The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1868-04-11
TO BE Continued.
MINERS NEWS,


From the Pistsburg chroaicIe.
Nothing Of special interest has been dc.
vslDped in regard to the miners riot a
0'Neil's Coal Works, in addition to thai
published ia the Chroaicle OF Tuesday
Tuesday Coroner Clawson held an inquest al
the works, on the body OF Francis BeIger
who was killed in the riot Of Mondsy. The
witnesses examined were W. Ii. King, Geo
r Beam, William Hart and John O'Seil
the two former upon oath, the two latter
voluntarily. The voluntary statement o.
Mr.. Hart was corroborated in every particu-
lar BY the testimony Of the other Witnesses,
and proved that shooting the deceased was
an act If sslfdefenoe. The following is the
material portion OF Mr.. Harris statement:
{" am in the employ Of O'Neil as nigh.
watch at present; took me up 70 the Dit to
help protect his property yesterday. The
men came to the foot Of the hill and al.
yanced up; Mr.. C'Neil warned them not 10
come, be would use violence If they did. as
they were trespassing on bis property; they
saw they could not get up on tina, side, and
they went around to try and get shove Us ;
O'&el went out to stop them from coming
up the hill saw O'Neil was getting u dan
ger Will the men were coming up; she
next thing | saw was O'Neil down with four
mon q him beating him with clubs. The
deceased came up the mill towards me as
hard as he could; | warned him to stay
downs then cooked the gun | waived him
back with nv hand, as thought he did not
understand me the man Eds killed | made
nv way to Mr.. O'Neil, and another man was
hurt; they still kept coming up the bill,
and my gun was used over their heads ;
they finally got my gun away from me one
man struck over the head with a club !
caught him by the neckand knocked him over
she bank; Denny O Neil came to his father /;
the rioters then left; we carried O'Neil to
the check house, got W. ION and sent him
the back way home.
lkTne following verdict was rendered by
the Cor5ner's jury: Francis Belger came
to ais death on the 80th day Of March, 1866,
at O'Neirs coal works, in Jefferson town
ship, Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, from
the effects Of gun-shot wound. The jury
believe the shooting was done BY William
Hart.H
When Mr.. Hart was called to testify, 1t
being supposed Il It be had done the shoot
ing which resulted fatally, be was cautioned
not to criminate himself As soon as the
verdict Of the Coroner's jury was an
nounced, Mr.. Hart delivered himself into the
custody OF Deputy Sheriff, +. B. CIuley,
who was present. The Deputy Sheriff then
Drough. MIR. Hart to this city and consigned
MIN 10 The city lookup, where be still re-
mains. The case win be speedily brought
before the Grand Jury, which meets next
Monday, and the general impression is that
the bill will be ignored, as Mr. Hart was
justi6sble in the killing Of Belger, having
done the shooting in self-defense. Parties
who witnessed the riot state that had not
Belger been shot, which caused the rioters
to retreat, the whole Of Mr.. O'Neal's party
would have been attacked and probably all
beat to death with clubs.
An information was made before the
Mayor yest, -daY, by Mr.. O'Neil, againss
about twenty % the parties engaged In the
riot. A posse of the Mayors police were
sent to SIX Mile Ferry, but their appezs ancs
seemed 10 be the signal for the secFeting Of