Morris tribune., 1907-11-09
RIGHT TO APPEAL DENIED
Board Grants Pardon to Drago
ROdman.

Like page from darkest Russia
was the story John Arnold Reyes. an
attorney of Duluth, told the state
board of pardons last week and as q
result the release of Drago Rodoman,
a Finnish miner, from the county Jail
atGrand Rapids was promptly ordered
according to the st. Paul Dispatch.
Rodoman had committed the crime
of marching with others at o'clock
in the morning, and had clapped his
hands, thus, according to the COM
plair t, creating a disturbance. This
was during the iron mine strike at
Naswauk, in July. He, with others,
was taken from a hall where they
were meeting, brought before the
justice of the peace, who held court
in the Office of one of the mine off,
Gals, and was promptly given ninety
days in the county Jail. Efforts to
secure an appeal to higher court
were made, but the justice of the
peace would not permit it.
Out of fifteen cases heard by it the
pardon for Rodoman was the only one
granted by the board. The members
impressed with the story told by the
Duluth attorney and trouble for
several peace off Gals on the range
may come as result.
Described as Outrages
Pretty certain that his request for a
pardon for Rodoman would be re-
cognized. Mr.. Reyes entered vigor-
ously upon a recital of the oatrages
which he claimed were being per-
petrated upon the miners stationed
on the iron range in the name of just
ice. He practically demanded the
mans release, and offered as his chief
argument the refusal to permit an
-. appeal to higher court.
"When an appeal cannot be taken
in a criminal case it is about time
somebody stood up and bestired
themselves" said Mr.. Reyes, land I
want to tell you gentlemen that I in
tend to make the name of Drago Rod
oman household word in Minnesota
if this thing continues"
Mr.. Reyes in the recital of Rodo-
mans arrest and conviction, said that
the miner with others was seized in a
hall at Naswauk surrounded by arm ed
men.
"And I W&s surrounded by these
same armed guards when went up
, from Duluth 10 see about the case"
said Mr.Keye5.
This was about 9 o'clock in the
evening. The men were rushed be-
fore the justice of the peace, who
held court in the Office of one of the
mine officials, and that same evening
they were convicted and taken to
Grand Rapids to serve their sentence.
No warrants were issued, and the
men were denied the right of an at,
torney. It was claimed that Rodo-
man pleaded guilty, but this Mr..
Reyes denied. He said Rodoman
could not understand English.
When he arrived on the scene Mr..
Keyes said he Immediately began
preparations for an appeal, but his
efforts were blocked. The justice of
the peace would not allow it. He
next sought the assistance of the dis
trict court, but the judge of that court
said all he could do in the matter was
to issue an order directing the justice
of the peace, to pass on the appeal
bonds offered. This the justice of the
peace did, by promptly refusing to
sign them.
Another argument offered in sup
port of the mans release was that he
was in i'll health. He presented affid-
avits to this effect, but Ju- tice Start
remarked that the board had received
affdavits from the officers of Itasca
county denying this.
"Well, I would not be surprised at
anything you received from those
officers" said Mr.. Keyes.
Mr.. Keyes told the board that he
had evidence of men being taken from
their beds, pounded into insensibiiity
and put in jail. After being kept
there while without trail they were
released. Out of sixty men arrested
and whom he had defended, not one
had been convicted he said.