The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1912-11-26
LAWRENCE STRIKE
LEADERS ARE
ACQUITTED
ETToR, eIovANNiTTI AND cARU-
SO FREED MURDER CHARGE
AT SALEM, MASS.
THREE men EMBRACE
AND KISS EACH OTHER
GioVannittl sprans to Feet and Said:
Gentlemen of the Jury, In the Name
Of Truth, Justice and Civilization, I
Thank You"-History of Noted Case.
OBJ Associnted Prees.n


Salem, Mass. Nov. 26.-"Not guilty
was the verdict of the jury in the case
of Joseph ]. Ettor. Arturo Ciovannitti
and Joseph Caruso for the murder OF
Anna Popizzo, who was killed in the
Lawrence textile strike riot last win
ter.
When the three men heard the
words freeing them, they embraced
and kissed each other.
Giovannitti sprahg to his feet. Gen
tlemen of the jury" he said. his face
beaming with Joy, Gin the name of
truth, justice and civilization thank
you"
History Of the Noted Case.
The trial of Joseph Ettor, member
of the executive committee OF the In
dustrial Workers of the World: Ar.
turo Giovannitti, a Socialist writer OF
Brooklyn, N. Y, and Joseph Caruso,
mill worker, came about In conse-
quence of the strike in the textile
mills In Lawrence, Mass, suddenly
precipitated January IL last and CON
tinued for two months. Ettor and
Giovannitti were accused as accessor.
les before the fact to the murder Of
Anna Lopizzo, who was killed In a
street riot. The commonwealth main
tanned that they melted the riot in
which the woman met her death by In
flammatory speeches to the strikers.
Caruso was accused, with Salvatore
Scuito, who never has been apprehend-
ed, with actual participation in the
riot.
The strike, which was accompanied
by much violence. enlisting organized
and unorganized workers on one hand
and mill owners on the other. with the
police Of Lawrence and militia Of Mas
sachusetts on guard to avert disastrous
consequences. attracted worldwide at
tention for many weeks. Riots were
frequent; cars in Lawrence were at
tackled; men. women and children who
attempted to work were assailed and
in some cases injured, and there we're
repeated clashes between strikers and
the organized forces Of the law until
citizens OF Lawrence we're alarmed at
the threatening struggle. Its climax
came on January %. day begun with
a parade Of aeitated foreign workers
to demonstrate their solidarity against
the mill owners and ended with riot
in which the young woman was slain
and Oscar Benoit, Lawrence police
man stabbed.
Even Congress was appealed to dur
ing the struggle following an attempt
Of strike leaders to take from Law
renee to Philadelphia a hundred chill
dren OF strikers families to he cared
for by sympathizers. This effort, pro
ceded by successful deportation o.
strikers children to New York and
other cities. was frustrated bv the 20
lice in a clash at the railroad station
, in which fathers. mothers and children
clashed with the authorities. Many
men and women were arrested. This
!. occurrence. widely heralded. aroused
protests from all parts Of the United
States and prompted Victor Berger,
Socialist member OF the House OF Rep
resentatives. to plan a couSressional
investigation of the strike and work
ing conditions In the mills of the
American Wooden Company and othe
! re-. A resolution directing such an In
uuirv brought about a preliminary
hearing before the rules committee oi
the House in which Lawrence strikers
men. women and children. represents
tives Of the mill owners and rpp-esen
! tatlves of the Lawrence authorities
] participated. The hearings held IN
the caucus room OF the House office
building in WASHINGTON aroused In
tense interest. hundreds OF rersons
/, including Mrs. Taft. wife Of the Pres
k ident, attending them for several days
f No congressional action. however. wa
:, recommended.
s The strike began on January I;
lContinUed 90 l-age Eight)