, 1896-12-01
MINERS ON TRIAL.
THE LEADVILLE TROUBLE Be
ING AIRED IN THE CLOUD
CITY COURTS.
Much Testimony of an Interesting Ma
ture Is Brought Out Before Judge
Overs. Who Takes the Case Under
Amusement for a Day-Trial Be-
hind Closed Doors.

Leadville, Colo, Nov. 30.-There has
over the terrible affair that placed a
blot on Leadville's fair name when the
Coronado was blown up. a number OF
lives lost, and an attempt was made to
blow up other properties in the camp,
but the first reports that core from
witnesses who swear to tell the truth.
union themselves, will be published
for the first time tomorrow morning.
1t must not be thought that the infor-
nation which has been obtained was
easily secured, but it was an effort on
the part of the prosecuting attorney t o
draw from the witnesses the state
ments which they made and which it
is believed are very discriminating.
THE HEARING.
The hearing commenced at 2 p. m.
and tasted until 7. The side of the PEG.
pie was represented by Judge Dickson
and Charles A. Wilkin Of Fairplay.
The defendants were looked after by
Judge Glynn and Hon. J. w. Taylor OF
Denver.
The case opened by ar address made
by Mr.. Wilkin, in which he summed up
the history of the trouble in an ex-
cellent address. During this discourse
he stated that, as suggested in an opin.
ion OF Judge Helm. the evidence to be
offered at this hearing would naturally
go to two points: the one being the
homicide. the crime; the other. the
connection with the crime itself.
Now. If we should go into the evil
dence." said he. as to both these
points. we would practically submit the
entire case to the court, but inasmuch
as THE honorable presiding judge OF
the court was personally and officially
here throughout the events of which
the homicide in question was an incl.
dent. we take it for granted that the
court will ask to he advised upon the
second of these points and not upon
the first"
Mr.. Vilkin then went on calling the
attention of the our to the fact that
after the strike hal beeI. declared and
the men ha' quit work that the un-
i'm, through an extensive committee
Of 20, to whom was delegated full DOW
err, purchased 100 rifles and distributed
them. and also distributed revolvers,
all of which was done among selected
members of the union.
THE ATTACK.
That on the night of the Goth of Sep
tember there was a general gathering
from all quarters of the camp, es.
pecially from the headquarters and the
rendezvous of the Miners union quar-,
tiers and elsewhere. the men being arm,
ed. and gathering at the Coronado
property made a concerted attack up
on it, an attack with revolvers, rifles,
bombs and the like, and resisted the
efforts Of the city authorities, especi-
ally the efforts OF the fire department
to ouench the fire; that when the des-
.ruction of this property was well IN.
der wray. the largest mart of this BODY
moved I'm the aulch and commenced
an attack ON the Emmett; that while
this assault was made on the Coro-
nado. Jerry O'Keefe of the fire depart,
ment. while in the discharge of his
duty. was warned TO desist plying
water tn the burning property and that
because he refused he was shot down
and killed.
The examination of witnesses was
then begun.
EDWARD WILLIS
was the first witness. After asking
the regulation questions that are al,
ways mt. To a n he testified as
ro,,ows.
"Am a member of the Miners union :
7 to,ned the union in the latter mart of
June: am working on the Humboldt
lease near Adelaid: was working there
at the time OF the attack on the Coro.
nado and Emmet: was in nv room at
the hoa,se of Mr.. Chisholm the nien; Of
he attack. Mr.. Smith ia nv room.
u,+o and ho u,o, In NOD NTH mo. cao