The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1914-07-25
CARL ! B |l|| P[Rs0l ! ] | !
cHAl||C' ! /. FOR LIFE.
I. G. Railway oontro olled County
Forced TO GraAt Change Of
~. #. :. Venue ''1 tori ditor. !: !.
CASE WILL BE TRIED
!: IN ANOTHER COUNTY,
t - 3 s5
Dewitt County Judge Admits
Prejudice But Grants Change
~ -. Of Coult. !

AAOJNOAVO oNvE Ss4sNl NlAA0A V0008V
p. -. Of CoNt. H., 7. :.
y Especial Corre DniIence.) s.s Is
CLINTON, Ill, Julls2 Carl Per
son '''the, fighting ditor' ~. Of The
Strike Bullentini hasT escaped from
the clutches OF the Dor hat ers: and
money made prejddice Sof Dewitt
county, Illinois labor rahasywons Its Sec
ond skirmish in its fight against the
Illinois 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 work
ers. S~a - r.. j;7SsSss: E5z : : t9
The circuit court III Dewitt county
the legal name for the, 500 square
miles over: which the controlling
finger of the Illinois Central rules
supreme, has been forced to grant a
change Of venue by which the edi-
tors trial on tho manufactured
charge of murder, VII be removed to-
another county where Person expects
to have at least sasafighting chance
for his life. -. i. . 27s
Attorney Frank Comerford Of Chi
cago won the change# ofA venue in a
bitterly. contested session before: Cir
cult Judge w. Cochran. The
change was stoutly opposed by
Prosecuting Attorney O. Williams
and his specially appointed assistant
prosecutor, Lott Herrick, one iof the
highest priced attorneys in Central
Illinois who has been Retained at big
expense by some unknown power for
the purpose of making Persons con
Viction $doubly sure. Both tried to
force / the EDITORS trial in Dewitt
county where the prejudice aroused
by the publicity agentsof, the Illinois
Central, wants to hang him. =
s:t.5 2@ Judge Apologies. -
Regardless of the fact that the de-
Tense presented 5I2 affidavits to
show that prejudiee existed in the
county, Is against 476 counter aft :
davits submitted by this prosecutio on,
Judge Cochran exprsase4 his opinion
that Person should sbes &ried for... his
life in the midst tl3is prejudice,
but Omitted thas Isl si 81 i,ts. and
/ ssuprsnA. cnaIEt lin gass stbi1itt ed !, 81
Attorney Comerford rnade it impas-
sible to deny the change. nsAfter this
apology to those interested In push
ing the case to trial in Dewitt
county, the: court ruled that the
change be granted. ~. s.,-~:.. -, :
Attorney sComerford refused to
confer with the prosecuting attorney
with regard to- a suitable place to
hold the trial. on the grounds that
Williams was not to be depended up
on in a conference and the defense
perferred to have the matter settled
in open court. The selection finally
narrowed down to three county seats
The prosecution, having lost the first
battle stroVe to have the trial taken
to some rural community where in
dustrial problems were not under
stood and where a jury of farmers
might be secured and imposed upon
to the extent Of returning a verdict
of guilty. This effort was bitterly
denounced by the defense. S#~
Il can't send the case to Decatur
or Bloomington because they are. al
so controlled by the Illinois Central
said Judge Cochran. Il will send the
| case to Lincoln, the county seat OF
Logan county" e..
~e~S| AAVVSSA 1SCy SO4XtS11upLs
If the court please said Attorney
Comerford, after the matter had
been settled, ..I want to ask that
this character assassin, who il
clothed in the robes OF the state.
attorney, be cited to show cause wh,
he should not be sent to Jail for con.
tempt of this court The .attorne,
for the defense. as members Of tn,
bar of the state Of Illinois are Off
| GERS of this court. In his petition t
| block this change of venue, he .ha.
charged that the affidavits sworn tt
| by one Of the attorneys for the, de
! fense, is false and calculated to tricl
/! the court into granting the change
This is q direct accusations Of :perjur,
and conspiracy to obstructs, justice
! 3against an officer OF this court. Nov
! he comes here and admits. he has nj
/ substantiation for his charges II
such action is not considered in con
! tempt by this court, then how ca,
I this court Jail Work insmen ,or con
tempt charges in injunction case e. #
! Judge Cochran refused to act an,
further, declared that he had no jur
isdiction to expunge the admittet
IelDelS, t$ from SHH LneIE records. &is Gunner
ford's move to Jail the states at
torney came as quite a shock to tn
| prosecution which was unable to Of
fer a word In explanation.
Labor Leaders in Court.
The court room was crowded dur
ing the exciting session. There was ire
2quent disorder among the spectator
as the battle OF words waxed hot be
tween the wirery Comerford and tn
states attorney who has been dubbe
l the white hope Of Dewitt county.
/ Person sat at tho Defendants tabl
and made notes on tho argument.
John Flora. president Of the Perso
l Defense Leaguesof Chicago, Dan Ri
ordan, secretary sof the orgapizatio
i and other labor leaders from Chicag
were present. Ii s# n! !.
Carl Person can prove his limo
Il cence OF the charge OF lnurd erin
Tony Musser,, the Illinhis Central
/ chisf strike breaker, before any jur
Il q Twelve fails n1inds n1en Lin
colin sald ttprney Comertort.