St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-12-15
OEBS ET AL. GUILTY.
Judge Woods Renders DeciS-
ion in the Famous
Strike Cases.
CONSPIRACY WAS CHARGED.
Which the Judge in His Opin-
ion Declares Is Fully
Proven.
CONSPIRACY WAS CHARGED,
ALL SENTENCED TO JAIL.
Six Months for Debs and Three
for Eacn Of the Other
Defendants.


charged" was the finding announced to-
day by Federal Judge William A.
Woods against President E. Y. Debs, of
the American Railway union. The
same finding was reached against the
other American Railway union leaders
on trial with Debs. The finding of the
court is that the defendants are guilty
of contempt, but that any punishment
inflicted would not be cumulative. In
other words, there were two cases be-
fore the court, one for contempt and the
othed for violation of the federal stat
ute. The latter cause is merged into
the former.
DebS was sentenced to
Six Months in the County Jail.
The others on trial were given three
months each, except McVane, who was
released because there was no evidence
against him.
1he cramped court room was crowded
to Overt1Owing when Judge Woods first
entered the court room and took his
seat upon the bench. President Debs
and the other defendants were present,
and III various attitudes of anxious IN
tereSt listened TO the reading of the de-
cislOn. With Judge Woods, Judge Jen-
kins occupied the bench, and many
prominent attorneys were present to
hear the outcome of the proceedings
against the leaders of the great railway
strike of last summer Attorney Dar-
row, representing the defendants,
asked that his clients might re-
tire for consultation regard.
ing what they should say and
after a brief recess the strike leaders
filed back into court. ranging themselves
before the bench. Attorney Darrow,
speaking tor them, said that they had no
wish to make separate speeches, but
felt that they had done no wrong. The
attorney advised the court that Director
MacVean, one of the defendants, was
out Of the city during the strike. A
lengthy argument between attorneys
followed over the proposition to dis
crlminate in MacN cams favor, which the
court terminated by suspending SEN
tence on MacVean. In sentencing the
other defendants Judge Woods said
punishment should be neither vindIctive
or trivial. These men were in will
ful contempt, under what legal
advice | should like very
much to know. These men were the
leaders in great measure Of lawbreak-
erS, and are responsible as leaders.
Ignorant men who followed them have
been punished. Mr.. Debs is more re-
sponsible than any other. He is man
Of marked ability and power over men.
| feel constrained to discriminate be-
tween him and the others. The pun
ishment against all defendants except
Debs is three months in jail and against
Debs six months"
The defendants did not appear par
ticuIarly crushed by the punishment
Debs bowed his tall. gaunt form and
whispered a few words to his sister,
who sat near, and they both laughed
heartily, and Keliher grasped his at
torney's hand and appeared to offer
congratulations. 1t was evident that all
had expected much more severe sent
ences, ana all wore look of relief.
DebS drew his people together and in
Structed them to say nothing for publ
cation, setting them all example by re-
fusing to discuss the case at all
After the murmur of excite
ment over the sentence had subs
sided the court announced that
the punishment was not to take effect
for ten days. in which time the de-
fendants' attorneys will prepare all
appeal. The prospective prisoners
after short consultation with their
attorneys left the court room.
The defendants with their Official
positions in the A. r. u. are President
DebS, Vice President Howard, Secre-
tary KeIliher. Treasurer Rogers, D-
rectors Elliott, Burns. McVean, Hogan
and Gillian.
An enteTprising British rogue was
convicted of retilling bottles of a pop
ular brand of ginger ale with his in-
ferior imitation. See that you receive
the genuine Prices Cream Baking
Powder.