Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1914-07-16
CARL tTrsoR Wins
Fighting Chance
(By Floyd Gibbons.)


Clinton, Ill, July 16.-(SpeciaD-
Carl Person "the fighting editor of
THE Strike Bulletin has escaped from
the clutches of the labor haters and
money made prejudice of Dewitt coun
", Illinois. Labor has won its sec
ond skirmish in it's fight against the
illinois Central Railroad Company,
for the life of the young man who
stands in the shadow of the gallows
on account of his loyalty to the cause
of the workers.
The circuit court in Dewitt county,
| the legal name for the 500 square
miles over (which the controlling fin
ger of the Illinois Central rules SUI
preme, has been forced to. grant a
change of venue by which the edi-
tors trial+on the manufactured charge
of murder, will be removed to anoth-
er county where Person expects to.
Ehave at least fighting chance for his
life.
Attorney Frank Comerford of ChiGa-
Igo, won the change of venue in
bitterly contested session before Cir
[cuit Judge w. T> Cochran. The change
was stoutly opposed by Prosecuting
lially appointed. assistant prosecutor,
Lott Herrick, one of the highest pric-
| ed attorneys in Central Illinois who
has been retained at big expense bN
some unknown power for the purpose
of making Persons conviction doubly
sure. Both tried to force. the EDITORS -
trial in Dewitt county where the pre-
judice aroused by the publicity agents
NJ 81 o/T11ipoic Central wants tO hang
& lNV ''E'ro'S ''D''A.' "N4'' : M
u Judge Apologies OR Ruling.
TRegardless of the fact that the de-
tense presented 512 affidavits to show
that prejudice existed in the county,
as against 476 counter aff1daEits sub.
mitteds by the prosecution, = Judge
Cochran expressed his opinion that
Person should ebe tried for his life in
the midst of this prejudice, but 'ad-
mitted that, the arguments and SUI
lpreme court rulings submitted by At
torney Comerford made it impossible
to deny the change After this apollo
gy to those interested D wing the
case to trial in Dewitt county, the
court ruled that the change be grant
ed. =.
Attorney Comerford refused to con-
fer with the prosecuting attorney with
regard to a suitable placeto hold the
trial on the grounds thaA> Williaps
was not depended upon I'M az confer
enee and the defense preferred-to
have the matter settled in open court,
The selection finally narrowed down to-
three-eeunty seats. The prosecution,
having, lost the first battle stroVe to
have the trial taken to some rural
community where industrial problems
were not understood and where a jury
of farmers might be secured and ina
posed upon to the extent of return
ing a verdict of guilty. This effort
was bitterly denounced b ythe defense
81 can't send the case to Decatur or
Bloomington because they are also
controlled by the Illinois Central"
Judge Cochran II will send the, case
to Lincoln, the county seat of4Logan
county" IA
!, States Attorney in Contempt. r.
"If the court please said Attor-
| ney Comerford, after the matter had
been settled, 81 want to ask that this
character assassin, who is clothed s1n
the robes of the states attorney, be
cited to show cause why he should
not be sent to Jail for contNnpt of,
this court. The attorney for the de-
lfense,. as members of the bar of the
state of Illinois are officers of this
court. In his petition to block this
changeaof venue, he has charged that
1.-THE affidavits sworn to by one OF the
attorneys for the defense, is false
and calculated to trick the court into
granting the change. This is a direct
accusation of perjury and conspiracy
| to obstruct justice, against an Aothcer
of this court. Now Ell comes here and
admits, he has no substantiation for
his charges. If such action is not con-
sidered in contempt' BY this court,
then how can Bbis court Jail Working
men on contempt charges in 1nJunct7
lion cases."
4 Judge Cochran refused to act and
further declared that he had no jur1s-
Idiction to expunge the admitted lei
Jbels from the records. Comerford's
Move to Jail the states attorney came
JaAsq quite shock to the prosecution
:, which was unable to offer a word in
explanation.
Labor Leaders In Court.
Nhe court room was crowded DUR
ing the exciting session. There was
frequent disorder among the specta-
tors aSthe battle of words waxed hot
| between the Wlrery ComeIloIu anu IuSs
states attorney who has been dubbed
the white hope of Dewitt county"
Person sat at the defendants table
and made notes on the arguments.
John Flora, president of the Person
Defense League of Chicago, Dan Rior7
dan secretary Of the organization and
other labor leaders from Chicago we're
present.
."CarI Person can prove his limo
cence of the charge of numbering
Tony Musser, the Illinois CentraPs
chief strike breaker, before any jury
of. twelve fair minded men in Lin
coin" said Attorney Comerford. IF
the Illinois Central influence can be
kept out Of the case, Person will be-
exonerated and the cause OF labor IN
this corporation-ridden community
will be vindicated."