Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1899-07-20
HELD FOR RIOT.
Inc majority of the Men Arrested for Last
thursdays Riot Held in $500 Bail
for Court

ihursday's Riot Held in $500 Bail
for Court.
In tne Police Court room at City Hall
Monday afternoon, Ithe score and more
men accused of riotous conduct about the
Central r. r. depot last Thursday morn
ing, were given hearing,
All about City Hall there was great
crowd of glassworkers and their friends.
whlle the rooms of the hall were packed
Inc little police court apartment was al
most suffocating, and the lawyers, the
Mayer, and reporters were working
without coats.
Prosecutor j. Hampton Fitbian CON-
Quoted the prosecution upon the part of
the state, while the accused glassworkers
were represented by Lawyer Samuel
Iredell, of this city, and ex-Judge John
w. Westcott, of Camden. The learned
Judge conducted all of the cross-examin-
alton. Both the State and defense were
represented by stenographers, and every
olt OF the testimony was reduced to
record.
Counsel for the defense entered a plea
OF not guilty for all of the defendants.
ana the entire number were given a gen
eral hearing. The general charge was
rloting. In one or two instances men
were charged with assault and battery
Inc first witness produced by the State
was y. ID. King, one of the Cumberland
Glassworks' managers. and he was fol-
lowed by R. Elmer Shoemaker. President
OF the Cumberland Glass COMPANY. The
testimony of each of these gentlemen was
similar, from the fact that both were
upon the special train during the riotous
proceedings. Both testified that the train
was special one, chartered from the
Central Railroad company, for the pur
pose of bringing non union workmen to
this city. The intention of the company
was to run the train directly into the yard
of the Cumberland, but when the switch
was reached it was not turned, and the
car was brought on down to the station.
At the switch. it was testified, the train
was halted for moment, and tine crowd
surrounding, numbered something like
two hundred and fifty persons. Many Of
these carried clubs and sticks, and stone:
were thrown from the crowd, breaking
the car windows and damaging the car.
There was an attempt made to board
the car upon the part of some OF the
crowd. and Albert Dickinson attempted
TO crawl in window. 1t appears t:lat
Dickinson had his hand hurt, presumably
by the falling of a window, but Mr.. King
said he knew nothing about the injury of
Dickinson. Mr.. Shoemaker differed with
Mr.. King concerning this incident, and
says that Mr.. King kicked at Dickinson,
while he was hanging in the car window,
and Mr.. Shoem,ker grabbed Dickinson
to get him out of the car.
When the Central station was reached
there was most tumultuous occasion.
A great crowd was there, and the disorder
was great. The cars were damaged by
flying missiles. and persons were injured.
Finally the non.union workmen were
gotten from the car, and led away by
the strikers.
The cross-examination of these wit
nesses by Judge Westcott was very
smooth and shrewd. 1t was adroitly
shown that Mr.. King was upon the car
with drawn revolver. Each of these
witnesses testified to recognizing many
of the persons in the crowd, and named
those who were under arrest. Mr.. Shoe
maker said John F. Simpkins, one of the
accused, was trying to suppress the dis
order and riotous conduct.
Eugene Laning witnessed bit of the
trouble from the Cumberland Glass Co.'s
yard; noticed stones thrown, but did not
recognize the men.
Albert Ham arrived at the depot dur
ing the latter part of the fracas. At the
depot there was a large crowd present,
and some stones were thrown, while
clubs were noticed in the hands of men.
He heard somebody say that if King came
out he would be killed. He heard Dickin-
son say he was climbing in car win
dow and King hurt his fingers.
Station Agent Smith did not give affir-
native testimony against the accused. He
noticed the crowd, saw the stones, and
sticks, heard the disorder and cries of
distress. but he was unable to identify the
persons responsible for the trouble.
Daniel Keen, packer at the Cumber-
land, gave direct testimony against Mort
Bates. Up at the switch he was watching
Bates and noticed that he was running
ahead of the crowd with an ak in his
hands. When he reached the car, Bates
smashed two and possibly three of the
car windows. He saw stones thrown,
and heard much of the disorder.
Special Officer Thomas Gray, of the
Cumberland saw some of the trouble at
the switch, and noticed J. F. Simpkins
getting on the car. He did not see much
trouble.
Clarence Crane, Charles Ham and
Byron Lore Witnessed some of the
trouble, but could not connect anyone
with the proceedings.
Nicholas Rehm connected William
Max with the affray, by hearing him say
to the crowd. "Come on boys, we'll kill