The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1918-05-14
nationwide INTEREST
IN THE |. ". ". TRIAL
uJDCE lands CONSIDERABLE
TO MOTLEY GROUP OF ONE
HUNDRED DEFENDANTS.
CHARGED WITH MORE THAN
10000 INDIVIDUAL CRIMES

Indictments Allege Conspiracies and
Violation of Espionage Law. First
Jury Tempered With. Big Bill Hay
ward a Conspicuous Figure.
One hundred and thirteen members
of the Industrial Workers of the
World, indicted for various conspir-
acies and for violation of the espion-
age act, are on trial in Chicago be-
fore Federal Judge K. M. Lands,
who suspended their trial several
weeks ago when it was established
that agents of the defendants had
sought to tamper with the jury. The
men who represent the government
in the case are special Attorney Gen.
erals F. H. Nebeker, of Salt Lake
City, and Claude Porter, of Des
Moines. District Attorney C. F.
Clyne, of Chicago; and the whole
Chicago staff of the department of
Justice are behind the special pros
ecutors. The attorneys for the de-
tense are George F. Vandeveer, of
Seattle; Otto Christensen, of Chica-
go, and w. J. Cleary, who was one of
the men deported from Bisbee, Ariz.
During the selection of the jury
Judge Lands took great precaution
to insure that the prospective juror
was citizen of the United States
and that he would base his verdict
on the law and the evidence. The
court declared further that he would
send to Jail in contempt of court any
one found guilty of attempting to
tamper with the jury or the venire.
When defendants complained of their
food Judge Lands ordered a dining
room set up in court where the de-
PENDANTS will have one big meal each
day. Furthermore he ordered SO
large cuspidors placed in the court
room for the comfort and conven-
fence of the defendants.
Big Bill'' Hayward Central Figure.
1t is a motley crew of Industrial
Workers of the World that face the
jury in the federal court in Chicago.
lightweight are prisoners and 25 are
out on bail. Among them are Ger
mans, Jews, Firms, Italians, Hunga-
rians, Slavs, Russians, English,
Americans, French, Poles, Swedes
and one negro. There is a notable
absence of Scotch and Irish. They
include poets, painters, writers, IA
natics on economics, religion and pol
ltlcs. They all agree on one thing
the resistance to established Law. And
they agree on another, that they are
IN very delicate position, liable to
give a practical illustration of the
slavery they have been describing by
serving from 1 to 20 years in fed
eral penitentiary.
The chief and central figure of the
band is big Bill'' Haywood, execu-
tive secretary and head of the organ
lzation. He has faced courts and ju-
rles in Colorado, Utah, Idaho and
Nevada, and though past so he is still
a physical giant. Next to Haywood
IS his able lieutenant, Vincent st.
John, who has been involved in near
ly as many trials as Haywood him
self.
Government Has Strong Case.
Haywood declares the trial is
deep laid plot and conspiracy to
wreck the l. w. w. The defense bas-
es its hope for victory on the fact
that secret service men stole docu-
ments when they raided l. w. w.
headquarters in Chicago and other
cities.
Special Attorney General Nebeker
said: SIT is the purpose of the gov
eminent not only to convict the in
dlvldual defendants, but furthermore
To establish that the organization is
a criminal conspiracy"
The government charges more
IMAM 10000 individual crimes against
the organization. The men are in
dlcted under the espionage act and
under various conspiracy acts.
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