The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1939-12-13
Is WPA Strikers
Convicted by Jury
By ANGELO COIN

MINNEAPOLIS. - (FP) - Twenty
five -WPA workers who took part last
July in the protest against reduction
of the prevailing wage standard were
found guilty of conspiracy on Dec
i by a federal jury which had weighed
the case As hours. The jury CON
sisted of five farmers, a housewife
a gas station attendant, garage me-
chanic, an accountant, road worker,
carpenter and a tractor salesman.
The IA women and II men were
accused in connection with disturb
ances at sewing project. They face
terms of two years and fines of S10,-
900 but probably will not be sentenced
until all of the cases, involving 1852
indicted persons, are completed.
Although appeals are considered
certain, labor circles fear that the
convictions foreshadow a similar fate
for IS more WPA workers also in
dicted because of the sewing project
strike, in which one picket was killed
by police bullets. The next trial may
not start until February 1910, how
ever, because Federal Judge M. M.
Joyce will hold court in other cities
until then. In two previous trials,
eight workers were convicted and
three acquitted.
The case went to the jury Deem
Der after six weeks of firing testi-
mony, during which two of the women
defendants collapsed in court. One
was Mrs. Sigma Asuma, mother of
dependent son, who has been living
on 1880 monthly relief allowance
since she lost her WPA job. Defense
counsel said her collapse on Novem-
Der % was due to malnutrition.
Twenty-Five of the workers testified
in their own defense. Last witness
was Mrs. Lois Driscoll Viens, who
took the stand on November 20 de-
spite illness. But the next day she
also collapsed and was ordered home
by doctor, again delaying compile
ton of the trial.
Victor Anderson, U. S district at
torney, had sought to try all 80 of the
sewing project workers at the same
time Defense counsel argued for in
dividual trials, but Judge Joyce ruled
that up to 25 persons could be tried
jointly.
Attorney Tom Davis of the defense
staff had maintained that group trials
would be prejudicial because the jur-
ors could not fairly remember evil |
dence presented against each defend |
ant. He predicted that jurors would |
Tend to recall only the most damag- |
ing evidence, and that they might
easily apply it against innocent de-
lendants.
In answer to the serious charge of
<J-e
Justice could be served only if per-
sons who felt themselves victims of
he alleged conspiracy swore out COM
plants in the state courts against in
iividual strikers. Admitting that
some of the defendants might face
assault and battery charges under this
the defense contended that
vert acts in themselves were no
)roof of conspiracy to deprive others
If the benefits of WPA.
Davis insisted that no agreement on
unified action, as required for con-
rictiop under the conspiracy law, ex-
sted Many of the defendants testi-
led that the demonstration was spon-
aneous.
1t was pointed out that during the
leight of the strike Pres. Roosevelt
vas asked by the Workers Alliance
nd by the federal workers section
f Local 544, Init. Bro. of Transfers,
,hauffeurs, Stablemen & Helpers
AFL), to close the projects in order
0 prevent violence.
Policeman William Nichols of the +
force admitted that dur T
lg the disturbances men in the crowd !
ried to restore order. He identified 7
ID Palmquist, defendant and vice /
hartman of the teamsters' unit, as !
ne of the peacemakers
William P. Rieck, young truck !
river who had no connection with !
le strike, testified that on July IA r
8 saw officers hurl gas bombs and
loot into the crowd, fright at the
eople" At times the crowd num-
cred thousands, many of them curl
is bystanders.
i