Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-05-08

WASHINGTON, D. c., May 7. The de-
Tense had its inning to-day in the police
court trial where the three leaders OF
the Commonweal, Coxey, Browne and
Jones are on trial for their May Day
demonstration at the capitol. Young
Attorney Hyman, who defends Browne
and Jones, made the opening statement
for the defense. From his somewhat
discursive statement 1t was gathered
that the defense would be based largely
on the brutality Of the police in clubbing
citizens. 1t was TO be showed 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, young newspaper
man from Alexandria, Va. According
to his story, the police had driven the
citizens on the grass before the process
sion arrived in order to clear the path
ways. He saw General" COxey arrive.
The General wore nothing designed TO
draw notice TO his organization, but
walked so quietly to the steps that he
was not recognized until the people who
knew him pointed him out Thirteen
police stood on the steps and surround
ed the General when he arrived. The
witness was certain that CoXeY had not
walked on the grass.
On croSs-eXamination he said there
were fifty or sixty thousand people
waiting, cheering and whooping for
CoxeY.
"Disorderly. weren't theY?" inquired
the District Attorney.
"Oh, no; they had a right to cheer,
thev were American citizens"
uAne of the persons in the crowd on
the grass was Senator Allen, according
to the witness.
Witness No. was colored man
named Samuel H.. Perry, who when
asked his business, explained: 81 am
one of the army of the unemployed just
now" Until the beginning of the Dem
ocratic administration he had been en-
ployed in the treasury. He had follow
ed the procession, had kept by Gen"
Coxey, and could swear that the Gen
eral did not touch the grass.
coXEY TEsTIFIEs.
Gen. Coxey himself in his gray spring
suit, with creased trousers, walked into
the witness stand. He gave his resi-
dence as Massillon, Ohio.
What is your busineSs?" was asked.
81 have a stone quarry, manufacture
sand for steel works aud run a stock
farm, am now engaged in lobbying for
the unemployed people" ."
What is the object OF your visit to
Washing ton?"
ITO petition Congress TO pass two
laws 10 give work to the unemployed
on public improvements"
The men who came with him did so,
Mr.. Coxey said, upon the principal
that they might just as we'll be with me
as anywhere. They were out OF work,
their families were destitute at home"
"Did you obey the laws OF the State?"
Not one chicken feather can be
traced to our camp. We knew that the
success OF the movement degended upon
our lawfulnesS. The men were warned
not to beg or drink"
In repeating his conversation with
the Chief of Police of Washington Mr..
Coxey said that IL was his purpose TO
keep within the laws. He told Major
Moore that the army might break up
and enter the Capitol grounds as Ameri-
can citizens, and the chief said there
would be no objection 70 that.
"He said that we must not carry the
banners into the grounds, because it
was against the law" the General con-
tinued.
81 said there was one banner from
Pittsburg given me by the laboring men
that l had promised to plant there
IF MY LIFE WAS SPARED,
and would like to carry that. How
ever, the banner was packed into the
wagon with the others, or | gave Mar
shal Browne orders TO pack them"
Here Mr.. LipScomb exhibited the ban
ner. 1t was of white satin, with green
letters, and read:
"Pittsburg and Allegheny. More
money; less misery good roads; no In
terest on bonds"
My object in going to the Capitol"
said Mr.. Coxey, was to put to Congress
my two bills, the good roads bill and the
nou-iuterest bearing bonds bill, and TO
address the Congress OF tie United
States and the American people on
them. l demanded the protection OF
the police, who seemed to be Col.
Bright's right hand bower, TO present
TO Congress the petition from labor or
ganizations in favof Of the bills
Concerning the flags OF peace, General
Coxey said they had been provided for
men 10 bring into notice the bills which
wsre designed to bring peace on earth,
good will towards men. The organiZa-
tion, itself, was a minor affair, merely
an emblem of the bills. He did not
know that Browne had the bannerwhen
they started for the Capitol steps, and
he did not consider the avenue leading
to the steps as part OF the grounds.
Next came 10 the stand Representa-
tive Bland, OF Missouri. After some
wrangling over objections TO questions,
Judge Miller refused 10 permit the
Congressman to tell how the police had
dubbed the citizens. Representative
Pence argued that the defense wanted
TO show that all the trouble was caused
by the police. and said they had dozen
members of Congress to testify to that
effect Finally. the member Of Con-
gress was allowed TO tell that the police
had
DRIVEN WOMEN AND CHILDREN
and men over the grass in their charges
The defense closed its case and Mr..
Lipscomb asked Judge Miller to charge
the jury that the act Of 1855 was not in