scoundrels 1, justice 1
The Alberton Papers, Vol III, #3
By Dick Darne 11-12-06
Scoundrels 1, Justice 1
"In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial by an impartial jury....." - Amendment VI, U.S. constitutions.
Justice has been thwarted quite often due to a real scoundrel, sometimes it prevails. This is a true story about a first class scalawag, of whom we can only hope he is roasting in the fire and brimstone below. James McParland is he, a dastardly prevaricator, who bore false witness against several members of the so-called "Molly McGuires"while in the employ of the Pinkertons (who have never been a friend of the toiling class). The Pinkertons were in the employ of Franklin P Gowen. Gowen was the head of the Reading Railroad, the coal trust and owner of the Avondale coal mine. Gowen was also a lawyer, who prosecuted the defendants with perjured testimony from McParland. Nineteen men were convicted of murder and died on the gallows. McParland moved on to more lying, Gowen went insane a few years later and committed suicide. One for the scoundrels.
A couple decades later, the ex- governor of Idaho was murdered in Caldwell. The mine owners again turned to the Pinkertons, who once again called on their best perjurer, McParland, who was able to convince a witness to lie. The mine owners kidnapped "Big-Bill" Haywood, and hired Senator Borah to prosecute. Clarence Darrow was the defense attorney. The deck was thoroughly stacked, but the verdict came in: NOT GUILTY. One for justice.
There are many stories like these. The Pinkertons have been up to their eyeballs in labor disputes, always against the working class. The power of the state has intervened almost always against workers. For further reading, see "Labor’s Untold Story", "Big Trouble" and "The Molly McGuires". If your library or book store doesn’t have them contact me.
I dedicate this story to: Doyle, McGeehan, Boyle, Duffy, Kelly, Campbell, Donahue, Fisher, Kehoe, Hester, McHugh, Tully, McManus Lanahan , Sharpe, McDonald, Munley, Carroll and Roarity. They didn’t get to sing their song, but they died like men. dd
By Dick Darne 11-12-06
Scoundrels 1, Justice 1
"In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial by an impartial jury....." - Amendment VI, U.S. constitutions.
Justice has been thwarted quite often due to a real scoundrel, sometimes it prevails. This is a true story about a first class scalawag, of whom we can only hope he is roasting in the fire and brimstone below. James McParland is he, a dastardly prevaricator, who bore false witness against several members of the so-called "Molly McGuires"while in the employ of the Pinkertons (who have never been a friend of the toiling class). The Pinkertons were in the employ of Franklin P Gowen. Gowen was the head of the Reading Railroad, the coal trust and owner of the Avondale coal mine. Gowen was also a lawyer, who prosecuted the defendants with perjured testimony from McParland. Nineteen men were convicted of murder and died on the gallows. McParland moved on to more lying, Gowen went insane a few years later and committed suicide. One for the scoundrels.
A couple decades later, the ex- governor of Idaho was murdered in Caldwell. The mine owners again turned to the Pinkertons, who once again called on their best perjurer, McParland, who was able to convince a witness to lie. The mine owners kidnapped "Big-Bill" Haywood, and hired Senator Borah to prosecute. Clarence Darrow was the defense attorney. The deck was thoroughly stacked, but the verdict came in: NOT GUILTY. One for justice.
There are many stories like these. The Pinkertons have been up to their eyeballs in labor disputes, always against the working class. The power of the state has intervened almost always against workers. For further reading, see "Labor’s Untold Story", "Big Trouble" and "The Molly McGuires". If your library or book store doesn’t have them contact me.
I dedicate this story to: Doyle, McGeehan, Boyle, Duffy, Kelly, Campbell, Donahue, Fisher, Kehoe, Hester, McHugh, Tully, McManus Lanahan , Sharpe, McDonald, Munley, Carroll and Roarity. They didn’t get to sing their song, but they died like men. dd
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