Snow on the headlight : $b a story of the great Burlington strikeWarman, Cy
General
Snow on the headlight : $b a story of the great Burlington strike
Warman, Cy
Burlington Strike, 1888 -- Fiction; Strikes and lockouts -- Fiction
Judge Meyer's court was crowded when the three big policemen, formed
like a football team, wedged their way into the building. In the centre
of the "A" walked the prisoner, handcuffed and chained like a murderer.
When they had arrived in front of the judge and the officers stepped
back they left the prisoner exposed to the gaze of the spectators.
Standing six feet two, strong and erect, he looked as bold and defiant
as a Roman warrior, and at sight of him there ran a murmur through the
court room which was promptly silenced by the judge.
In response to the usual questions the prisoner said his name was Dan
Moran, that his occupation was that of a locomotive engineer. He had
been in the employ of the Burlington for a quarter of a century--ever
since he was fifteen years old--but being one of the strikers he was now
out of employment.
"You are charged," said the clerk, "with trespassing upon the property
of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company, inciting a riot,
attempting to blow up a locomotive and threatening the life of the
engineer. How do you plead?"
"Not guilty," said the old engine-driver, and as he said this he seemed
to grow an inch and looked grander than ever.
Being asked if he desired counsel the prisoner said he did not, that the
whole matter could be explained by a single witness--an employee of the
company.
The company detective and the police officers exchanged glances, the
judge coughed, the crowd of loafers shifted ballast and rested on the
other foot. Only the prisoner stood motionless and erect.
The detective, the first witness for the prosecution, testified that he
had followed the prisoner into the yards from among the freight cars,
watched him approach the engine Blackwings and talk with the engineer.
He could not make out all that passed, but knew that the men had
quarrelled. He had seen the prisoner stoop down and fumble about the
air-pump on the engineer's side of the engine. He then rose and as he
moved off made some threat against the life of the engineer and about
"ditching" the train.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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