The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1912-12-30
UNFAIR,
DECLARESLOCAL
UNION OFFICIAL
Most of Those Convicted As
Dynamiters Innocent, Says
Sam Tobin
DECLARES PROSECUTION
WAS MADE PERSECUTION
w. r. Kales, Local Employer,
Says Convicted Men Are
Loafers, Not Workers

THE men did not receive fair
trial." said Sam Tobin. secretary OF
the local bridge and structural iron
workers union. referring 10 the con-
riction OF 3S OF the 40 union labor men
IA indianapolis The labor unions all
ever the country realized during the
trial that the men were getting the
worst of II and the verdict proves that
taeir suspicious were correct.
The government practically turned
Its case over TO the National Erectors
association. The association turned
the prosecution into a persecution.
The association had II detectives In
Indianapolis, following all the wit
Lesses. Their lawyers practically con-
Quoted the case for the federal attor-
neys. They prepared the briefs for
the government. That wasn't fair TO
Jet an association which has II In for
the structural iron men TO conduct the
prosecution.
Then the judge let in too much tes-
IInony relating TO the blowing up OF
buildings. The men were on trial for
transporting dynamite not for blowing
up buildings. The judge let In testt
muny that shouldn't have been let in,
and so the jury's mind was made up
before 1t took the case. The judges
charge was against the structural iron
men.
The structural iron wen will ask
fer new trial and il that is not
granted they will appeal the case to
the United States supreme court The
un ON iron workers OF the country
raised $4,000 for the defense of
those men and II necessary more can
be raised to continue their defense.
We feel that the men weren't given a
square deal and We don't quit until we
have done everything possible to ge;
square deal for them"
DO you think the men convicted
are innocent?" he was asked.
think most of them are innocent.
fe replied. ..
Not all of them?"
Well. there are some l wouldn't
care TO express my opinion on Take
murphy and wachmeister, the two
Detroiters, for Instance / believe EN-
phatically in their innocence"
How about Hockin, The third De
tr0iter convicted?',
Well, would rather not say. He
Is z kind OF bad egg, anyway"
The jury went into their room with
t'irtr minds made mp In advance" con-
led Tohin. There were 10 counts
III NE Indictment against each man.
CculN they have considered each
connt Mainst each man in "a hours?
Members OF the local union were
.,ssessed $40 each for the defense or
The iron workers and a fund OF $4,000
MIS- contributed from this city.
Russell Is Mum.
The convictions speak for them
se'tes,y said Walter s. Russell, pres
idtIt and general manager of the Rus
|ec{ wheel q Foundry Co. The men
have been kried and found guilty
IA not care TO say anything about the
cave and / do not think that there is
anything more 70 be said"
The 6rsf 81. the series OF explosions
|cr.rfed IN the construction of the De-
city Gas building while the iron
~ fhs heing erected by the Russell
& Foundry Co. This action
we'd No. change of the plant from
lnion shop M.an open shop. 1t had
been run for yeats as a strictly union
ehoD. but the management refused TO
co.rpls with a demand for more mon
ey directly followinA.a voluntary in
crease In pay which they mad made
an6 a strike resulted. This Occurred
inst before the dynamiting on the
hointinK engine on the Gas bHildinga
The convictions -of----the- accused
{ ironworkers will have no effect on the
ias,or situation in the iron and steel
.nfnstry;" said william X. Kales, vice
president OF the Whitehead 4 Kales
z lror Works. They were not work
erx. they were nothing but loafers
anyway. We shall continue to con-
dact our business without inquiring
int3 the religions, social or other ami
ietions Of our workmen."
There we're two explosions on jobs
on which the Whitehead & Kales firm
had contracts.
Otto c. Sprunk, president OF ths
Detroit Federation OF Labor is equally
non-committal concerning the conyic
X tion OF the 3S labor leaders.
We are sorry that the boys were
convicted, OF course, but we left 1t L
the Jury and the jury has decided,
he said. There is nothing more to b,
said. I do not believe that anyou,
thinks that the convicted men wcr,
actuated by selfish motives. The!
acted for what they believed was tn
cause OF labor"
Hockln well-known Here.
or the three Detroit men convicted
Herbert 8. Hockin Use the best know I
Hockin came to Detroit from In
don. Ont, about 10 years ago. TO be
come secretary of the local union o
structural steel workers. lie had beel
in the city but few weeks when h
came In contact with the polio
through an escapade wits a woman
He was frequently in trouble, cone
times on complaints OF women, some
times through his interference wit
non-union labor. but according 20 th
police be was fox" aRd took car
never to do anything out of-the wa
withou. covering his-tran. The polio
believed, but could not prove. tia
fIockin was connected with severa
fires that broke QUE -Ih-the- Ma1esti
bnndin.. In the course OF It's constru,
tor. and with the dropping OF bolt
near workmen emplyed on what l. no'
N0r C M" n