The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-09-06
STRIKERS At THE BAR.
Proceedings in the Contempt Case Be-
fore Judge Woods

A Brilliant Array of Legal Talent on
Both Sides and Prospects Good for
Bitter Fight over One Hundred
Witnesses in the Case-The Prelim-
mary skirmish - Taking of Testi-
mony.
Chicago, H., Sept. 5.-The contempt
cases against Eugene V. Debs, George w.
Howard, Sylvester Keliher, l.. w.
Rogers, James Hogan, w. r. Burns, Le-
roy NJ. Goodwin, w. J. Elliot and }. F..
McVean directors Of the American Rail-
way Union, came up in the United States
circuit court this morning before Judge
Woods. The defendants are accused of
violating the injunction issued by Judges
Woods and Grosscup during the
recent strike which restrained
the American Railway Union
and all others from any interference with
the mails or with interstate commerce. 1t
is alleged particularly in the cases of the
officers of the union that the itjunction
was repeatedly violated by sending tele-
graphic orders TO strike and in other
ways All Of the defendants filed an
swers in which they denied specifically
llit tlhLkto lEbAGLLbus AJNGE lOU wiz
nesses have been subpoenaed by the gov
ernment, and the array of legal talent on
both sides is a brilliant one Ex-District
Attorney Milchrist and Erwin F. Walker
will lead the prosecution, while w. w.
Erwin and 5. ;. Gregory appear for the
defendants.
AT the opening of court this morning
Attorney Erwin, for the defendants, an
nounced that all were in court with the
exception Of President Dcbs, who was de-
clared TO be i'll at j949 Princeton avenue,
in this city. The court decided that MIR.
Debs presence was not necessary. Edwin
L. Walker, chief counsel for the govern
ment, told the court that since July %,
from which date the contempt proceed
ings were continued, supplemental in
formation had been filed against Hogan,
Burns and others At that time the
Judge on the bench denied a motion made
by the defendants, Debs, Howard Ke-
liner and Rogers, to dismiss the charges.
Attorney Gregory stated that supple
mental cases would be proceeded with
the same way, a motion to dismiss them
being before the court. These are the
cases OF the remaining directors. MIR.
Gregory said he believed the court would,
OF course, deny the motion and the court
said he would, and if he found on examin-
ing the supplemental Information any
reason for different decree from that in
the original cases he would change his
decree accordingly. Mr.. Gregory then
moved for a trial by jury, but Judge
Woods denied it on the ground that this
was not a criminal proceeding. Ex-DistricJ
Attorney Milchrist read the supplemental
information. AT this point John ID.
Miller noted his presence on behalf Of
the Santa Re Railroad which is one Of
the roads alleged TO have been injured by
the urti0uo ~ tho dnfaudanfa
Various legal points were raised but
Judge Woods declined TO listen TO quib-
bling. He said "1he essence of all these
cases is whether the defendants have
violated an Injunction issued by the
United States court. That is the impor-
tant point in this case The court decided
that all of the cases against the various
defendants should be tried as one, and
the cases Of the Santa Fe should go along
With the Governments and witnesses for
one be considered as witnesses for both.
The first witness called was Edwin M.
Milford, manager Of the Western Union
company. He was asked TO produce cer-
tain kilograms in court, but refused to do
so until the court ruled on il. The court
ruled that they must be produced. Then
a number of oh ectiOns were made by
the counsel for the defense on technical
points. They fought every step of the
way, and it was evident that there would
be bitterly contested legal battle.
Finally the witness was permitted TO
read kilograms which passed between
Debs and Phean. Objections were Of
fered TO all kilograms on the ground that
they were not sufficiently identified
AT the afternoon session the eXamina-
tion OF Mulford was continued. Numer-
Gus other telegrams signed ''E. V. Debs"
were produced. The witness had no
knowledge of any of them save
that they were fled in the tele-
graph Office. Judge Woods said
the government would have TO offer
supplementary evidence TO prove that the
teegrams were actually sent by the de-
fendant Debs All were paid for by the
American Railway Union, and bore ini-
tials showing they were sent from the
Revere house, where Debs boarded at the
time the messages were sent A tele-
gram was read from Division Su-
perintendent Seal Of the Mobile
and Ohio railroad asking Debs to
''please release the boycott" on that
road To this, Dcbs replied that he
would do so il the road was not member
of the general managers association On
being assured that it was not, Debs
raised the state of siege on the Mobile
and Ohio railroad.
When court ad burned until tomorrow
Mr.. milford was still on the stand