The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1922-07-22
Trial Opens
forStrike
kidnapiings
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vwM,sS'H .aergency at Ere.
mont Hearing.
Scores Volunteer Here

Fremont. Neb, July 2l.-(Special
|. Telegram. danger of violence ia
connection with possible strike disor-
ders in Fremont has practically
passed over, with preliminary hear
ing OF Is railroad strikers and sym.
pathizers charged with the abduc-
ton OF II strikebreakers nearly COM
pleted.
Adjournment OF ,the hearing was
made this evening and tomorrow
morning the remaining witnesses will
offer their testimony.
With the Northwestern planning
to bring in strikebreakers. predicted
by Mayor Green in his address to
the 50 citizen deputies. an outbreak
is feared, though union officials have
promised their cooperation toward
maintaining peace.
Tonight the $50 deputy sheriffs
gathered at the courthouse where
companies Of Is. men each were
formed, with a captain as leader.
These companies are scheduled to
report each morning for guard duty.
The companies are made up Of
business fnen, professional men and
members of every occupation but
railroaders. Sheriff Condit, in charge
Of the situation, is prepared with rs
sawed-off shotguns and 1000 rounds
Of ammunition. He swore in the
guards Thursday.
Compelled to Leave.
In the band OF IS men arraigned
on the charge of abducting the men
brought here by the railroad and
compelling them to leave town by
force, is numbered Toles P. Winter
steen, former deputy to Sheriff Con-
dit, and defeated candidate in the
recent primaries.
The hearing was slated to be heard
in justice court. Upon motion of
Assistant Prosecuting Attorney John
Gumb. the case was dismissed in dis
trict court and transferred to police
court before Judge A. K. Dame.
Attorney Arthur H. Bigelow, Oma-
representative of the Nebraska branch
of the American Federation of La
Dor, was in charge of the defense.
Witnesses of the prosecution, at
the request of the defense, were sent
from the courtroom. - A motion to
quash the information against all de-
PENDANTS was made by Attorney Bige-
low, claiming insufficient evidence.
the re0uest ,Uac OvArr1,1ed
Saw Truck Pass.
Heybert Groetzinger, farmer, re-
siding on road between Fremont and
the count yline, where the strike
breakers were exiled, testified that he
saw the truck pass by. He was able
to identity Wintersteen and Satchell,
a striker, he said. Thomas Cottrell.
station guard, stated he Identified
Ellis Hobbs and Harry Sawyer, two
of the strikers who were later arrest
ed as ring leaders. Cottrell stated
that he heard cries of "scabs" and
other loud talking, but was unable to
say who made the remarks.
Anton Mark, car foreman, testi-
fled that he was in dining car near
by during the demonstration. He
stated that he saw members fthe
crowd carrying clubs. L. A. Sayl,
car inspector, testified
that he had been threatened person
ally by Sawyer and others.
Witnesses were called to the stand
to bring out the fact that crowd
had gathered around the baggage car
in which the strikebreakers were
brought to Fremont. |
The IS defendants were released
1nder $500 bond on their own recog-
1izance. The hearing will be con-
inued Saturday morning.
The courtroom was filled to ca
,acity this morning when the trial
started with sympathizers, curious
;itizens and deputies. The II men
(Turn to Page Two. Column seven.)