Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-22
in PERSONAL BONDS
ITALIANS UNDER CHARGES AD-
MoNIsHED AND RELEASED.

Titus Bomomasch and De Pietre Unge,
two Italian laborers, who were arrested last
Saturday by the police reserves from the
fourth precinct upon a charge of melting to
riot, which charge was later changed to
disorderly conduct, were before Judge
Scott in the Police Court this morning, and
after the evidence had been heard their
personal bonds to keep the peace were
taken by the court. Howard Runkle, time
keeper for the Drake-Stratton Construction
Company, the firm which Is constructing
the new tunnel, testified that the two Ital-
ians had marched at the head of about
seventy-five workmen, whom they had in
duced to quit work, to Sd street and Vir-
ginia avenue southeast, and caused trouble,
because $3.50 had been taken from their
monthly pay envelope to pay for fuel they
used in their houses and for the attendance
of physicians.
Policemen Hatton and Oriani testified that
when they arrived upon the scene the two
men were running about, turning over wheel
barrows and throwing picks and shovels In
all directions, trying in every way possible
to get the men to leave the job and unite
with them in a demand that the money
taken from their envelopes be returned.
They said the men could speak Austrian,
Italian and English, and in this way had
great influence with the laborers, as they
could confer with all. Policeman Spring
man told the court that when he arrived
the two Italians were yelling like Comanche
Indians and that he Immediately ordered
them to behave themselves.
Said His Pay Was Short.
Bomomasch testified that his pay was
short, and he was trying to get the money
back. He had found upon inquiry that the
other envelopes were short, and banded
with the others to procure the return of
the money. He remembered Policeman
Oriani telling him to call upon the SUPER
intendent of the company If he had
grievance, and the next thing, he said, the
policeman had locked him up. Unge said
he was doing nothing that he did not
turn over any wheelbarrows or attempt in
any way to start a strike among the
laborers. He had been informed by the
police to leave, and when he answered that
he was doing nothing was locked up.
Attorney Campbell Darlington, who rep
resented the defendants, said he did not
mind saying that the company was taking
the money from the laborers without war
rant. He said the laborers had no other
means of securing their rights than those
they had used.
Judge Scott stated that the case was the
first of the kind that had come to his atten-
ton while he had been upon the bench of
the Police Court. He believed that a tech
nical case of djsorderly conduct had been
made out by the prosecution, but he would
take the personal bonds of the defendants.
He cautioned them that II they had any
grievances against the company by whom
they were employed they should apply to
the superintendent or to the courts for re-
Dress
Courts Admonition.
eff you want to quit work." the court
told them. you have the right to do so,
but you have no right to interfere with
others. They may have families depending
upon them, and the forcing of them to stop
work might cause suffering. The obliga-
ticns between you and your employers are
mutual, and one is just as important in his
place as the other, and both capital and
country.
'If you don't want to work." the court
told them, dissolve your relations and
look elsewhere for employment. You are
yet young men and may make yourselves
useful to your people, but you should re-
member that you must be law-abiding.''