The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1897-01-28
BRUTAL BCLL-DOZING.
Infamous Attic pit to Intinidate the
Poor Families.

NASOA @AA % ~A"D CA1AGNSs
Infamous Attic pt TO IntiMidate tn,
Poor Families.
The most infamous and bruta
attempts to bull-doze and intinli
date poor and needy class Of PEG
pie, that we. have ever heard of,
nave been recently made in this
lcounty.
| On the 10Th Of December, 1895,
thirty-nine miners were killed BY
an explosion in the coal mine a,
Cumnock, in this county. The
families of these unfortunate men
were totally dependent upon them
for their support, and to receive
their pressing necessities, contri-
buttons were sent them on. all
parts OF the state. A few weeks
thereafter suits were begun against
the owners of the mine 1.-THE Lang
oon-Henszey Coal Mining COM
pany) in behalf of many Of these
helpless families for the recovery
Of damages, because of the alleged
negligent killing of their husbands
and fathers. When the plaintiffs
pressed for a trial at the last fall
terri. of Chatham superiour court
the cases we're all continued on
the affidavit of the defendant be-
cause of the absence of a witness.
As the civil docket Of this county
is SO crowded that it seemed inn
possible to secure a trial at a regu-
ular term before next fall land this
vas certified to by Judge McIver
who held our last term the attor-
neys for these needy plaintiffs pc
titioned for special term, but this
was successfully opposed by the
defendants attorneys. A trial thus
having been indefinitely delayed,
the defendant offered to pay So, 60
in full c.. promise of all these
suits eighteen in number), but
this offer was declined by the at
lorneys of the plaintiffs. Not being
able to make tins proposed CONF
promise with the attorneys Ct the
plaintiffs, the defendant theL ,as a
last resort) attempted to stop ,Lese
suits by brutality Dull-dozins ina
lntimidating the plaintiffs them
selves, most of whom are ignorant
and needy.
Among the killed miners was
Michael Bentley, who had come to
Sumnock not long before his death
rom Pennsylvania, accompanied
by his wife, a SON about rs years
old and a daughter about 10 years..
Both father and son were killed ia
chat terrible explosion, leaving the
aidow and young girl among
strangers almost destitute. Some
une last year she married Patr ok
3onslan, an experienced miner,
WHO had come from Pennsylvania
after the explosion, and had been
working the mine until last week,
anen he was discharged land his
wages refused him. because II
wife would not withdraw ner suit
for damages on account Of the
death of her first husband.
And how much do you think is
offered these poor plaintiffsf
The pitiful sum q one dollar
eachl
The following is a exact copy
Of a type written and Carefully pre-
pared document, which these peo-
pie were called upon to sign:
"For value received, to-wit, the
sum Of one dollar, this day paid to
me, hereby release to Samuel A.
Henszey, Esq, receiver of the
Langdon-H enszey Coal Mining
company, all rights l may have
against the said Langdon- Henszey
Coal Mining company, both indi-
vidually, and as administrator OF
the estate Of Jerry Lambert, de-
ceased, on account Of the alleged
wrongful death of said Jerry LAM
bert, by said Langdon-Henszey
Coal Mining company, or any OF
its agents, and employees.
"And the said Samuel A. Hens
ey, receiver as aforesaid, by and
through his authorized attorney,
and consignor, is hereby fully au-
thorized to have judgment upon
ms suit entered in the action instr
tuted and now pending in Chatham
superior court by me as admins
orator of said Jerry Lambert, d.
ceased, against said Langdon-
Henszey Coal Mining company.
"In witness whereof / have here
unto set my hand and affixed my
seal, this the of January, one
thousand eight hundred and
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