Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1921-02-17
H0WAT I GUILTY.;
SENTENCED To
YEAR IN JAIL
Five Codefendants, All
Officers of Kansas I'm
ion, Are Convicted.
Judge Releases Men Up
on Own Recognizance
Until Thursday Noon.

! Pittsburg, Kans., Feb. 16.-Alexan.
der Howat, president of the Kansas
Miners union was found guilty of con-
tempt of court and sentenced to jail
By Judge Andrew Curran, of the Craw-
ford county district court Wednesday
afternoon.
With Howat were found guilty his
: five co-defendants in the contest pro-
ceedings all officers of the Kansas
union. They are August Dorchy, vice
president; Willard Titus, John Fleming
James McWrath, and Earl Maxwell,
| executive board members.
All of the defendants were sentenc-
! ed to year in Jail and to pay the
costs.
Local Officers Not Guilty.
Joe Bierbrodt, George Chips and w.
L. Hasson, officers Of a Croweburg
local union, tried Wednesday morning
for contempt of court, were found not
guilty by Judge Curren.
The local union officers were charg-
ed by the state with filming two members
who appealed case to the industrial
court. The union has a provision for
fine in such cases. Judge Curran
held it was not proved that the two
union members had been fined
Bonds were fixed by Judge Cur
ran at $1,000 each. T. II. Gallery,
defense counsel, said it would take
"a hours to get bond. Judge Curran
released the officials upon their own
recongnizance until Thursday after
noon.
History of Injunction.
The information was issued last
September by Judge Curran, forbidd
ing union officials from calling strike.
It was sought by the state in the en-
forcement of the industrial court law. |
Howat and three other officials, one /
Of them being Dorchy, now at liberty !
on bonds, while another case is now !
being heard in the United States SUI
preme court. They were sent to Jail |
last spring.
When they refused to obey the order
Of Judge Curran to appear before the
industrial court and testify, they were
put in Jail several days before they
gave bond.
Judge Curran said that the strike
was called for the purpose of evading
The industrial court law.
Howat and the other defendants.
The court said, had violated the in
junction and all are guilty of contempt
Of court.
Mrs. Howat In Tears.
Mrs. Howat was in court when her
husband was sentenced. She was in
tears.
Howat laughed and joked with Off
,ers and friends after he had been
sentenced.
How near is that new jail to COM
)letion" he asked of Sheriff A1ilt
vnyYld0 (srorfard fr, ic oron<irD |
| new. jail at Girard. This is the Sec
md time Howat has faced Judge Cur
an on contempt Of court charges.
Last April he, Dorchy, and two
cher officials were sentenced to jail I
lntil they consented to appear as
witnesses before the Kansas court of ,
Industrial relations. That sentence !
ould be terminated by Howat him g
elf. The sentence imposed Wednes- t
ay is judgment and Howat has no
over of his own to shorten it.
Howat and Dorchy were in Jail less
han week last spring. The case n
as appealed.
Served Week In Jail. b
The Kansas supreme court upheld il
,e sentence and an appeal then was r
lken to the United States supreme n
ourt, where the case is now pending. n
The sentences imposed Wednesday
ill have no effect on the strike called a
= the executive board and the strike 81
rder will remain in force until tt
element is reached, Howat said We'd
esday night. The strike call result NJ
from controversy over 1925 in ve
ages the union officials say is due 81
young miner. Ter