People v. Foster

Defendants review denial of their motions to dismiss the prosecution for failure to accord them a speedy trial, in violation of the Constitution, Art. 2, § 19:

“In every criminal prosecution, the accused shall have the right to a speedy and public trial by an impartial jury. ’ ’

Defendants were charged with criminal syndicalism in one information, but demanded separate trials. The last arraignment was on December 5, 1922. William Z. Foster was tried and the jury disagreed in April, 1923. Charles E. Ruthenberg, a codefendant, was tried in May, 1923, and found guilty. The conviction was affirmed…