Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 18.pdf/486

 THE GILHOOLEY CASE

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THE GTLHOOLEY CASE BY FREDERICK. L. FAKE, JR. T7REDERICK L. MECKEL for many JL years has been a carriage and wagon manufacturer in Chicago, as was his father before him. In his father's time the ques tion of union or non-union labor did not enter into the employment of a man, and the son believing that to be good doctrine endeavored to secure capable workmen without regard to their affiliation with organized labor. About April i, 1905, Mr. Meckel had in his employ between fifty-five and sixty men, including blacksmiths, painters, bodyworkers, truck-workers, etc., necessary to the conduct of his business. A number of these men belonged to labor unions, several of them being members of what was known as Carriage and Wagonmakers' Union Local No. 4, among the latter being one Christ. J. Carlstrom, a blacksmith, who for eight years had been in Mr. Meckel's employ. The Carriage and Wagonworkers' Union Local No. 4, on April 3, 1905, declared a general strike against all the wagon manu facturers in Chicago who operated "open shops," which included Meckel's plant. Three of his employees responded to this call. The balance, over fifty in number, refused to leave their employer, among them being the said Carlstrom. During the next succeeding days, following the commencement of the strike, Meckel's plant as well as the shops of the other manufac turers were watched and picketed and efforts made by the union members to induce the men employed to quit work and join the strikers, but to no avail. Among the most active of the union pickets at Meckel's factory were Charles Casey, business agent of Union Local No. 4, and Henry J. New man, its financial secretary. On Thursday, April 13, 1905, about five o'clock P.M., some ladies living near Thirtysecond Street and Princeton Avenue saw

a big man locate himself on a fence surround ing a corner yard in that vicinity, where he was soon after joined by a shorter and lighter man. They talked to each other but a short time when Christ. Carlstrom was seen coming from the north, walking toward his home, which was a short distance south of Thirty-second Street, on Princeton Avenue. He carried a tin dinner pail in his hand and his face was lit by a smile. The two men were seen to approach Carlstrom, one of them seeming to say something to him, to which he made reply, whereupon the larger of the two men hit him a powerful blow in the face, which was followed by several more blows inflicted both by the large man (over 6 feet in height and weigh ing considerably over 200 pounds) and his less sturdy but no less active companion. Carlstrom was felled to the ground and while prone was repeatedly kicked by both of his assailants, the larger man even turning for a last kick after having for an instant indicated that he was about to with draw from the scene. A lady from the opposite side of the street having seen the difficulty called to the two men, saying, "My God, don't kill that man, " to which the larger man replied, " Never mind, lady, he is only a G— d— scab." The two men then started north through a vacant lot to an alley, where they were joined by a third man, younger and lighter than the two before mentioned, and all three disappeared in the alley running north. Carlstrom was seen gradually to regain consciousness. He picked himself up, climbed the fence to secure his hat and dinner pail, which had been thrown or knocked into the yard, and with his face covered with blood made his way towards the south, where he was met by his wife, and with her assistance and his arm around her shoulder he finally reached his home. Doctors were called who found