The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-11-15
SUMTER
STRIKERS
GUILTY
Jury IN Federal Court
Returns Y erdi c t
a e ain S t Rail oad
Men Who Attacked
Strike Breakers

~ =
Columbia, Nov. sc Guilty" was
the verdict brought in by the jury
in the United States district court
yesterday in the case Of the gov
ernment against C. D. WItherspoon.
q. p. Butler, Collie Hinson and
! NJ. B. Hinson, who were charged
with contempt OF courtsin that they
were alleged to have violated the
order of the court that they re-
frain from interfering in any way
with men who had accepted em-
ployment on the Atlantic Coast
Line railroad in South Carolina.
The jury was out only about 20
minutes. Judge Smith will pass SEN
tence upon the convicted men to-
morrow.
The progress OF the case against
the four men was followed with IN
tense interest by a crowd that filed
the court room to capacity, and the
testimony Of the witnesses for the
government and for the defense was
listened to closely. The judges
charge. too. was heardin court
room that was very still.
The witnesses for the govern
naent, Jesse TimmonssR. o. Hair,
r. d. Timmons and G. F. Griffin,
told Of going to work for the At
lantie Cost Line in Sumter last
August, while the railway strike
wason, and Of living in the shops,
which were under guard. They told
Of having visited a house some dis
tance away one afternoon, and Of
having beea followed by Wither-
spoon, striker, who, they said. dis
appeared after a. time. When they
were returning to their place OF
employment. they say they we're
confronted by men and said they
returned to the hoHse they had left.
They said threats were uttered
against them. and one or more said
a gun had been procured from
the house for their protection.
Other witnesses told OF the appear
ance OF the strikers near the house
where the strikers had gone for q
visit -
The defeRdantsp placed upon the
stand said they had gone on strike
IN July and based their defense
strictly on, an alihi, saying that they
had nothing to do withS the attack
on the strike breakers, and did
not know who took part in, it. One
claimed to have been hauling wood
at the time threats we're alleged to
have been made; two others claim
ed to have been preparing to go
on a fishing trip and another,
Witherspoon, said -he walked down
the railroad track hnt denied hav-
ing shadowed the strike break
ers. Practically all OF the defend
ants said they had been on picket
duty during the railroad strike and
said their duties were to keep
watch on the rolling stock Of the
railroad and make note of deter
ioration and report on it at the
meetings of the local union which
were held daily.
Judge Smith, in his charge to
the jury, said that men had the
right to quit work, or strike, that
such procedure was lawful but
when men. he said. in the pursu-
anee of their designs said that not
only would they NOT work but that
they would not allow others to
work, if they did that, they cross
ed the line between law and law
lessness The judge told Of the
order issued by the court that men
refrain from interfering with or in
tinaidating other men who were in
the employ of the railroad, said
that the order OF the court had
been served on all the defendants,
and told Of the necessity Of the op-
Grafton of the railroads so that
produce might be marketed, the
people cared for; and mails deliver
ed.
In reference to the strike break
ers, who had been Kept in the yards
at Sumter, where they ate and slept,
Judge Smith said What COM
nenfary upon conditions when a
man who is exercising his legal
right to work has to do so under
armed guards"
This is serious case" the