The Northwest worker. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1915-1917, 1917-04-12
DEFENSE SHOWS
UP BRUTALITY
OF DEPUTIES
PinkertOn Detectives Used by
Commercial Club to Incite Vi0-
lence and Start Fires

accused of the murder of Deputy
Beard on Bloody Sunday, Nov. 9Th,
in Everett, rested it's case last Fri
day. On Monday the Defense fired
its opening guns with the calling of
Herbert Mailer, former secretary of
the joint locals of the Industrial
Workers Of the World in Seattle, and
James P Thompson, labor speak
err Of national reputation.
A Striking Contrast
After long and tedious success
sion of Commercial Club Open Shop
pers and deputy sheriffs of Everett,
all telling the same story and all pro-
Tossing ignorance regarding brutal
treatment Of Free Speech Fighters,
the frank and straightforward stories
Of Mailer and Thompson came as
refreshing contrast. The questions
asked them by the Defense were, in
the case of Mailer, to prove that the
expedition to Everett was of a pure
ly voluntary character, discrediting
the assertions of conspiracy made
by the Prosecution, and, in Thomp-
sons's case to disprove the allegation
of incendiary and violent utterances
alleged to have been made by him
and other speakers in Everett.
Thompson is Despair of Prosecution
Til courtroom became temporarily
rostrum of industrial propaganda
when Thompson was questioned re-
garding the nature Of the speeches he
had been making in Everett when
arrested. The searching indictment
of social conditions, the arraignment
Of the industrial despotism of Ameri-
ca and the stirring call to the work
ing class to organize for power and
advancement had an instant and most
favorable effect on the audian
it is to be hoped, on the jury. -
der examination. Thompson
was questioned closely regarding the
advocacy of violence but countered
every question with an explanation of
workingclass technique. That much
misrepresented phrase. Direct Ac-
ton, was explained by Thompson as
being the organized action of the
workers in industry in contrast to
action thru political delegates.
Everett Citizens Testify to T
A long series of men
residents of Everett, testifeu g,
brutal tactics of the Commercial CI--
deputies. 1t seems that the practice
Of the citizen deputies was to march
up the street in military formation
with white handwerchiefs around their
necks, to distinguish themselves from
the unfortunates they hoped to club,
and to put an end to a peaceable
meeting by the simple process of driv-
ing the people off the streets by sap
ping them up and arresting and de-
porting the speakers. One lady tes-
titled who was struck twice by a dep
uty. Mr.. Henning, a shingleweaver,
stated that he was beaten over the
head by Sheriff McRae, when quietly
standing by a meeting, and knocked
unconscious. Then he was dragged
away by another deputy and beaten
up while lying on the ground.
Startling Testimony
Mrs. L. S. Johnson, of Everett, tes-
titled that she had listened to several
street meeting, had heard no advo-
cacy of violence and no incendiarism.
She stated that, one day, coming out
of store, she heard a policeman and
couple of men talking about the
street speakers. They were saying
that they would drive them out of
town and never let them speak. She
! protested against this and discussed
the matter with them for few min
utes Two hours later, Sheriff McRae
came to her home to see her, telling
her that it had been reported to him
that she had made statements in
favor of the l. w. w. She said that
she was certainly in favor of their
being accorded their constitutional
rights. The Sheriff then let his true
nature and intentions become appar-
ent. He said that they should not
speak under circumstances; that he
would stop them coming to Everett
even if he had to have soldiers
brought in. McRae then went on to
say that he had the backing of the
mill-owners Of Everett and thew
would help him drive every one of
them out Of town. He said that if
they tried to come he would have
soldiers there, if possible, and would
shoot them down on the dock! This
was some time before November 5th
and shows that he was already fore
seeing the tragedy and was exulting
IN anticipation of the slaughter.
More ul-Treatment Exposed
Harry Fejnberg, a speaker and one
Of the 73 defendants, went on the
witness stand and gave evidence that
after a meeting of which he had been
arrested be was taken to the county
Continued on Page a