Little Falls weekly transcript. (Little Falls, Morrison Co., Minn.) 1894-19??, 1894-07-27
Federal Judges Refuse to
T Discharge Debs and His
III Associates. @><
THEY MUST. STAND TRIAL,
Taking of Evidence in the
Case to Begin lmme-
diately.


fight against the prosecution for con-
tempt in the United States court. The
court decided that the answer filed by
the defendants is not sufficient reply
and the motion of their attorneys that
defendants be discharged was over
ruled. In the morning the court will
hear the evidence Of the government to
sustain the contempt charge and the de-
PENDANTS will be given an opportunity to
produce evidence in their defense.
The argument in the case was finished
shortly before p. m. I'D the decision
Of the court was announced by Judge
Woods after he had conferred a few
minutes with his colleague, Judge
Grosscup. In substance, Judge Woods
said:
Judge Woods Decision.
1.-THE main point alleged is that con-
tempt case like this is criminal pro-
ceeding and the motion is to discharge
the respondents on the grounds that
their answer denying the contempt is
conclusive. It is true that procedure
like this is criminal technically, but not
essentially. It is an incident in the
main case in equity under the bill filed
by the government. No case has been
cited here in which the federal courts
have sustained the proposition put for
ward by the attorneys for the respond
ents. If anything should happen to
change our minds during the further
course Of the case, the defendants will
have the benefit Of tho change. AS it is
now we are content to rule that
The Answer Is Not Complete.
AS the case is to be further examined it
is well that all questions be further ex-
amined it is well that all questions be
kept as free as possible from opinions
from the court, and we will therefore
not give any extended opinion
Judge Woods then asked the attorneys
in the case to state how long it would
require to hear the evidence on the
charge Of contempt. AS he did not wish
to remain in the city he suggested that
the matter be referred to a master in
chancery to take testimony. The sug-
gestion met with the favor of the eoun-
sci for the defense, but the lawyers for
the government opposed it. Mr. Mil
christ said the evidence for the govern
ment could be all presented in day at
the most, while Mr.. Gregory suggested
that the case be given to master with
orders to report in 80 days.
The court finally decided to 20 on
with the case with the understanding,
that If it did not make rapid progress it
might be sent to master at any time.
Injunction Still Being Violated.
> During the discussion Edwin Walker,
special counsel for the government,
made the suggestion that it was within
the power of the defendants to end the
trouble by declaring the strike off. They
are still in contempt and the govern
ment is in possession of information that
the injunction is still being violated.
Judge Woods said that if there are
further violations of the injunction a
supplemental information can be filed
and the guilty parties would find them
selves in a much worse position than
they would otherwise be. Attorney
Gregory denied that it was within the
power of his clients, to declare the strike
off, or that any trouble which may exist
on the railroads is within their control
With that the subject was dropped.