Rock Island Argus., 1915-05-04
LAWSON VERDICT
is TO BE FOUGHT
After All the Poison and Yindictive-
ness, Nothing Astonishing. De-
clares Samuel GOmpers.
A LIFE SENTENCE Is IMPOSED
Colorado Union Executive Must Pay
Penalty for Staying OF Deputy
Sherifi in Mine Battle.

Washington. d. C, May +.-"It's no
wonder said Samuel Gompers. dis
cussing the Lawson verdict. After
all the poison and vindictiveness, there
is nothing astonishing in the verdict.
II is only regrettable. II deserves the
severest condemnation. Every inch OF
the ground will be contested. however
Every liberty loving citizen viii join
in fighting that decree
Indianapolis. Ind, May frank J.
Hayes. vice president Of the United
Mine Workers of America and eXecu-
tive officer who had charge OF the Col
orado strike. was told of the Lawson
verdict yesterday afternoon
1t is an outrage travesty on jus
tice." he said We will fight
Trinidad. Col. May John f.
Lawson. prominent labor leader, late
yesterday was condemned n spend
the remainder of his life at hard labor
in the Colorado penitentiary- He was
found guilty OF first degree murder in
connection with the death of John
Nimmo. a deputy sheriff. killed in a
strike battle Oct. %. 1913 Under the
Colorado statute making il the duty
OF the jury 10 fix the penalty at death
or life imprisonment. the jury in the
district court fixed the milder punish
ment.
Lawson sat immovable as the jury
filed into the court room. There was
only a spriuklins of spectators. Judge
CRANKY Hulyer had announced lunch
con recess until o'clock. and it was
not quite that hour when the jury re-
ported.
\ slight smile passed over Law
sons features as the verdict was read.
He seemed surprised, but stood the
shock without 1inching.
$4,000 Bond Fixed.
Thirty days were given to file 6 mo-
tion FOR a new trial and Lawson was
released temporarily in custody of his
counsel.
Judge Hulyer later announced that
Lawson would be released on S20.0G0
bond pending action on his motion for
a new trial Lawson's former bond
in Las Animas county was $4,000.
The new bond was arranged for at a
conference between Judge Hiilyer and
Horace y. Hawkins, chief counsel for
the defense.
Lawson last night sent a message
TO his wife. telling her that he was
convicted Mrs Lawson. an invalid
suffering from a nervous breakdown.
is in Los Angeles.
Seated at his lawyers table after
the verdict. Lawson talked calmly of
the outcome of his fight for life and
liberty
They may set me. but they can't
defeat the cause OF labor" Lawson
said I'm not worrying about my
self, is the fight have been making
for the workingmen that I am inter
ested in. and that viii so ahead just
as before
Friends Show sympathy.
As the convicted labor leader talk
ed. his friends in the crowd gathered
around him and one by one they 81
lently clasped his hand. Labor ad-
herents. whom the sudden rendering
of the verdict had caught mapping
came rushing to the court house. Some
had tears in their eyes as they greet
ed their defeated chief
Lawson and his counsel had conf
IDENTIFY expected an acquittal or at
most a disagreement. The jury had
been out since shortly after O'Clock
Saturday night.
Il do not believe the verdict will be
sustained" said Horace y. Hawkins,
chief counsel for the defense. 1t is
contrary to the evidence l shall fight
this case TO finish. as long as there
are courts in which TO fight"
Strike a Notable One.
Lawson is a member of the interna-
tional executive board of the United
Mine Workers of America for district
%. He was one of the leaders in the !
recent coal miners strike in Colorado. |
which was one of the most notable