Rensselaer Journal, Volume 11, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 September 1901 — English Common Law on Pickets. [ARTICLE]

English Common Law on Pickets.

Some months ago an English railway company procured in the high court of justice an injunction against the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants restraining its members from “watching and besetting” the railway stations and approaches during a pending strike of its employes. The appeal court to which the case was taken by the strikers set aside the injunction of the high court. From this decision the railway company appealed to the house of lords, which is the highest British tribunal of justice. The house of lords reversed the decision of the appeal court, leaving In force the injunction against the pickets of the strikers. This is a decision by the English court of last resort to the effect that strike pickets are unlawful and may be summarily removed by a judicial order in a case properly brought before the court. Being placed on this firm ground, the railway company (operating the lass Valley line), brought an action against the Amalgamated society for SIOO,OOO damages on account of injuries suffered in its business from the strikers and their pickets. If a judgment should be procured In this suit it can be collected from the funds in the treasury of the society. An interesting circumstance in the life of the late George C. Chamberlain of Greenwich, Conn., who has just died at the age of • 95 years and 4 months, was that when a boy 9 years old he carried water to soldiers at the battle of Waterloo and saw Napoleon shortly after. He used to describe the battle with great gusto. Mr. Chamberlain was a native of Leicester, England. About 200,000 miles of railroads are operated in the United States.