Centralia Massacre, Centralia, Wash., 1919; Industrial Workers of the World; Lumber trade -- Washington (State)
1. On motion a secret ballot of guilty or not guilty was taken, the count
resulting in a unanimous "Not Guilty!"
2. Shall we give our report to the press? Verdict, "Yes."
[Illustration: Labor's Silent Jury
W.J. Beard, Central Labor Council, Tacoma: Paul K. Mohr, Central Labor
Council, Seattle: Theodore Meyer, Central Labor Council, Everett: E.W.
Thrall, Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen, Centralia: John A. Craft, Metal
Trades Council, Seattle.]
3. Was there a conspiracy to raid the I.W.W. hall on the part of the
business interests of Centralia? Verdict, "Yes."
There was evidence offered by the defense to show that the business
interests held a meeting at the Elk's Club on October 20, 1919, at which
ways and means to deal with the I.W.W. situation were discussed. F.B.
Hubbard, Chief of Police Hughes and William Scales, commander of the
American Legion at Centralia, were present. Prosecuting Attorney Allen was
quoted as having said, "There is no law that would let you run the I.W.W.
out of town." Chief of Police Hughes said, "You cannot run the I.W.W. out
of town; they have violated no law." F.G. Hubbard said, "It's a damn
shame; if I was chief I would have them out of town in 24 hours." William
Scales, presiding at the meeting, said that although he was not in favor
of a raid, there was no American jury that would convict them if they did,
or words to that effect. He then announced that he would appoint a secret
committee to deal with the I.W.W. situation.
4. Was the I.W.W. hall unlawfully raided? Verdict, "Yes." The evidence
introduced convinces us that an attack was made before a shot was fired.
5. Had the defendants a right to defend their hall. Verdict, "yes." On a
former occasion the I.W.W. hall was raided, furniture destroyed and
stolen, ropes placed around their necks and they were otherwise abused and
driven out of town by citizens, armed with pick handles.
6. Was Warren O. Grimm a party to the conspiracy of raiding the I.W.W.
hall? Verdict, "Yes." The evidence introduced convinces us that Warren O.
Grimm participated in the raid of the I.W.W. hall.
7. To our minds the most convincing evidence that Grimm was in front of
and raiding the I.W.W. hall with others, is the evidence of State Witness
Van Gilder who testified that he stood at the side of Grimm at the
intersection of Second street and Tower avenue, when, according to his
testimony, Grimm was shot. This testimony was refuted by five witnesses
who testified that they saw Grimm coming wounded from the direction of the
I.W.W. hall. It is not credible that Van Gilder, who was a personal and
intimate friend of Grimm, would leave him when he was mortally wounded, to
walk half a block alone and unaided.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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