The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-07-02
STRIKERS ARE NOW FREE,
Federal indictments Against
Them Have All Been
Dismissed.
Many of the Prisoners Came From
Oakland, Sacramento, Red
Bluff and This City.

! The cases against over 200 men accused
of com licity III the railroad strikes of last
year were ali dismissed in the United
| States District Court yesterday. There
was not great amount of interest taken
! in the proceedings, and only q few OF the
men over whom the indictments hung
We're present.
George w. Monteith, the attorney who
defended John Cassidy and John Mayne
through one of the longest trials. on record,
was present to hear: Judge Hawley pro-
nounee his clients free men.
AS soon as the court was called to order
United States District Attorney Foote
arose and read his instructions from the
Attorney General in. regard to the striker
cases. 1t was "a simple statement to the
effect that, in view of the facts laid before
him by Labor: Commissioner Fitzgerald
he.thonght it would be good policy to dis
miss al the seven indictments. which coy
cred charges against over 300 men. Mr..
Foote then made formal motion to this
effect, and Judge Hawley made the heces-
| sarv order. Clerk Manly at once wrote
| Mole prosecuted" against Striker case
oHhis calendar, and the whole matter was
| finished, =
ST am glad it has turned out in this
way, ~ said the District Attorney. az
recommended:t the dismissal of these cases
after the trial of Cassidy and Wayne, and,
being confident that that course would be
| pursued soonerQr. later, let il be known
that any one of the strikers who had a
chance of going to work could come to me
Isand 1 would allow him to GO on has own
recognizance, Now the whole matter is
wiped from the calendar and Pm glad
of it."
The great railroad strike was inaugurated
on this coast a. year ago last June. All the
| lines of the Southern Pacific Company
ySere tied up and things went from bad to
worse until on July 4, 1894, train was de-
rallied on bridge near Sacramento and
two men lost their lives. From that time
on the strikers lost strength and finally q
total collapse followed.
Once things were in working order again
the troops and militia were withdrawn,
and then the wrath of the Southern Pacific
and the authorities was turned against
the strikers. Arrests were made right and
left and soon the 200 men whose cases
were dismissed yesterday were under in
dictment.
Shortly after the railroad strike cases
were dismissed in the United States courts
yesterday Labor Commissioner E. L. Fitz-
gerald received a letter OF thanks from the
American Railway Union No. 80, located
in Oakland. About two months ago the
IdllIOdN ulGL WIZ 11dQ OCCn dllCobCu III
conspiracy in connection with the strike
of last year appealed to Mr.. Fitzgerald
for help. They stated that their cases
were dragging along in the United States
courts, and while such state of affairs
existed they were unable to seek employ
ment, being liable to be called into court
at any time. Mr.. Fitzgerald interested
himself in their behalf and after CORE
spending with the authorities in Washing
ton the cases were dismissed, and yester-
day about 40 railroad men received the
news of their freedom. The letter of thanks
reads:
Dear Sir: At regular meeting of this union
NO 3lo) your letter TO our worthy president,
John Forrest, stating the action you have
the indictments against the American Railway
Union men dismissed, was read and commit
tee was appointed to tender you our heartfelt
thanks for the manly action that you have
taken. We appreciate Ii the more when we
realize that your only motive was the good and
welfare of the wage-earners.
Our thanks come to you like the widows. II
is all we have, and though you have other
friends more in evidence, you can never have
any that will be truer or appreciate more the
favor conferred on them than the members OF
the Local Union No. 80, A. r. U.
H. HovERLY, Secretary.
Among the cases dismissed were ID from
San Francisco, 80 from Oakland, SO from
Sacramento, Is from Red Bluff. from
Vallejo and the remainder from Palo Alto
and other places.