Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-02-11
'TBE ELM GROVE riot. :
FIVE ARRESTS MADE YESTERDAY ON STATE
WARRANTS
A Protracied Hearing Last Nigh, Before lustics
Arkls at Kimmins' Hall-A Summary
Of the Evidence.

REGISTER OF the trouble at Elm Grove
last Friday night, was matter for gen.
eral comment at Elm Grove. yester-
day. Those in positions to know the sit
uation, say the account was right in all
its details.
Yesterday was pay day at the coal
works, and though much drinking was
done at Elm Grove, there was little
disturbance, and the fears Of some, ex-
pressed Friday night, were allayed. A
fight between some of the working
miners and some Of those striking, dur
Ing the morning, was quickly quelled
by the authorities.
A number Of arrests grew out OF the
trouble in Chambers Bros store on
Friday night. and Squire George Arkle
presided at these hearings, which were
hsld in Kimmins' Hall, Elm Grove, last
evening. beginning at o'clock and
continuing until nearly midnight. Inc
hall was filed with an excited crowd OF
black and white men and women. Only
once did the crowd attempt any display
of sentiment and this was immediately
dispelled by the Squire.
John Nickeson, OF Elm Grove, one OF
the old miners who went to work, 1t
appears was the man VINO was threat
ened in the store and over whom the
disturbance originated Early yester-
DAY morning Nickeson had G. d. john
~ Tlrau Will
liam Birch and John Lohman
arrested, charged with an attempt to
incite riot. Constable john Anderson,
Marshal Of the town, arrested the men.
This was the first case last night, and
Col. Arnett, Of this city, defended the
young men.
Nickeson, the prosecutor, being
sworn, said Sweeney, Birch, key, Lob
man and others came 10 Chambers
store between and o'clock Friday
evening. He said they were full.
Sweeney, be said, threw off his
coat and said to him. 81 can
lick any id black
sheep" Lehman, he said, said he could
do the same thing. The witness SAID
Lohman called w. Chamber , - OF
-. Then Mr.. Chambers grabbed a
pick handle and was about to brain Lob
man, when he was caught and held from
the rear. Witness said that Ed key
said he threw the stone which crashed
through the window. narrowly missing
Mr. Chambers. Witness concluded by
saying numbers Of women annoyed him
by calling him names and blacksheep.
Mr.. w. T. Chambers, being sworn, said
he got the pick handle and wosld have
struck Lohman had not his son
'Sammie" prevented him. At
this juncture the crowd became demon
strative, and Squire Arkle had TO call
them down. Mr.. Chambers concluded
by saying he believed it was q pistol
bullet. and not a stone which went
through the window. He accounted for
not hearing report, by saying he be-
Iieved powder, not causing much OF a
report or smoke, must have been used.
Samuel Chambers thought it prob
able a stone had been thrown. Mr..
Chambers testimony was the same in
detail as related In print of the disturb
ance.
James Scott and William Fordyce,
both testified that the defendants were
right full"
Reed Johnson was sworn, and he de-
veloped much merriment. He is a plan
taton style OF q negro, and about all he
could say was that he paid no particu-
lar attention to the trouble, as what
did not concern him ne gave no heed to,
but he said pick handles were being
fiourished about in lively manner at
one time. The cross-examination by
Colonel Arnett made Reed perspire
somewhat.
Then came VIM. Bucb. The first he
knew was that Mr.. Chambers was
flourlshing pick handle. he did not
see Sweeney throw his coat of or want
to fight. He said the defendants had
half keg of beer to start on. His
testimony was that Mr.. Chambers
started the trouble.
Joe Sweeney was sworn, and be said:
"Mr. Chambers picked up the pick
handle and said he would smash me.
caught the weapon, and prevented It,
l didn't hear anyone called a black
sheep"
key did not hear and bad language
in the store, he said. He acknowledged
he threw the stone, being intoxicated.
He said Mr.. Chambers, who Is assistant
superintendent of the coal works, was
flourishing the pick handle and he said
Mr.. Chambers began the trouble.
Lohman corroborated key. He said
Mr.. Chambers started the row by offer
ing to smash" him with the pick ham
die.
johnson, one OF the defendants, who,
by the way, is local colored preacher,
was put In the witness chair. He acted
in a dramatic way, showing now 1t
was" He made himself out peace
maker and said he sort of carried all
the defendants out Of the store In his
arms. His speech, which lasted about
ten minutes, abounded 10 big words.
and was a sort of exhortation. He said
hes met Marshall Anderson at
the door as he was carrying them
out" He said he saw Mr.. Chambers
"parsding with pick handle"
John Gamble and B. f. Westlake sd-
ded no new facts to the occurrence by
their testimony.
John Knox, a colored man, said be
saw Mr. Chambers with the pick han
die making an "eKertion." and as he
was crippled he got behind q sugar
barrel to escape being hurt. He es-
capped.
Marshall Anderson said be aided in
ouelling the trouble. and Louis Lob
man denied all knowledge OF the Eng
lish language when on the stand.
In the case with Sweeney, key, John
son, Birch and Yohman, as defendants,
each got 81 and costs. The colorsd
driver being defendant and being
anad created nnIte q sensation ln Elm