Jasper County Democrat, Volume 7, Number 30, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 October 1904 — AN INCIDENT [ARTICLE]

AN INCIDENT

In the Great Railroad Strike of 1877 When Men Were Arrested and Sent to Jail. During the great railroad strike of 1877 the old Indianapolis, Bloomington & Western railroad, now a part of the Big Four system, was under the management of Geoige B. Wright aa receiver, and a large number of the employes went out on strike. Senator Charles W. Fairbanks was the solicitor for the railroad and as such filed a number of complaints In the federal court at Indianapolis against the strikers. The first of these complaints was filed on July 23 and the last on Aug. 1, 1877, and in pursuance of the prayer therein and the charges made of Interference, some twenty strikers were brought into the court. Here is one of tne many complaints filed, all being alike except as to the names of the parties charged with Interference: The United Statu District Court for the District of Indiana. Malcorab C. Turner et al. vs. Indianapolis, Bloomington & Western Railway Company, et al. George B. Wright, receiver herein, would respectfully report unto this honorable court that divers and sundry persons have heretofore combined to embarrass and hinder your receiver in his management and operation of said railway under the authority of this honorable court. And your receiver reports that the following persons are among the persons so combined to interfere as aforesaid, as your receiver is advised, viz., H. Commingore. P. McKinney, M. Horaw. A. VanTuyl, Jr., and J. W. Brown. And your receiver reports that said persons did interfere with his management by the unauthorized seizure of property in his custody and control, as will fully appear in the annexed affidavit of Samuel T. Bell, marked Exhibit "A” and made a part hereof. And your receiver prays that, said persons heretofore in said affidavit named may be punished as the violence of this offence may warrant. Respectfully submitted, Geo. B. Wright, Receiver, By C. W. Fairbanks, Solicitor. Under this and similar complaints the following named employes of the railroad represented by Mr. Fairbanks were arrested: H. Commingore. P. McKinney, M. Horaw, A. VanTuyl, Jr., J. W. Brown, David Crawford. John Pritchard. Michael Crawley. Patrick Gilivan, Chas. Christ. W. N. Sayre, T. M. Arthur, Patrick Dean, Thomas Sayre, Michael Delany, A. J. Cooper, A. Outcalt and George Smith, and two others named Brickly and Githen. Mr. Fairbanks appeared against the strikers at the ensuing trials and Crawford, Dean, Brickly and Githen were sentenced to three months’ imprisonment irt the Bartholomew county jail and Outcalt and Smith were sentenced for similar terms in the Jefferson county jail.