The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-17
MURDER AT THE MINES.
DEPUTY sHERIFFS At CENTER
QUARREL AND ONE IS sHoE

Anderson Kneoia Down and Praya That His
Victim May Not Die-Two More IrJunctions
in west virginia Against the strikers.
PIrrsBURo, Pa. Aug. 16.-The first blood In
the pittsburg strike was shed to-day. Contrary
10 expectations II was not tho strikers who
caused tho first trouble. Two deputy sheriTs
ouarrcllcd this noon, and ono shot the other, In
rictins mortal injuries. 1t is thought the
wonndcd man will die before morning.
Thp wounded man is Robert Kerr, 80 years
old. His a~ssnilant la Frank Anderson. Both
live in pittsbure.
Since the striking coal miners began their
campaign against the mines OF the Now York
AMI Cleveland Gas & Coal Company, w. ID.
De Armitt, President, deputy sheriffs have boon
on guard at the three mines of the company.
Every morning at about . o'clock the deputies
stationed near Center arc sent out to meet the
marching strikers. The village OF Clarksville
was regarded rs a disaereeable assignment, as
the strikers cncampod there were particularly
ngly and likoly to cause trouble.
Robert Kerr and William Walker wcro each
in charge Of a gang OF fifteen deputies, and s. c.
Young. an office deputy, was in charge of both
gangs. To-day Young came to Pittsbury to at
tend the injunction proceedings against tho
strikers, leaving Frank Anderson in charge.
Anderson and Walker are neighbors and
friends, and when Anderson assigned Kerr and
his gang to go to Clarksville to-day Kerr nc
cu.cd Anderson of showing favors TO his friend,
Walker. who was sent to Plum Crock, a place
that all the deputies preferred.
Kerr approached Anderson later in the day
and again accused him OF unfairness. Anderson
replied:
That's not true, Kerr. l Amt playing favor
ties
Kerr repeated his charge. From this point
eye witnesses differ in their stories Some say
that Anderson called Kerr a vile name; others.
that Kerr insulted Anderson.
AT any rate, Anderson knocked Kerr down
with a fist blow, and Kerr knocked Anderson
down. Anderson arose and was knocked down
again.
Anderson drow his revolver. Some eyewit-
ncssrs say that Kerr was lying on the ground
when Anderson shot; others, that both were
standing erect.
Anderson pulled the trigger and the bullet
entered Kcrr's body to tho right OF the stomach.
l: is supposed to have pierced his lungs and
liver.
Anderson was arrested by Walker, who led
him away. after Kerr had been attended to.
Meantime Anderson walkol up and down. OK
,itedly smoking a cigar. when led away lie
stopped at a platform where religious services
nrc held every Sunday, kneit down and ear
Mostly prayed that Kerr might not die. Kerr
was taken into the house where the deputies
,oard, and tho country around was secured in
search of a ply iici.n. When one came. sitter
lons delay ne said that Kerr was MORALLY hurt
hospital ambulance was sent out to Center
from Pittsburs. about twelve miles, Center re-
ina about three miles rom a railroad and no
trans hclIig available. The am buiance surgeon
said the trip would probably finish the wounded
Anderson Was brought TO the County Jail here
at " y. u. He says that he was excited when
he shot, hut that at any rate he hroi in self
defcntc.
OF the crime. he has dreaded violence on the
part o: the strikers, but never expected hat his
own deputies would be The first 10 set a bad CA
ample.
Judges Stowe and Collier held u hearing to-
day in the injunction pro- ceilings aEalnst tho
der was continued and The Judges reserved
,heir DECISION on making !. permanent. a big
Cleveland Gas and Coal Company first
s SaS1Ha tn the 'f injunct 10 '% on 3 the HtriH Ss 10 anu md
the Judges refused motions TO dissolve and
DO oailed. ". =. De AFmitt testined about the
contract he had with mis- miners and about
Thomas i. De Armitt, superintendent Of Tie
mines, and a number OF De ArInttt's employees
William Fisher said he had been warned that
the strikers had pistols and guns loaded with
smokeless powder and that he had been shot at
he did not know whether by strikers or others
Deputy Sheriff Richards testified that tho
strikers had called De Armitt's men scabs and
Other employees of the company said they had
been threatened with VIOLENCE; stones had beer
strike.
For tho strikers Patrick Dolan. William War
ner. Urish Dillingham;. and others said that nj
threats had been made in their presence. SOM
S work lRf told iiGG% 81 6sisx' '% asssSisss S S9 SAMUEL nnS 1t Z. i,
tom Ai6iHit proe pSdins w y. h r. bs a arm nhS 'qPI rssi
notice of three suits entered against hin
Gy strikers for wages; The %plsintins are 4; =
They are men to whom. 1t 10 said. wages wer
denied because they Joined the strike, not fnl
hling their contracts with the company. Thes
A plan for evading the effect of the injunc
petual. was made known to the strikers at fuI
Ito Creek this afternoon. Leaders OF tho striker
Of tho Unmarried men employed In the New
York and Cleveland Gas and Coal Company,
ors With nj the Af int 81 tic s"N Of thus ft read iih1
the miners during their leisure moments, anc
strike leaders. contend that such missionar
work would be neither a violation OF the II
iSSS e osnn nSF 81 81 I pfsv snls,anF fr%o oiatp thss snG pr sh"
tfSS s ns their ' work; y II . this I plan mis- II put Srs Into sffe'
son schoolhouse About 1875 strikers are qua;
tered there, and despite orders Of Pros
e the Sandy Greek mines this, morning
The mines arc about two and a la
that they had ' ordes. not to march. 5,
the mon seemed determined to disregard thor
II was only after repeated statements that suC
action, in face of the present temporary in1un
ton, might lose the case TO- the strikers in cou
Today that the men agreed to remain In cam
The rank and file of the strikers want TO 90
tnue the marching, and tho leaders will prob
bly, accede TO their wishes. In that case son
arrests will DO made. unlese the deputies decic
that tho Injunction permits them TO disoiplii
the strikers with weapons.
Do Armitt has another mine near Harrisc
CITY. Westmoreland county, and tho strike
have decided to move on it as soon as they ca
spare the, time. The mine produces Sbol
ninety carloads Of coal a day.
TERRE HAUTE, Ind, Aug. l6.-Secretary Ke
nedy' OF the Indiana miners, has received wo
from Southern Indiana that the report tn
men are returning to work Ia not true. He h
received also a letter from President Knight W
went into Kentucky a few days ago. Knight "
IN Darlington. tho Town of the 81. Bernard Co
Voinpsny, and, having called upon John
Atkinson, President OF the company, WAS
formed that he would be- prosecuted II
mi to induce the Darlington miners