Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-09-22
HEARING OF SHERIFF. MARTIN AND
HIS DEPUTIES BEGUN.
DOUBTFUL IF THEY ARE HELD
NO ONE TESTIFIED TO HEARING THE.
ORDER TO FIRE.
Evidence Shows That There Was n
Scuffic Before the Shooting Bc-
gan - All the Defendants
Released Under $1,000
Bond Each.

Williesbarre, Pa, Sept. A.-Sheriff Mar
tin and his sXty-four deputies We're given
a preliminary hearing before the court to-
day, charged with the killing of twenty
four striking miners near Lattimer on Fri
day, September 10. The deputies We're
brought up from Hazleton under military
escort. A large crowd met them ut the
depot, but they proceeded unmolested to
the court house.
Judges Lynch and Bennett presided.
Judge Lyncn announced that the judges
would sit as justices of the peace to hear
testimony in the case. John NJ. German
opened for the prosecution and stated that
he was employed to investigate the Shoot
ing at Lattimer, and inquire if the sheriff
and his deputies were justified in killing
twenty-four men.
He began by referring to Dictator" Co
bin who refused to allow the deputies to be
arrested when warrants We're issued ten
days ago. The attorney also referred to
Coroner Mckee being major in the Ninth
regiment, to his manner of procedure in
the arrest of the deputies and 70 his bring
ing them here surrounded by a military
company with guns and bayonets. Mr..
German then made motion asking that
the warrants of Squire German be given
the preference, and that the deputies be
remanded to the regular officers of the law
Judge Lynch replied that the judges did
not act hastily, but issued the warrants
this hearing has nothing to do with the
conduct of General Goblin. The court said
be brought in, and that the hearing could
proceed with such witnesses as were pres
ent. Attorneys German and McGahren then
notified the court that they would with
draw from the case. District Attorney Fell
then took charge. Sheriff Martin was seat
ed at the defendants table, surrounded by
John Walsh. of Hazleton township was
the first witness. He said he saw the
strikers coming and went out to meet them
and see what would happen. Some of the
| men carried clubs. Witness told them to
throw away their clubs and they did so.
Walsh said he got on a car destined tor
named Turnbach, say:
Il don't know what the sheriff means by
taking us around like this without ordering
us to Shoot
He said the deputies got off the car near
Lattimer. The strikers came up and wit
a ness saw Deputy Hess graf, one of the
scuffie and some one cried fire" There
was one shot, then another and then Il VOL
ley The deputies kept on shooting as the
about five minutes.
Jonathan Lychensburg, HaZleton con-
tractor, was the next witness He said he
was standing about 150 yards from the
strikers when the trouble began. He saw
Sheriff Martin approach the men. The
sheriff had paper in his hand, which he
read. After reading the proclamation he
ordered the crowd to go back. Then they
had scuftie with him. He drew his re
volver. but some one grabbed his wrist
and held up his hand SO that he could
not do anything. Then the shooting began.
Charles Gassrott. a school teacher, of
Lattimer, testified to seeing Sheriff Martin
scuffiing with the strikers. His testimony
was much the same as ths preceding wit
ness. AT the conclusion of Gassrott's tes-
timony. the judges, after u consultation
with District Attorney Fell. held all the
deputies in $4,000 each until the hearing is
concluded.
Joseph A. Sim, trust officer of the City
Trust Safe Deposit and Surety Company
of Philadelphia. qualified as bondsman in
the sum of S256.OO0. After bail had been fur
nished, recess was taken until 2:3O.
Several witnesses were examined this aft
ernoon. but the testimony was merely cor
roborative of previous witnesses. Not a
single witness has testified to hearing
Sheriff Martin give the order to fire.
The withdrawal of Attorneys German
and McGahren has weakened the prosecI-
ton: and it is doubtful! if the evidence will
be strong enough to hold the defendants for
court. The hearing will be resumed at 9
O'Clock tomorrow.