The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-03-03
THE ROBINSON TRIAL.
Many Witnesses Testify His
Victims We're Harmless.
IMPORTANT POINT TO BE ARGUED
Ststs Refuses to Call Ben Stretch a. q
Witness-Cost of Naturalization
Papers-The BIotter.

the prosecution until .. m At that time dis
puts arose over motion by the defense to re-
Qusre the state to produce Deputy Sheriff
Stretch, who had testified before the grand jury
which found the indictment This led to an
adjournment o. court until this morning to
allow the attorneys time to hunt up authorities
for ugulns their respective sides OF the oues.
ton The evidence of the states witnesses wss
: ell directed toward proving the dying declara-
ton OF Eddy Williams TO the effect that Park
Robinson killed him, and the fact that Williams
and Norris were both unarms1 when shot.
Although most of the witnesses, who were with
few exceptions strikers and their relatives told
straightforward stories. they showed on cross
examination strange ignorance OF the bitter
feeling among the miners and of all threats
against, and even discussion OF, the negroes and
Sullivan guards.
With the opening of court, Dr. J. J. Smith. the
mine physician, the first witness for the state,
was recalled. He testified that young Williams,
while dying, had stated that he had met Tommy
Morris back of the company's houses; that, as
they passed Park Robinson's house. Robinson
came out with q gun and fired: that Morris
cried: spark, don't shoot" that Robinson fred
ascend shot and he fell; that he (williams)
was about thirty feet away when Robinson fred
the third shot, which hit him; that he then
made his wey around the mountain to q point
shove his house, where he got help
The witness, at the suggestion of NJ. Hughes.
who was conducting the examination for the
state was allowed to refresh his memory from
memoranda taken at williams bedside, with
Mr. Burleigh's caution that he testify from
memory alone. After examining a sheet OF
paper he proceeded to testify that the wounded
man had said that the shooting occurred about
7:3o o'clock No words were spoken at the time
except when Morris cried: spark, don't sh oot"
On cross-examination Mr. Burleigh asked:
"Did he say whether or not they were going
along the country road when they were shot2"
ale didn't say"
". C. Jones. the next witness, testified sub
stantially as follows:
knew Eddy Williams lived in the mex:
house to him. / was With him at Black Dia-
/ mond on Sunday, June %. We left there and
: went to franklin We met Tommy Morris and
Tommy Williams and two other men coming
panys houses.
At this juncture the state offered in evidence
aseries Of photographs, taken a few days ago,
Of the scene OF the shooting and the vicinity
They were Identified by the witness a. being
what they purported to be, and were then
passed among the jury, while Jones, with sug-
gestions and questions from Mr.. Hughes and
Nh. Burleigh, explained the relative positions of
the houses and other objects represented in the
pictures
After the examination OF the photographs,
which lasted several minutes, the witness con-
tnued his testimony. He had stood ON the
county road talking to Morris for two or three
minutes, when they heard the firing in the
direction of the lower depot, which was toward
the south. This was about 7:3o. Continuing
from this point, he said:
l started home to the north along the
county road. Williams and Morris past
mo and left the county road and started to
climb the hill. When was talking to them,
neither Williams nor Morris had any weapon
that could see, and Williams had none during
the day. After had gone q ways, I saw the
fash of gun up the hillside to the lett There
were a great many shots below on the fats and
lcouldn't tell that this one was above except by
the fash. then went home.
Did you see Williams after thatf
Yes, sir. saw him about an hour later after
he had been carrid home I helped strip him
and saw his wound.
The witness here gave a description OF WILL
Jams injuries, his testimony in this respect being
practically the same As that Of d.. Smith.
On REORGANIZATION the witness In answer
to question from Mr.. Burleigh said that In
June the foliage OF the trees at Franklin was
much thicker than now, and that in summer
the ferns grew sometimes as tail as a mans
head. From the county road to Park Rotinson's
house was about fifty or sixty yards. The house
stood on the side of the hill, which extended
perhaps $50 feet further up
''what were you talking about on the county
roadg" was asked.
with pistol, and we were talking about that.
! didn't see him have pistol When the
shooting began thought we had better be get
ung somewhere, so started up the road. Isaw
the flash of the gun at Robinsons house.
Isn't It fact that nearly everybody In that
) section carried guns?
Yes, sir; most everybody.
On redirect examination the witness swore
that he had next seen Williams about quarter
OF mile from where he separated from him on
the road. Questioning by Mr.. Hughes brought
out the statement that at that time the negroes
and Sullivan guards were all armed. Dead
lines had been established around all the min.
Ing property. During the general shooting two
women were wounded.
On discrimination Jones testified that
the dead lines were marked by barbed wire
fences around all the mine openings except one
a; the river. The dead lines were established
about May II, on the day that the negro miners
were brought in. The dead lines were watched
By armed guards Ths white miners were
mostly on the flats. Mr. Burlsigh asked:
How many white miners were there who did
not have 8 rifle or gun of some kindY
couldn't exactly cay.
We're there more men who had them than
, these who did not?
couldn't exactly say. All ! Know Is mere
were about thirty guns when they were turned
In to the militia.
When YOU were at Black Diamond that day
was not the trouble between the miners anu
the company discussedY
can't recollect.
Rad you not been told that there was Q not
Key to occur that nightF
No, sir
Had you been expecting something OF the
kind2
thought 1t might happen. but wasn't ex.
actly expecting 1t that night
Was there not very bitter feeling among the
white miners about the bringing in of the ne
groes?
liked il
DID no. this feeling increase from the l7th OF
May TO tas 18th of June?
couldn't say as TO that =,
Don't you know that the feeling among the
white miners grew more intensified As IL oeesnis
apparent that the darkiss had come there 10
ktayf
ldon't know what you mean.
Isn't il fact that the White miners grew
more bitter a. Il was evident that the oGrkies
would stay there aud work the mines?
/ don't know guess they didn't like IL
didn't myself
The witness was taken again BY Mr.. Hughes,
who asked:
Did this dead line take in the space occupied
oy Park Robiuson's houser
No. sir
We're any Of you within the dead lines that
evening when you were with Williams ana
AorrisP
No, sir. -
You say YOU lived next door to Eddy Williams
Did you ever know OF his having at any time
weapon III his possessionG
No, cir.
M. BurleiSh took another turn at the witness,
aud this time more vigorously.
Did you meet any miners at Black Dismondf
les, s'r; some.
v as there any talk about the uouoeI
Very likely there was.
Don't you reeouect that il was that morning
that the negroes were sent from trahkAn 70
AewosStle2 Wasn't every miner IN the country