The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-07-06
v. B. WILSON
ADMITS ARREST
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.

where I was plac Il in Jail None of my
friends among the coal miners knew OF
my arrest
THE next day. when they learned OF
it, they came down TO Cumberland and
got me before a justice of the peace.
where they gave bond for me in the sum
" $500 for appearance at court. When
the strike was over I returned to Penn
sylvania. Because of my activities in The
strike, I was unable to obtain employ
ment either in the Clearfield region or
any other portion OF Pennsylvania. ex-
cept in the winter time in small mines
operated for local supply coal by some
Of my former coal-mining associates.
The conspiracy charges remained on the
docket for nearly two years and never
came to trial l was under bond all Of
that time. ready to proceed to trial. but
was not within the Jurisdiction of the
court. simply because the court did not
require my presence.
THE coal companies used the usual
big business methods to break the
strike: thugs were employed to follow at
my heels wherever / went. They went
so far as to employ one man. paying
him $500 to kidnap me and hold me
prisoner in an abandoned farm house, in
order that they might be able to an
and left the region, hoping thereby to
discourage the strikers and break the
strike. The plan did not succeed solely
because the man who was asked to
help carry it into effect sent me .
warning to be on my guard.
Miners Strike Directed.
Mr.. Wilson was arrested and placed
in Jail at Cumberland. Allegany County,
Md. June 13. 1894.
The charge against the future Cabinet
member was unlawful assembly and
conspiracy. The offenses were alleged
to have been committed in connection
with a miners strike. which Wilson d.
rected as a member of a strike commit
tee of the United Mine Workers of
America. of which John Mcbride was
then president.
Wilson was held in jail all night by
orders of Sheriff Clarence King. of Cum
berland, who had arrested him at the
mining town of Homecoming. Md. The
following day. June A. he was held in
bail bonds of 500 to await the action of
the October term of court at Cumber-
land by Justice of the Peace Alexander
King.
The bail was furnished by William At
kinson. of Allegany County.
The case appeared on the October court
calendar as No. S3. criminal appeals and
was continued. States Attorney David
w. Sloan. now deceased, announced to
the court that the warrant was missing.
At the succeeding January $3.50 term
of court the case, No. 3. criminal ap-
peals, again was continued. the records
not revealing the nature of the con-
tinuance.
When tho matter was brought tefore
the Apri, term as No. 4. criminal ap-
peals, it was dismissed.
Represented by Counsel.
AS far as can be learned by diligent
search Of the court record. files of news
papers Of the day. and interviews with
the former Sheriff, Wilson did not AZ pear
within the county at any of the terms
of court at which the case was iocketed.
He was represented by counsel, but was
not there to be tried.
But this was the second time Wilson
had been before the Cumberland courts
Earlier in the same year he had been
made defendant to three injunctions and
had been served with an order to show
cause why he should not be adjudged
guilty of contempt.
The case was that of the Consolidated
Coal Company, of Maryland, against
William b. Wilson ct al, number 1904
equity in the Circuit Court Of Allegany
A remarkable signed opinion, delivered
jointly by Judges A. Hunter Boyd, now
Chief Judge Of the Court Of Appeals of
and by Judge H w. HON.
man deceased. while not holding Wilson
guilty. places upon his shoulders re-
sponsibility for lawlessness. 1t was en-
Titled ''in the matter of the alleged con-
tempt Of William B. WILSON,
Here is the language OF the opinion:
1T is clearly shown that the respond
Int. William B. Wilson. Is largely re-
,ponsfble for the present condition Of
lffairs. and it Is equally true that what
,ver may be his accomplishments, many
" our own miners are his equal in in |
diligence and know far better than he |
loss what 10 for their interest He isl