The Washington times., 1912-03-06
MITCHELL REFUSES
TO ACCEPT OFFER
OF JUDGE WRIGHT
Follows Line Taken By
Gompers and Morrison In \
Immunity Proffer.
Continued from First PageD

continued from First PageO
Darlington, member of the local bar,
VIII argue the case for the committee
of prosecutors, which was appointed bv
Justice Wright to investigate the posi-
bility of renewing the contempt charges.
The two lawyers originally appeared
as counsel for the Bucks stove ana
Range Company, and obtained the in
junction prohibiting the American Fed
era ton OF Labor from carrying on a
boycott against the concern.
The alleged violation of the injunc-
ton, which became effective December
., 1907, and utterances in connection
with the court order are made the
grounds for the present contempt pro-
Ceedings.
Heard In Open Court.
Testimony in support and in reruta-
ton of the charges was hea rd in open
court before Justice Wright, all three
OF the respondents appearing as wit
nesses. 1t was when Vice President
Mitchell was leaving the witness stand
ed" that the labor leader make a state
ment with respect to his attitude in
the future toward court DEGREES.
Attorney Jackson II. Ralston submit
ted Mr.. MitChell's reply to the court at
the opening of court today. He called
attention to the courts suggestion and
passed up the communication with the
request that 1t be copied into the record
the comment that he could not give per-
mission to incorporate II in the record
until he had read it, limiting that II must
be within the scope of tho courts Offer.
1nasmuch as the leteter is directed per-
sonally to Justice Wright and does not
desire a definite promise, as the commit
tee CT prosecutors suggested, should
be forthcoming, there is pos
become a part of the record in the case.
of M;&ohon
The full; text of Mr.. Mitchors letter,
which is addressed personally to Justice
Wright, is as follows:
Mt. Vernon. y. Y,
Feb. 10, 1872.
Hon. Daniel Thew Wright, Associate
Justice, District Supreme Court,
Washington, ID. c.:
Sir-At the close of my cross-eX-
animation in the contempt proceed
ings instituted against Mr.. Gompers,
Mr.. Morrison, and me, the court
stated that l was free, at any time
before these proceedings closed, to
give expression to the court, either
orally or in written communication,
upon the subject of the following
recommendations:
The court strongly recommends
that you consider again the propri-
ETY. of acquaintng the court, before
these proceedings close, with your
conviction whether you ought and
whether you expect hereafter to lend
adherence to the DEGREES of the ju-
dicial tribunals of the land in mat
ters committed by law to their Jur-
isdiction and power
] have given the courts recon-
mendation careful thought and
serious consideration. as result
of which l desire to say that |
believe a statement by me that |
expect hereafter to lend adherence
to the DEGREES of the judicial tri-
bunals of the land" would be sub
ject to no other Interpretation than
that ! had heretofore failed or re
fused to comply with the lawful
DEGREES of the court, and that my
evidence in this proceeding was
not truthful and sincere, and in
keeping with the facts in the case.
| am not willing to make any
statement that would impugn my
own testimony. | am not willing
by any device or subterfuge to
attempt to deceive the court or
secure an aCquittal by any other
means than those of the evidence
and the truthfulness of my testi-
mOny
Indeed, ! should feel more con-
tentment IL convicted, conscious
of the reCtitude of my course, and
the truthfulness Of my evidence.
than II acquitted on any other
grounds than the facts as they
have been presented to the court
and the law, as 1t has been enunci-
ated by the higher tribunals.
Yours respectfully,
JOHN MITCHELL.