Birmingham age-herald., 1894-08-09
THIRTEEN STRIKERS On Trial for Murder in Connection
 With the MASSACRE AT PRATT MINES Said to Be the Ringleaders of the Mob-Witnesses Being
 Examined.
MASSACRE AT PRATT MINES

striking miners, supposed to have been the leaders of the mob in the Pratt mines massacre July Is, was begun yesterday in the circuit court room, Justices Moore and Garrettson sitting as the court.
 Both sides were ready for trial and no time was wasted in getting into the evil dence.
 The thirteen defendants are w. J. Kelso, Emile Goatile, N. Benoit, Charlie Ballou, Henry Raymond, A. Treherne, Francis Brawley, Bill Brock, D. Truillious, Henry Descutener, Will Bailey, Charlie Tar brough, Charlie Caldwell. All the defen- dants wore nice bouquets of flowers on the lapels of their coats.
 The trial of a number of others had been continued from last week until yesterday and these by consent were passed until next Monday.
 The court room was well filled long be- fore the time set for the trial to begin, there being quite a number of white women in the audience.
 The state was represented by Solicitor J. Il. Little and MT. J. s. Salisbury and the defense by Col. J. J. Altman, Judge B. M. Allen and Messrs, G. R. Harsh, John D. Strange, John T. Shugart and Joe Hail. Solicitor 0. W. Ferguson was excused by the court on account of other business.
 The first witness called was
 W. P. M'ARrHUR,
 who was a deputy sheriff July 16, guarding property of the Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad company.
 "l was on the engine coming over from slope with several other deputies. We had been notified that an attack would be made on the train as 1t came in that even- ing with the negro miners. We cut the engine loose at No. and went up the road. saw about 100 or 125 mon oD the hill near Ensley. When we stopped the engine the mob began firing on us. B. w. Fierce was shot and died about twenty minutes later. l recognized Bill Brock and the French man, whose name 1 did not know, (he pointed to N. Benoit) in the mob. The Frenchman ran off. The deputies did not shoot until they got up on the bank. The mob kept firing at us. One Frenchman was shot there. The negro was not shot there. l was on the engine going towards No. when l saw the mob. All Of the men either had guns, pistols or sticks. The first time noticed them they had formed lfue along the hill. When we jumped off the engine they fianked to the left and kept up the firing. Some of them were behind houses and some behind bushes. They all ran off over the ridge in a westerly direction. They were coming from towardsPratt mines going in the direc- ton of No. 5, when 1 first saw them. Brock's gun looked like a Winchester The Frenchman who was shot was arrested there.''
 Cross examination: 'sBrock's and the Frenchman's 8 faces looked like they had been blacked. have known Brock four or five years. think there were between fifty and seventy five guns in the crowd. The mob fired first. The Frenchman ran within about twenty or thirty steps of me. have known him for some time, but did not know his name. The shooting occurred between 5 and 6:30 o'clock. There were probably 500 shots fired by both sides. l didn't hear the shooting at Nos. 3 and 6. l only recognized Brock, Benot and Regis, the Frenchman who was shot.o
 Redirect: "Most of the men are miners and 1 think they were strikers. l fre- qdentIy recognize white miners as they come out of the mines with their faces blacked."
 P. 8. ALLEN.
 "I have lived at Pratt City fifteen years. Have mined some. July 16 I attended a meeting of the striking miners on Village creek. Went there about o'clock. Saw any who were not strikers. Suppose 15O men were present. Only saw two men with guns. I opposed killing the "black- legs." W. J. Kelso stated that the time had come when something must be done; that it had been talked about great deal. He said to the men, Are you going to sit here and see the mines fill up and draw your rations and do nothing?' proposi- tion was then made for all who would go to stand up. A colored man suggested that all who would go get on one side and those opposed get on the other. Adam Power came up and said that was not the way to go at it. l think the majority op- posed going. Some guards were stationed around the place. They were instructed to let all who wished come, but not to let any one go out. I didn't see any guns or other weapons. Saw Treherne at the meeting, but don't know what part he took in it. The crowd was there about half an hour or three quarters. think Kelso and others said for all who had guns to go home and get them. Will Bailey was at the meet ing. don't know if be left the meeting before it adjourned. Think l saw him with a gun. Don't know Charlie Var member seeing him there. Don't know B,noit. saw Bailey, Treherne and Kslso there. As soon as l apprehended no trouble in getting out I left and went home. Some of them went off and soon returned with guns. They didn't remain there long after they came back. Several said Come on, boys.' As they started off Hudson was behind and seemed to be try ing to get those remaining behind to go, and when they refused called them cow ards. They went off in northwest direc- ton from the meeting. think kelso said come on, boys.' Hudson had q gun. Caldwell at the meeting. D. Truillious was at the meeting. 1 didn't see him with any gun. Heard no shooting after the meet ing.'
 nor Truillious vote. Neither did l see Trenerne vote. can't say positively that Kelso said come on, boys.' The meeting,