The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1928-05-12
ST. CLALRSVILLE, OHIO, A
MINING TOWN ON BAIL


deep thot they gave the impression
of being engaged in the business of
solving weighty problems. Two little
law students who were assisting the
prosecutor horned in on the confer
ence, hands in hip pockets.
They also were having their day
in the sun.
Reporters and all those not direct
~ concerned in the hearings were
ordered out of the room. Then both
lawyers Iectured the defendants on
the ACCESSIBILITY of observing the law
Mass picketing is illegal. The law
yers did not say that it is effective
That is why it is illegal. The law
yers said that the miners must obey
the law. The prosecutor said that if
they did not make any more trouble
for the county officials, the cases
would never be called. The miners
said nothing but went away more de-
termined than ever to win the strike.
Arrest Strike Leaders.
A few hours later three mine strike
leaders We're brought by a deputy
sheriff into the office of Squire Brady
Bradfield Joe Weber, of Bridge
port, John Spleen of Neffs and Andy
Plechaty of Dillonvale. Sepich was
arrested while addressing a mass
meeting in a hall at Crescent. Web
Der and Pleeahty were arrested on
the street outside the hall.
Deputy Sheriff J. C. Baker, takes
the witness chair. He is questioned
by an assistant prosecutor who de-
velops the fact that John Sepich ad-
dressed the mass meeting at Cres-
cent on April %. Sepieh is alleged
to have stated that there are several
miners in jail now and that there
would be several more in Jail. This
was inciting to riot! The prosecution
rested.
Defense attorney Bradshaw ques-
toned the witness. Did Sepich attack
the government No. Did he attack
the county officials? No. Then why
the devil was he arrested? The
deputy felt i'll at ease. His was not
to reason why. His was to do as he
was told. So he had Sepich arrested
Bradshaw flashed an affidavit on
the witness bearing his signature
Among other things it said, "That
they did riotously agree with each
other to commit an unlawful act" and
that "they then and there made riot
Gus movements"
What did Mr.. Baker mean by I'M
lawful acts? No answer. What did
he mean by riotously agreeing to
commit an unlawful act? No an
swer. The prosecutor came to the
assistance of the harried witness.
Baker did not have to know anything
except that Sepieh said more miners
would be arrested before the strike
was over.
A Frame-up.
The extent of Sepich's wrongdoing
was, according to Baker, that he talk
ed about winning the strike in a
loud voice and that all those present
appeared to agree with what he said
Baker admitted that he did not read
the affidavit he signed. AS attorney
Bradshaw pointed out it was copied
from form book in the court house
and he signed it with his eyes looking
upwards.
The assistant prosecutor stood up
grabbed hold Of the back Of a chair
and stumbled thru a little speech
which said in substance, "May it
please the court, the people believe
that those men violated the law and
should be held for the grand jury"
"May it please the court" started
Bradshaw, "but the defense believes
that those men were entirely within
their rights in what they did and the
charges should be dismissed"
But it pleased the court to hold
them for the grand jury, which course
he took with the JUNCTION of a Jesuit
putting hereto to the rack for
doubling the truth of the fable where
Jonah is supposed to have gone down
the whales gullet only to emerge as
fresh as if he had just taken cold