The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-12-03
CRITICISM.
Utley Deals it Out
to Strikers.

Judge Utley gave some good advice
to striking workmen during the ses-
sion Of the central district court yes
terday morning. The case that called
forth the courts criticism was that
of Henry Harmon, one of the strikers,
who was arraigned Thursday morning
on the charge Of assaulting Patrick
McNally, one of the workmen at the
Pero foundry.
McNally was unable to state def1n
itely who his aSsaiant was, and the
case for assault was dismissed, and
new complaint charging Harmon with
using indecent language, was sHbsti-
tuted, the new case being taken up
yesterday morning.
The complainant was willing the case
should be dismissed, but the court
refused, and insisted that the case be
continued. Patrick and Thomas Me
Nally testified that they We're passing
through Hermon street one morning,
when they met a group of five stril1-
ers. Harmon and another of the group
called after them, calling them scabs
and accompanying the eplthet with an
oath.
Harmon and two companions We're
Halled and testified that they We're
standing on Hermon street, when the
McNallys passed, but denied calling
them names or using the word scab.
When asked what they were doing in
the neighborhood at $50 o'clock in the
morning, they answered that they were
doing picket duty.
Sullivan & O'Connell, counsel for the
defense, stated that their client had
been stationed at the foundry not to
intimidate but rather tc make sure
that none of the members of the union
were turning traitors.
John e. Sullivan argued the case at
some length, asking that the case be
placed on file; Judge Ttley then pro
ceeded to discuss the matter, saying
among other things:
"Whoever heard Of strike among
men without somebody going beyond
the limits of the law? According to the
newspapers, the governor of Illinois has
Just been indicted for the action which
he has taken in connection with labor
troubles, and I also see by the papers
that a crowd of nearly 1000 people gath
cred in Marlboro yesterday to prevent
men and women from going to work in
a shop there. l don't think that the la
Dor organization has detailed FIVE ren
to picket PerO's shop. If they have, it
was a mistake. I don't see the need OF
any picket at ALL although the labor
organizations have an undoubted right
to place one there il they want to- One
man on picket duty would undoubtedly
be civil. But the more men there were
the more danger there would be OF
trouble. 1 have had some previous ex-
peIience with troubles growing out OF
the strike at Pero's foundry, and for
that reason / was not inclined to let
this case be dropped without a trial. I
am not anxious to do anything to ag-
gravate the feelings already existing
between the opposing parties: still.
want to make the law plain, and to
show that it cannot be violated with
mpunity, even in the case of a strike"
The court then said that he would
find Harmon guilty of the offense
charged, but the case might be PLACED
on file, and he then dismissed the de-
PENDANT with the admonition already
quoted.
Onesime Boucher was charged with
assaulting Charles H. Murray, a-fore-
man in the Grove street wire works of