The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-07-11
HEARING OF STRIKERS.
They Were Charged With Creating
ce-Another Arrest
Followed Hearing.

Seven of the eight strikers arrested
for participating in the turbulence at
Cedar avenue bridge on the morning
of July s, were given a hearing before
Alderman Millar last night.
John II. Schroeder, Louis Knoeller
and Albert Zeigman or South Scran-
ton. the three ex-strikers, who en-
countercd the crowds at the bridge
while on their way to work, and NJ.
F. Spcllman, one of the Delaware,
LaCkawanna and Western company's
deputies, identified the defendants as
having been in the crowd, and told
| that stones We're thrown, violent lam
guage used and opproblous names call
| ed.
Attorney +. T.. Boyle who represent
| ed the defendants asked that they be
discharged on the grounds that the tes-
| timony failed to connect any of them
with a distinct breach of the peace.
Hon. G. y. O'Malley, of Willard, War
ren and Knapp, who appeared for the
prosecution argued that act of assem-
| bly, makes each member of a turbu-
| lent or disorderly assemblage liable
| for the acts of any or all who COM
| pose the gathering.
| Mr.. Boyle Contended that the defend
| ants were innocent onlookers.
| The alderman asked for an explain
| alton of the presence of so large q
| crowd OF the place in question at such
an early hour
Mr.. Boyle replied that they were
members OF the union and had assem-
bled to attend a meeting called for 5
| o'clock a. m, in one of the daily pap
| ers.
| The alderman held that this was a
rather shallow pretense and could have
no weight with him in excusing their
presence.
| The alderman then imposed a fine
| of $40 each on the defendants. Mr..
| Boyle appealed the case and had the
| defendants enter recognzanCe for
twice the amount of the fine and costs,
which amounted to $110, p. w. CAL
lagher qualified as bondsman.
The throng that jammed the office
to overfowing was making its way
| down the steps when one of the strik-
| ers, John p. Keller, who was among
the spectators made use of some inde-
cent language.
officers Spellman and Seidman took
him into custody and marched him
| back to the alderman's office, followed
by the crowd.
The officers testified to having ar
rested him for having used indecent
| language in a public place. Keller ad-
| mittcd that he used an obscene word
| but earnestly protested he had not di-
| rected his remarks to any one in par
| tiCular but simply made a comment
on hat worn by lady who was pass
ing.
| The alderman thereupon fined him IS
and costs, amounting to 81, with the
alternative of spending twenty days in
Jail.
| Attorney Boyle protested that deputy
| sherffs had no right to make an ar
rest on men for an offence of this ma =
ture, and directed Keller to lecline to
pay the fine, saying he would secure
| Keller's release on habeas corpus pro-
ceedings in the morning and make
Spellman and Seidman dance in the
bargain. He also added that he would
have the alderman arrested for false
imprisonment if he sent Keller to Jail.
The alderman explained that he was
acting as a police magistrate under
the second class city laws and had
power of summary conviction in such
cases without permitting of an appeal
such as was taken in the previous case.
After Attorney Boyle had departed
and the alderman was engaged in maxi
ing out the commitment, Keller decid-
ed that he would pay the fine and
costs, and avoid going to Jail.
The alderman toned down the costs
a little and Keller went his way.
Another OF the strikers, II. II. II
Mnsberger, charged with participating
in the bridge episode has not as yet
been apprehended,