The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1915-02-21
.RETORTS Fly IN
PLUMBERS TRIAL
Attorneys on Both Sides Take Time
From Legal BattIclto Pass
Complimentary
Remarks.
MEMBERS ARE ON STAND
One Admits canceIIine Order, But
Said it Was Because Salesman
Did Him Dirty
Deal.

| DES MONIES, Iowa, Feb 2o-Ac-
icording to all indications today. the
| trial Of the thirty-six indicted plumbers
Twill be most bitterly fought until the
VERY close of the case. The defense
placed eight witnesses on the stand
i this morning in its efforts to block
| the evidence submitted by the govern
iment.
(! Time and again today the court was
forced to admonish attorneys on both
| sides to proceed" after they had
istopped to fire few shafts at each
tother over some trivial and immater-
ial matter that might arise.
Attorney L. C. Boyle questioned the
witnesses for the defense and sought
| III every way to prove by them that
the National Association Of Master
! Plumbers of America is an organiza-
ton existing only to improve plumbing
and sanitary conditions and to fnrth-
Ter the interests of men who desire to
become proficient in a business way.
A feature of the morning session
was the vigorous cross examination 10
which the witnesses were subjected
by Claude r. Porter, United States
idistrict attorney. Porter grilled the
witnesses merciless,y and in several
| instances scored valuable points for
1.-THE government.
Once, when he had produced a
complaint slip to show to a witness,
Boyle interjected with, you might as
well introduce that as an exhibit if
lyou are going to show it to the jury.
Porter turned to the attorney i'm
patiently. II have been trying in
feeble way, Mr.. Boyle, to take care of
1.-THE governments side of this case"
he replied bitingiy.
| Very well-very well, gentlemen"
/ INTERRUPTED the court and the trial
proceeded
A moment later Boyle asked the dis
Itrict attorney for the same complaint
lsHp.
hand chided Porter.
that's the first mistake I've made"
lucky g~tsf
Wood on Stand.
H. l.. Wood Of sioux City, local
manager for the Crane & Company
supply house,. Chicago, was summoned
by the defense today. He declared
upon direct examination that he had
never been influenced by association
members and that the company's bust
ness has not been injured as a result
Iof reported boycotts.
In the most rigorous cross eXamina-
ton, however, Porter forced the wit
ness to admit that complaints might
have been made" and that business
might have been injured" in various
ways and he not have known about it.
so said the district attorney,
when you told the jury the associa-
ton had never had any effect upon
your business you really did not mean
that they might not have had and
you not have know about it?''
Makes an Admission
NO" replied Wood But" he add
ed quickly, they never affected our
business at lloux City"
but they might have affected you
in ways that you are ignorant of now?
Isn't that rieht?"
"Yes," admitted the witness.
Emil Carlson, an association mem
Der living at Benson, Neb, admitted
upon cross examination that, ne had
cancelled an order with the Atlas
Brass company, upon one occasion.
And 1t was because the salesman
had gone across the street and sold
an independent, wasn't it? asked
Porter
mo, it was because he had done
me dirty DEAL" declared Carlson.
Two Defendants Testify.
James O. Bixby of Omaha and
George Fl. Wentz OF Lincoln, both de-
PENDANTS in the case, testified today.
wentz declared that the purpose OF
the association is to improve condi-
ftions among the plumbing fraternity,
to assist in sanitation and to educate
the plumbers along business lines.
The purpose of the national con-
ventions, he said. is to discuss labor
trouble questions, to discuss the best
methods of work and to talk over the
hiring of the best mechanics
when a fellow member is sick or
in financial straits we try in every
way we can to help him. said Wentz,
land we talk those matters over at
the conventions also"
!. o Z. (. . !. I. Z. !. o o o . 3, @ (. 3 /