The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1922-09-13
Violence in.
Strs.t<.s& Told.
-ldavits.
,sy,ernment Scores in Early
Stages of Injunction Suit
Against shopcrafls
Unions.
Issue Vigorously Fought

WIN moro tlAn zuiuOU dlliudNltN Oh
assaults by strikers and strike sym
pathizers on railroad workers in
every section OF the country. the
government today launched its eli
tort 10 show concerted effort by
the striking shoperafts 10 interfere
with interstate traffic by driving rail-
road employees from their work.
Overruling the objection OF attor-
neys for b. NJ. Jewell and John Scott,
the strike leaders, Federal Judge
James II. Wilkerson admitted the
afiidayits in evidence. for the time
being at least, in the hearing on the
governments bill for temporary
Injunction against some 24O shop
crafts officials and more than 100000
OF their followers.
The court likewise deferred for the
present arguent on the defense mo-
ton for modification OF the tempor-
ary restraining order now in force.
He ruled that the governments con-
tention that the dominant purpose OF
the alleged conspiracy is the destruc-
tion of interstate traffic would be a
vital factor in determining whether
the unions were entitled 10 any modi-
fcation, and directed the govern
mcnt to proceed with the evidence on
which it expects TO prove that claim.
Assault on Evidence.
The value as evidence OF the afii-
davits OF persons assaulted by the
strikers and strike sympathizers, or
aiiidayits OF public or railroad Of
ficials claiming knowledge of such
assaults, was vigorously opposed by
Donald r. Richberg OF Chicago and
Frank Mulholland OF Toledo, attor-
neys for Mr.. Jewell and Mr.. Scott
They fought their introduction and
entered a general objection TO all OF
them that the government may pro-
duce.
The affidavits, they declared. are
at the best only secondary evidence
and they fail, they added. TO show
any connection between their clients
and the perpetrators of the acts OF
violence complained OF.
Mr.. Richberg challenged the read
ing of bulletins from various local
strike headquarters over the country
presented to the court by ]. A. Fow- |
Ter, special assistant attorney general, |
and pointed out that the bulletins
themselves i'll many cases showed |
the peaceful intent Of the strikers
and their desire to avoid violence
and cooperation with the peace
officials.
Blackburn Esterline. assistant to
the solicitor general, read nearly 200 |
Of the affidavits telling OF assaults |,
to the court today.
Violence Is Detailed.
Starting in with attacks on Santa
Fe workers in Chicago ann Illinois
points. Mr. Esterline worked west
over that line, state by state, show
ing its employees everywhere had
been subjected to violence. From
the Santa Fe he shifted to the South
srn Pacific and other roads operating
in the southwest, then worked north
along the Pacific slope, and tomor-
row will take up cases i'll the west
and northwest.
Today's exhibits ranged from the
tar and feathering of a former en-
oloyee with photographs at
.ached through bombings.
attempts to run down
with automobiles, beatings,
threats, verbal abuse, rock throwing,
and even intimidations of wives and
children
The nonotonous reading was en-
ivened occasionally by the refine
nents of torture developed against
,ome OF the strike victims. One aft
iavit of a nonunon man captured by
nen said to be- strikers, told how his
aptors discussed half dozen various
orms of punishment, including plac
ng pebbles in his shoes and forcing
lin to walk before their automobile
,r tying a rope around his neck and
Iragging him behind the car. and how
hey finally compromised by beating
iim.
In upholding the governments
light to develop its charges that the
paramount purpose OF the alleged
OF the strikers is TO destroy
commerce, before the de-
ense motion for modification OF the
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