The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-12-28

knowingly carried on the conspiracy for
years causing explosives to be trans
ported on passenger trains.
As the head of the union of Il. 900
members Ryan once sat in the councils
of the American Federation of Labor.
Tveitmoe, of San Francisco was
charged with not only supplying two
men to assist in blowing up the Los
Angeles Times, but also with having
asked for more explosives on the Pa
cific coast. He is secretary of the Cali
fornia Building trades council an
editor and a recognized leader in labor
circles on the coast. Also at the head
1 of those found guilty is Herbert S.
/ Hockin, called 1.-The Iago of the con-
spiracy" because he was charged with
first initiating Ortie E. McManigal as
a hired dynamiter and then with be-
! traying all the dynamiters to promote
| his own ambition. 1t was he who once
! secretary of the International union
/ Burns the names of the Los Angeles
| Times dynamiters."
Branded as a Perjurer.
John T. Butler, vice president of the
! Iron workers also was convicted being
branded by the court as a ''perjurer"
after he had denied that Mcnamara
was drawing $1,000 a month to pay for
dynamiting.
An almost tragic scene took place in
the court room in the few minutes fol-
lowing the end of the trial. AS U. S.
Marshal Edward Schmidt ordered the
prisoners one by one to step before the
court, the wives of a score of the men
in the rear of the room leaned pitifully
over the railings calling for their hus-
bands.
Mrs. Frank ]. Higgins, of Boston,
leaned far over the railing and COL
lapsed. She had been crying hyster-
ically. Another disposition was shown
by Mrs. Barry, of st. Louis. With a
smile she threw her arms about her
husband begging him to have courage.
BE of good cheer, John,'' she said.
You cannot expect a severe punish
ment."
AS soon as his name was called,
Frank K Painter of Omaha, pulled a
stick pin out of his necktie and his
purse out of his pocket and handed
them to one of his attorneys
James Cooney, one of the Chicago
prisoners, sat with outward calm
reading a newspaper while the VerdIctS
were being read and threw down the
paper only when his name was called
to step before the court
Possible Punishment.
Possible punishments vary from any
minimum to maximum of 80 and
one-half years. in the discretion of the
court.
Each prisoner as found guilty,
stands convicted of having in one in |
stance joined a conspiracy to commit |
an offense against the Z. S. govern |
ment this being punishable by two |
years Imprisonment or a fine of $1O,- |
600 or both.
Each prisoner is found guilty on Is /
charges of illegal transportation of
explosives on interstate passenger |
trains, each offense being punishable
by an Imprisonment of eighteen
months or $4,000 fine or both.
While the cumulated possible pun
ishments are 80 and one-half years,
the court intimated in the course of
the trial he would impose sentences {
in accordance with the degree of guilt.
All the overt acts were charged as
being related to the series of dynamite
and nitroglycerine explosions, includ-
ing those on the Pacific coast as we'll
as those in New England, which were
directed against open shop" structural
iron and steel contractors against
whom a strike was called by the In
ternational Iron workers union in
1905.
After receiving their sentences the
prisoners are to be taken to a federal
prison, probably at Fort Leavenworth,
Kan.
A special train probably will be used
Jury Out Since Thursday.
The end of the historic trial came at
10 a. m, the jury having been out
since Thursday at 5 p. m.
At that time the jurors entered
Judge Albert B. Anderson's court
room, passed before the forty men on
trial and indicating the Importance of
what they We're about to reveal only
by intensely pale faces, sat down.
Gentlemen of the jury, have you
agreed upon verdicts?" asked Judge
Anderson.
I'VE have" said the foreman, rising
fr m his seat. His voice was like a
Whisper but 1t 4e-echced throughout
the courtroom. Tho sobbing of wom-
.f h .
room where the wives of the defend
ants sat.
"A bundle of v hite rapers was passed
from the jury box to Clerk Noble c.
Butler. On those papers was written
liberty or imprisonment for many
more men than are usually tried by
one jury Back in the rear of the
courtroom the suppressed sobbing
again suggested agitation.
Everybody remain seated" de-
the United States marshal. ST.
lence again was restored save for the
rustling of the papers which Clerk
and which he proceeded to read
The first name was Ryan. Clerk
Butler pronounced it and cleared his
throat.
Guilty" he said. 1--WE find the de-
fendant Ryan guilty as charged in the
Indictment"
Verdicts Read One by One.
All who could see him looked at d:
Ryan, gray headed man of 81 years
of age and appearing older, a man who
had travelled for the union so mucn :
that he said he had no home, and save ,
for two grown sons had no family. Il :
have a furnished room in Chicago :
was his oft repeated description of !
home
Gentlemen of the jury, is that
your verdict -
The answer came from each juror.
1T is"
Then began the further reading Of