The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1898-03-09
ENT CONCLUDED.
Judge woo1ward's Charge Was Very
EShnuStiYc.

Wilkesbarre. Pa, Mar S.-Sheriff
Martin and his deputies will probably
know their fate tomorrow morning.
Arguments were concluded to-day and
late this afternoon Judge Woodward
charged the jury. No word having
been received fom the jury room up to
8 O'Clock tonight court WIS adjourn
cd until ten o'clock tomorrow mora
inS.
Judge Woodv:ards charge was cx-
haust!ve. He discussed the power Of
the sheriff 10 summon posse and
maintain order. Continuing the Judge
said:
There is no Jaw either by statutory
enactment, or by any dicision of our
courts. 10 prevent laboring men from
stopping work, and going upon a strike
whenever, in their opinion 1t is for their
interests so TO do; nor Is there any
law which makes 1t n conspiracy for
wolkmen, in any department of human
industry, to combine together and by
mutual agreement 10 refuse employ
mert until there has been brought
about Il satisfactory adjustment be-
tween their employers and themselves,
upon the points at issue.Thc liberty Of
contract is no; 10 be infrinGed either
by the employed of by the employer
pei a man ~ work who does not wish
to work, so also Is 1t true, that the
employees has no right 10 compel his fell
low wOrkmen to quit work II he wishes
10 work.
1T is certainly true that both at
West HaZleton and at Lattimer the
great body of the strikers failed 10
obey the Sheriff when lie ordered them
to dspresc. and insisted on pushing on.
:, L., tl,af l,, 81
lad the right, in the exercise of the
discretion vested in him by the law. 10
Issue the order. And IL il was the
right of tho Sheriff to command the
crowd to dispense, then ii was the duty
Of the crowd To obey his command.
The right to give the order implies the
duty Of obedience to the order and dis
obedience of il Is evidence of a riot
Gus purpose. If l push on when the
Sheriff orders me to stop do so at my
peril OF course this obligation Of
obedience to the authority of the peace
officer of the county Is not confined 10
IL boring men. 1t extends to and EN-
braces all The inhabitants Of the coun-
~. rich or poor. high or low. If you
are satisfied. gentlemen. from the evil
dence that the purpose Of the Sheriff
and of the posse was to preserve order
and prevent riot. then 1t would follow
that their intent and object was not n
criminal or unlawful one. and the rule
OF the law. which makes the &C; of one
the act of all. has no application 10
the facts OF This case
III on the contrary you arc convinced
by tha evidence that the sheriff was
not actuat.d by 4 desire and Intention
TO preserve the peace. but that he sum
moned his posse with the idea Of In
nicting upon the body Of men known in
a nj |. Il
essary outrage and injury, without ref
erencc TO their action and cOnduct--!f in
short, his purpose was a base, malicious
and wickcd one, thecl so far as n. was
concerned and 80 far as the deputies
were concerned, If they understood his
movittve ard acted With the SANS i'm
tent, the fact of n criminal and rnlaw-
ful combination would be established
and then all the defendants mi;ht hn
convicted although the s!Trt which took
IN" life cf the deceased was fred by n
single ole OF the tle.cndacgts. The ac,
Of any one would. IN that event, be
the act Of ALL"