Birmingham age-herald., 1894-07-28
CORONER'S JURY m
Makes Report Relative to the Mas sacre at Slope No. 3, Near
 Pratt City.


 : The AGE HERALD was in error yesterday in stating that the coroner had made re- port embodying the results of the investi- gation of the Pratt mines massacre of nearly two weeks ago. It was the jury's report, and it reads us follows:
 STATE OF ALABAMA,
 JEFFERSON COUNTY,
 July 26, 1894. We, the jury, househoders of said county of Jefferson, duly empaneled to inquire into the cause of the death ofB. w. Fierce, white, and Andy Gamble, colored, which inquiry was held at the court house of said county, beginning on towit: the 17th day of July, 1894, on the view of the bodies of the said B. w. Fierce and Andy Gamble, upon our oaths do say that they came to their deaths by gunshot wounds inflicted by John Kelso and others, and that the killing of the said B. w. Fierce and Andy Gamble was done unlawfully and with ma ice aforethought.
 Further find that meeting was held July Is by the striking miners of Pratt City and vicinity on Village creek, near Ensley and Pratt City, which said meet ing was ostensbly called for the purpose of taking vote on the subject of change of diet in the provisions furnished to said striking miners, and that after said meet ing had assembled motion was made that tine miners there assembled should go to
 
 off, scare or kill the miners who were at work in said mines, which motion was de- termined by dividing said crowd for and against said motion, and that the crowd there assembled were about equally di- vided on said question; that motion was made that the miners present who were not armed be given an opportunity to return 10 their homes and arm themselves, and those who had no arms were instructed to pro- vide themselves with such weapons as they could procure.
 We further find that the miners who en- tered into this unlawful conspiracy, after thus arming themselves, proceeded in a body from the point of said meeting to carry out the unlawful conspiracy thus stated.
 We further find that it was the purpose and intent of the persons so engaged to in- tercept the coaches ou the railroad of the Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad company conveying the working miners from said slopes to their homes in and around Pratt City, to then and there intimdate said working miners to prevent them from working and to drive them from the couu- try, and to kill them if necessary to carry out their unlawful purpose, and that as soon as any of said working miners were seen said conspjrators immediately opened fire upon them.
 We further find that in pursuance of the unlawful purpose and agreement that one Andy Gamble, a working miner, was killed Dy SO16 ueuOer or Uem DeTS or SaIQ uu- lawful assembly, and that one B. w. Fierce, white, a guard and deputy sheriff, on guard at Slope No. 8, was killed in like manner; that one George Campbell, coIored, a working minor, was dangerously wounded, and other working miners were fired upon by members of this unlawful assembly.
 We further find that a number of the miners at said meeting on Village creek re- fused to enter into the unlawful agreement above set out, but were compelled by force and threats to go along with the crowd who had entered into and agreed to the same.
 We further find that Dr. J. K. Smith. prscticing physician, who was at the time an innocent spectator of a part of the un- lawful, proceedings above set out, seeing the said George Campbell shot down, went to assist said Campbell in his capacity of physician, but was prevented and warned off and fired upon by some member or members of said unlawful assein bly,.
 H. F. DUsENBERRY, Coroner.