The San Francisco call., 1896-08-15

H. Murphy and T. P. Reardon he was ad-
dressing crowd near the corner OF
Folsom and Sixth streets.
The courtroom was crowded. The only
woman present was a Mrs. Schwartz of
Oakland, who also has faith in the
principles of the SociaIist-Labor party,
and is a friend of the defendant.
Arnold w. Liecht, young attorney.
appeared for Edlin, and the States
interest was looked after by Assistant
Prosecuting Attorney Arthur Mack.
The six jurors were R. Isleman, M. CALM
berg, o. Server, P. III. Pendleton, f. A
Brown and r. Shainwald, mostly business
men.
The principal witness for the prosecu-
ton was Bernard Meyer, who made the
complaint to the police about the meet
ings because they interfered with his pre-
rogative as an American business man to
sell groceries and steam beer. He keeps
a grocery on the northeast corner of Sixth
and Folsom streets. Mr.. Meyer testified
that the crowd obstructed the sidewalk so
that customers could not come into his
store, used profane language and made
lady customers tlmld.
The police officers told the story of
having been instructed by their lieutenant
to disperse the meeting that only when
EdlIn insisted on b is right of free speech
arrest him. They testified that it was not
a public meeting ard that the speakers
had no permit from the Board of Super
visors TO hold the meeting. Both testi-
fed that the sidewalk and half the street
out to the cartrack were obstructed.
For the defense Mark Leitus testified
that he did not see Edlin speaking on the
ND hoc caid
the meeting from the beginning to the
end. .When told to move away by the
officers" he said, I'VE moved down to the
Socialist Labor Hall, at $40 Folsom street
twelve or fourteen doors away from the
corner, and it was there that Edlin was
arrested. The sidewalk was not OBJ
structed."
The court here said: "There are plenty
of places to hold meetings beside the
street. Nobody objects to people holding
meetings, but they should try to do it so
as not 10 discommode other people" The
court suggested that IAN elegant place to
hold meeting would be at The beautiful
statue" near the City Hall.
Attorney Lieciiil contcnded that it was
not necessary inter the laws of California
to get permit to hold a public meeting.
ing?'' asked Prosecutor Mack OF the wit
ness.
Don't answer that question" directed
Attorney Liechti.
II don't know whether it is necessary to
get permit or not" said the court.
= The testimony of the other witnesses for
the defense, who were Louis J. Gordon.
Frank Neidl and the defendant himself.
was to the effect that Edlin was not speak
ing on the corner when arrested, but was
in front OF the ball; that the sidewalk was
not obstructed, for people were passing to
and fro upon it all the time; that it was
public meeting. Edlin said he moved from
the corner when requested to do so by the
police; that he opened the meeting and
was speaking second time when ar
rested s'I told the officer" he said, that
the constitution of the United States gave
me the right OF free speech and that I
meant TO maintain it.
w. II. Harvey, who does business on
Folsom street, two doors from the corner
of Sixth, was called in rebuttaI by the
prosecution. He said Edlin was arrested
twenty-five or thirty feet away from his