The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-03-30
MOST INFAMOUS
NAN OF Hts TIME.
THAT Is. WHAT ATTORNEY Mon
TEETH SAID OF PRESIDENT
CLEVELAND.
THE STRIKE TRIAL IS OVER
JUDGE MORROW WILL CHARGE THE
JURY AND THEN CONES THE
VERDICT

The trial of the strikers has practically
come to an end. Attorney Monteith, who
has defended Cassidy and Mayne, finished
his address to the jury yesterday morning,
and United States District ATTORNEY Foote
closed the case for the Government late in
the afternoon. On Monday morning Judge
Morrow will charge the jury and by Mon
day night verdict is expected.
Speculation is rife as to what the out
come will be. Some of the people who
have watched the case closely expect a
conviction; others-and they are in the
chung Jury" while the strikers are conf
dent that the verdict will be ''Not Guilty"
In his closing remarks Monteith made
an impassioned appeal to the jury. He
pointed out that the strikers were fghting
for their homes, their wives and children
and their manhood. He pointed out that
the United States troops had been called
out without rhyme or reason, and stig-
matted Grover Cleveland as the ''most
infamous man of his time" He concluded
a few minutes before noon. and an adj
iournment was asked for. Judge Morrow
refused the request and ordered the United
States District Attorney to go on with the
case.
The delivery of Mr.. Foote'S closing ad-
dress occupied about three hours It was
plain, unvarnished statement of facts.
and evidently carried weight. He reviewed
the testimony which tended to show that
there was collision between the United
States officials and the managers of the
Southern Pacific, and said there was not
a man living who would dare make such
an insinuation to his face outside of the
court and go UNPUBLISHED. He defended
the action taken by Knight and Baldwin,
and claimed that their efforts to prevent
the strikers and their friends from violat-
ing the law was an exhibition of true man
hood 81 am not defending the Southern
Pacific of Kentucky" said the District At
torney. ut is no more to me than the
humblest corporation in the State. But,
gentlemen OF the jury, when the laws of
our country are violated, and in the viola
ton the Southern Pacific of Kentucky is
injured, then in my official capacity | will
do my best to bring the offenders to Justice.
Whether it is for its actions in the past
or for what it is doing at present 1 don't
know, but there is strong feeling abroad
antagoniStic to the Southern Pacific. That.
however, has nothing to do with this case.
1t is a cold matter of law, and on that and
not sympathy will you have to frame your
verdict.
Assistant United States District Attor-
Baldwin were attacked by the counsel for
the defense in manner that was most I'M
warranted. These two men acted in the
spirit of true manhood. They went boldly
into the midst of the strikers at Sacramento
and reasoned with them. Marshal Bald
win went to them alone and pointed out
that they could gain nothing by disobeying
the orders of the courts and had every
thing to lose. He was practically alone
in crowd that was apparently ripe
for any mischief and yet he never
finched. Mr.. Knight has been attacked
again and again by the attorney for the
defense, and l would not permit him to
tight back. When called as witness by
Mr.. Monteith he was badgered, and then
when under cross-examination l could
have brought out great deal of damaging
testimony | refrained, and even then |
would not allow the witness to say a word
in his own defense. Gentlemen, YOU can
not fail to have noticed the consideration
we have shown the defense AT all stages of
this long and wearisome trial and you will
draw your own conclusions.
"Who were the men killed during this
memorable striker The engineer at his
post and the soldier on duty. Call the
engineer what you will, he was true to his
employer, and he went out to meet his
death, knowing that there was danger
ahead. The soldiers first and great lesson
Is obedience. Inc private who lost his life
in that terrible tragedy outside of Sacra-
mento was simply obeying orders. Who
is responsible for this loss of lifep Was it
the strikers, or was it the railroad COM
pany? That question you will have to
settle for yourselves"
In a brilliant peroration Judge Foote
summed up the entire case, and wound up
by asking at the hands of the jurors moth
ing but justice. His speech was an able
effort, and kept the attention of the weary
jurors riyeted throughout.