Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-05-04
Labor Leader and Friends Are
Staggered When Conviction
Of First Degree Murder Is
Made Known.
HUNG JURY THE LEAST
COUNSEL HAD EXPECTED
"They May Get Me but They.
Can't Defeat the Cause of
Labor" Is Only Comment
of Condemned Man.
" noss,as Iovrs,l srselal leAsso wlas

luY MORNING JOURNAL SPECIAL LEASED wiREl
Trinidad. Colo. May 3,-John r..
Lawson, since o'clock today con-
victed as a murderer, did not sleep in
the county Jail tonight. Judge CRANKY
Hillyer. after deliberating throughout
the afternoon, announced this after
noon that the labor leader would be
released on $4,000 bond pending ac-
tion on his motion for a new trial.
l-awson's former bond in Anlmas
county was $4,000. The new bond
was arranged for at conference be-
tween Judge Hillyer and Horace n.
Hawkins. chief counsel for the de-
fense.
Lawson was convicted of first de-
gree murder, the jury fixing the PEN
atty life Imprisonment in the Colo
RADIO penitentiary The conviction
was in connection with the death of
John Nimmo, deputy sheriff, killed
October IS. 1913, in one Of the bat
ties growing out of the recent strike
Of coal miners.
Sends Message to Wife.
Lawson tonight sent a message to
his wife telling her that he was con-
victed. Mrs. Lawson, an invalid, suf-
fering from nervous breakdown, is
in Los Angeles. During the trial she
telegraphed asking that she be per-
mitted to attend. Lawson, however,
thought her strength would not be
sufficient for the strain and urged her
to stay in California.
In statement tonight Lawson
said: '''They may send me to the
penitentiary but they cannot defeat
the labor cause. Other and better
men are ready to take my place. Not
for all the millions OF the Rockefellers
would ! give up the fight for human
rights in which | have enlisted
Lawson sat like stone as the jury
filed into the courtroom. There was
but Il sprinkling of spectators. Judge
CRANKY Hillyer had announced lunch
con recess until o'clock and it was
not quite that hour when the jury
came into the court. For that reason
only the few who had reached the
courtroom early were in their seats.
Dramatic Scene Enacted.
In the midst of tense silence the
clerk asked:
eGentlemen, have you reached a.
verdict?"
The foreman replied. then handed
the written verdict TO the clerk, who
passed it to the judge.
Lawson sat beside his counsel, his
eyes fixed on the jury, his rugged fea-
lures set and stern.
Judge Hillyer glanced at the YER
dict, then handed II back TO Bowdrey
Floyd the clerk. The clerk read
aloud.
I'VE. the jury. find the defendant
guilty of murder in the first degree
and fix the penalty at life imprison-
ment"
A gasp. sharp intake of breath,
ran around the slim crowd gathered
for the last act of the labor drama.
Lawson did not move. a slight smile
played over his features. There was
silence for a few clock-ticks then
Horace n. Hawkins, pale of face, rose
and asked that the jury be polled.
Each man assented to the verdict.
Then there were brief legal formali-
ties TO go through with and the
down the steps and the drama was
over.
Can't Defeat Labor.
Seated at his lawyers table after
the verdict was rendered. John r.
Lawson, former strike leader and stu
member of the executive board of the
- tliiltu Mifit NOi h'io VI
talked calmly of the outcome of hist
fight for life and liberty.
'They may get me, but they can
defeat the cause of labor" he said |
I'm not worrying about myself--its |
the fight have been making for the
workinginen that | am Interested IN
and that will go ahead just as before.
Even for me, it's a long way to the |
penitentiary yet My attorneys viii
not give mp until everything possible
has been done to save me- /
As the convicted labor leader talked |
his friends in the crowd gathered
around him and one by one they 81
lently grasped his hand. Like a prai- |
rie fire the news of the verdict mao
swept through the town. Labor ad-
herents whom the sudden rendering |
of the verdict had caught mapping |
came rushing to the courthouse
Some had tears in their eyes as they
greeted their defeated chief.
AcquittaI Was Expected.
Lawson and his counsel had confi-
IDENTIFY expected an acquittal, or az
most disagreement The Jury hau
been out since shortly after cioch
Saturday night. When Monday morn
ing came without an agreement BELIEF I
that the trial would end in hung
jury became all but universal among
followers of the trial The unexpect-
ed verdict caught the town by sur
prise
John Richards. the Juror who was
slightly Ill this morning. recovered
to participate in the flnai
and to walk into the
courtroom with his companions.
Lawson had with him Horace y.
r4awl,ins ard Charles Mahoney of his