The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-09-16
STRIKE CASE
BEFORE The
j. S. COURT
Federal Attorney Files
10000 Documents
Charging Assaults
en- Railroad En-
ployes

CIK hdllIOdQ Iill'
ployes
Chicago, Sept. u (By the Asso-
ciated Press)-With more than
2O,O00 affidayits charging assaults
by strikers and strike sympathizers
on railroad workers in every sec
ton Of the country, the govern
ment today launched its endeavor
TO show a concerted effort by the
striking shop crafts to interfere
with interstate traffic by driving
railroad employees from their
work
Overriding the objections of at
torneys for 3. NJ. Jewell and John
Scott, the strike leaders, Federal
Judge WAkerson admitted the at
fdayits in evidence for the time be-
ing at least, in the hearing on the
governments bill for temporary
injunction against some 240 shop
crafts officials and their followers.
The court likewise deferred for
the present, argument on the de-
fense motion for modification OF
the temporary restraining order
now in force. He ruled that the
government contention that the
dominant purpose Of the alleged
conspiracy is the destruction Of III
terstate traffic would be a vital
factor in determining whether the
unions were entitled to any modl-
fcation in the order, and directed
the government to proceed with
the evidence on which it expects to
prove that claim.
The value, as evidence. OF the af-
fidavits of persons assaulted
by the strikers and strike sympa-
thizers. or affidayits of public or
railroad officials claiming kEowi-
edge of such assaults was vigorous
" opposed by Donald R. Richberg
and Frank Mulhoiland, attorneys
for !dr. Jewell ard Mr.. Scott.
| They fought their Introduction
land entered a general objection TO
all of them that the government
may produce.
The afTidavits. they declared.
are at the best only secondary ey--
idence, and they fail. they added.
to show any connection between
their clients and the preparation
Of the act OF violence complained
OF.
A few isolated acts of violence
among 100000 men on strike are
Insignificant in themselves, Mr..
Richberg declared. They would
occur even in any army under mil
itary discipline" he said. and an
army of 100000 rlen would have
to have court nartials TO deal
with such cases, yet the existence
|of the army could not be called a
conspiracy because of those scat
tered affairs.
He characterized the govern
ment's .affidavi1s as heing may be
half true" and denied The inference
contained in one. Of the prosecu-
tons exhibits that trains had ever
been abandoned z:E the SoutAWeS-
tern desert by their crews
Blackburn Ester iae, assistant to
the solicitor general, read nearly
200 of the afTidavits telling OF as
saults TO the court today, and an
nounced ne would continue the
reading tomorrow. Unless an agree
ment is reached TO shorten the
presentation the government. ne
told the Associated Press, will read
into the record reports of similar
occurrences in every state and on
every principal railroad line IN the
country.
Today's exhibits ranged from an
affidavit of the tar and featherlns
| s,f aSxailroad emrlovee-with pho
togrSSshs attached-through bomb
ings. shootings. attempts TO run
| q ,vn workers wi.f, automobiles,
beatings, threats. .erbal abuse,
rock throwing and even intlmida-
tioas Of .hHir wives ard children.
Th, monto 1ous reading was ea-
livened occasionally by the various
farnls OF torture asail1sl so!n" OF
TIE :tr:ke sictil2a. Oae aE;caYl-
| et q non-aaioa snaE caponre'i bT
men said TO be strikers told how
| his captors discussed a half dozen
various forms of punishment, IN
cluding placing pebbles in his shoes
! and forcing him to walk before
their automobile or tying a rope
around his neck and dragging nm
| behind the car, and how they final
~ compromised by finally beating
him.
In upholding the government S
| right to develop its charges that
! the paramount purpose of the al
| legged conspiracy of the strikers IS
TO DESTROY interstate commerce. De-
fore the defense motion for modi-
fcation Of the restraining order is
acted on. Judge Wilkerson cited
| the recent decision Of the United
States supreme court in the Coro-
nado cass and similar decisions in
the retail lumber dealers ease and
the prosecution of James =. Patten
of wheat corner fame in the cotton
case years ago.
The government scored agaln
during the defense attack on the
reading of the assault affidavit
when Judge Wilkerson cited the