San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-02-15
Find MORGAN
NOT GUILTY
OF: CONTEMPT
Judge West Says Testi-
/: mony Conflicting in Case
of Strike Chairman.
CHARGED WITH ABUSE
Defendant Says He Warned
Men Not to Call Strike
breakers Scabs.

J. NJ. Morgan, chairman Of the
striking shopmen last summer, was
found not guilty by Judge Duval West
lin federal court Thursday morning
|of charges of intimidating strike
breakers.
Judge West said that testimony on
the two sides was conflicting and
since the government had failed TO
Establish that Mr.. Morgan had VIC
ated the injunction prohibiting init
nidation he would order the defendant
reed.
The charge grew out Of alleged
buse of strikebreakers who were
working for the G. ii. & s. A. in
San Antonio last summer. A fed
raj injunction was granted by Judge
Nest prohibiting interference with
he new employees. Later a criminal
Information was filed against Morgan
harging that he cursed and abused
hem. -s..,, -sr.
The trial of the strike leader was
characterized by conflicting testimony
several occasions. Several of the
ffidavits upon which the information
rs based, did not correspond with the
,stimOny offered when the signerS Of
he affidavits were placed upon the
illness stand.
Morgan Takes Stand.
Taking the stand in his own behalf,
r. Morgan testified that he had in
ructcd the pickets at all times TO
Inform with the provisions of the in
hnction and that he had cautioned
em not to apply the term "scab' to
e employees Of the railroad. He tes-
fled that he had instructed the pick
to maintain n peaceful demand or
their negotiations with the strike
teakers and not TO curse or abuse
EN-. His testimony was corrobo-
ted nv two or three witnesses who
stified that they had acted as picHets
ring the railroad strike prior to the
augherty Injunction and that they
received such instructions from
r. Morgan. l.
Id instructed the strikers 10 loIlo"
e railroad employees to their homes
Il for the purpose Of moIestIng them
{ for the purpose OF ascertalning
cir names md addresses, after the
ilroad officials had ordered the cier-
ii forces not to give out information
ncerning the employees. The plcKets
70 further instructed. Mr.. Morgan
tilted. that they should endeayor 70
cage in conversation with railroad
Moves for the purpose OF persuad-
them to quit the employ OF tne
Plroad and join the ranks OF tne
Eo Serious Disorders Here.
In entering the order discharglns
1rcon. Judge West said he was
,cI impressed by the fact that san
tonic was one Of the few large rall-
hi centers in which no serious dls'
Hers occurred during the. strike
l. together with the fact that MT
prgan was general chairman of the
liking shopmen, was cOnsldered
dge West said, in arriving at his
-dict. -..,
Trial of the contempt case started
ednpsday morning after motion
nuash the information had beer
arruied. The right of trial by jury
s waived and the case was heard
Judge West. The San Antonio
Ike leaders have been cleared. with
disposition of this case, OF any
Gal acts in connection with the
iwav shoDcrafts strike last. sum
Out of this strike grew charges
inst Morgan and II. H. Dietz
retarv of the six federated shop
its in San Antonio of conspiracy
Connection with the alleged placing
quicksilver in engine boilers as
Ilt of the discovery Of a quantity
quicksilver in the Southern
tifie shops in San Antonio. The
Antonio strike leaders were
ared of all charges connected will
alleged conspiracy. The trial Of
case resulted in the conviction Of
other strike leaders and strikers