the
question, "WhGt answer was made to
these demands" the said Martin replied:
VI don't remember now,n said Mr.. Mar
tin, but they were not good reasons for
In every Office Of the organization the law
explicitly says that n retiring officer shall
turn over to his successor all the property
of the ordor," meaning thereby this de-
ponent, and that deponent was suspended
from membership in tho Knights OF Labor
because he unlawfully and wrongfully
withheld and refused to surrender prop
erty in his possession belonging to said
order.
Deponent AYERS that he is not now, and
to his knowledge has not since Dec. 6. |
1898, had in his possession or control any
property whatsoever, owned or belonging
to said order Of Knights of Labor which
he wrongfully withheld or refused to sur
render, or turn over, and that the said
publication was maliciously made by the
said Ii. B. Martin with intent to defame
deponent in manner and form us aforesaid,
ana contrary to the act of general assem-
bly, of the common wealth OF Pennsylvania
in such case made and provided, and
against the peace and dignity of the COM
monwealth.
The information was sworn to before
Alderman John Fitzsimmors and bears
Mr.. Powderly's well-known and ia
miliar signature.
Mr.. Martin was arrested at the st.
Charles by Constable P. +. Ryan last
evening and taken before the alderman,
where he waived n hearing and gave
bail in the sum OF 81, 900 for his appear.
ance at tho next term of court, d. J.
Campbell and P. McNally becoming
his bondsmen~
Mr.. Martin took his arrest very
cody. He did not appear to be in the
least excited, but stated to a TRIBUNE
reporter that his reception hero had
been a great surprise. He declared
that he had answered the Truth 70.
porter's questions without any intent
Of malice and that personally he had
nothing against Mr.. P~owderly.
ANOTHER CONFERENCE HELD.
After leaving tho alderman's Office
Mr.. Martin returned to the st. Charles
hotel, where another secret conference
was hold with several Knights of La
Dor in room As
Ihe conference was for the purpose
Of considering the arrest of Mr.. Martin
by ex-General Master Workman Pow.
derby on the charge Of libel. The de-
liberations were secret, but it was fer
out by u TRIBUNE reporter that
is an awakening in favor Of Mr..
and that the action Of the
executive board has not met with
endorsements.
After the meeting broke mp Mr.. Mar
tin, in ar interview, stated that he
here with no intention Of using
any malign influence against Mr.. Pow.
derby. He was surprised when the
warrant was read to him. He said that
when Mr.. Powderly went abroad a
brass band was at the depot to meet
him instead Of an officer with sum-
mons. However, when the time comes
he will tell his story on the witness