The Devils Lake world and inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, N.D.) 1915-1920, 1918-08-21
:. v. v. ARE
: GUILTY AS
WAS CHARGED

WILL BE HEARD NEAT WEEK.
TRIAL WAS ONE OF LONGEST
ON RECORD; RECORDS SHOW
OVER SEVEN MILLION WORDS.
Chicago, August 18.-One hundred
leaders of the Industrial Workers Of
the World were found "guilty as
charged in the indictment" by jury |
after one hours diliberation at their
trial for conspiracy to disrupt the ma
tion's war program late today. Argu-
ments for new trial will be heard
next week.
The defendants, including William
d. ('Big Bill') Haywood, general sec
retary-treasurer of the 1. w. w., the
highest position in the organization,
face maximum penalty of twenty
seven years in prison and $4,000
fine each.
Federal Judge. K. M. Landis, in his
charge to the jury, withdrew the fifth
and last count in the indictment which
charge4 conspiracy to violate the pos
tai laws and particularly that section
excluding from the mails enterprises
in the nature Of schemes to defraud.
The remaining four counts of the in
dictment specifically charge violation
of the Espionage Act, the section of
the criminal code prohibiting interfer-
.ence with the civil rights of citizens,
the selective service act and the con-
spiracy statute.
+ fHlnen C,,JIn,a
The close of the case, which has been
before the court for 1873 days, avs sud-
den. Two minor witnesses testified at
the morning session and following
them, Frank K. Nebeker, chief coun-
sci for the government, began his clos
ing argument for which he was allow
ed two hours, but consumed scarcely
half of that time. Then George r.
Vanderveer, head of the defense legal
staff, to the surprise Of all in the court
room, declared that he would submit
the case to the jury without making a
closing statement.
In his closing argument, Attorney
Nebeker said:
"You have been engaged in one Of
the most epoch-making trials in the
history of the country.
"The wisdom of the laws of this
country is not an issue. We obey the
decisions of the highest court and that
is the only way republic can live.
Anything that strikes at that is a dan
.gerous thing.
L. w. w. Against Government.
sThe wisdom Of the decisions of the
courts of this country is not an issue.
The industrial system is not on trial.
This case is not against any interests
of honest workingemn, nor against
any patriotic labor organization. And
no effort is being made by the govern
ment to justify mob violence. The
Bisbee deportation, or other lawless
acts.
"At it's very start the I. w. w. tsruck
.at the very foundations of our govern
.:ment. Is it not peculiar that in every
state of the union these fellows get
into trouble Pin a little town an ora.-
nance is passed. They come and vio-
late it and say they are going to VIC
:, late it.
"The documents by the defendants
themselves are enough to convict
them. When you consider the defni-
tions made by the witnesses ON the
stand and compare them with what
they have written and the books they
authorized, the case of the government
is complete"
After the instructions of Judgs
: Lands, the jury retired at 4:10 p. m.
and just one hour later announced
that its verdict was ready. The cour'
was hastily assembled and the verdict
was read at 5:25 p. m. There was nc
demonstration and the defendants
were returned to their cells after
Judge Lands had announced that r.:
would hear arguments for new tria
next week, the exact date to be SCI
later.
The I. w. w. trial began April ]
and was one of the longest crimina
cases on record in this country. Ths
record contains 10000 Typewriter
pages or 100000 words.