Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1897-09-24
sHERIFFs In COURT.
PARTICIPANTS IN THE lATTiMER
TRAGEDY ACCUSED or MURDER.


TRAGEDY ACCUSED or MURDER.
Preliminary Hearing of Martin and nm
Posse at Wiikesbnrre on the Charge Of
killing Twonty-four strikers-Held In
$4,000 Ban Each.
Wllkesbarre. Pa. Sept 22.-Sherlfi
Martin and his Ga deputies have been
given a preliminary hearing before the
court, charged with the killing OF "a
striking miners near Lattimer on Fri
day, Sept. TO- The deputies were brought
up from Hazleton under military es-
cort. A large crowd met them at the
depot, but they proceeded unmolested
TO the courthouse.
Judges Lynch and Bennett presided
Judge Lynch announced that the judges
would sit as justices Of the peace tc
hear testimony In the case.
John M. Garman opened for the pros.
ecution and stated that he was employ.
ed to investigate the shooting at Latti.
mer and inquire " the sheriff and his
deputies were justified in killing "a
men. He began by referring to Gener.
al Goblin, who refused to allow the dep.
uties to be arrested when warrants
were Issued ten days ago. He also re.
ferred TO Coroner McGee being a major
In the Ninth regiment and to his man
ner Of procedure In the arrest on
the deputies and tc his bringing them
here surrounded by the military COM
pany with guns and bayOnets.
Mr.. Garman then made a motion ask.
Ing that the warrants of Squire German
be given the preference and that the
deputies he remanded to the regular Of
fcers OF the law
Judge Lynch replied that the judges
did not act hastily, but issued the war
rant after due dellberation. The Judge
said that this hearing has nothing to do
with the conduct of General Goblin. The
court said the witnesses who were not
present should be brought in and that the
hearing could be proceeded with with
such witnesses as were present. Attor
neys Garman and McGahren then noti-
fed the court that they would withdraw
from the Ease. District Attorney c. H.
Fell then took charge. Sheriff Martin
was seated at the defendants table
surrounded by three lawyers.
Says Miners Carried Clubs.
John Walsh of Halle township was
the first witness, He said he saw the
strikers coming and went out to meet
IL
Some of the men carried clubs. wit
ness told them to throw away theii
clubs. and they did so. Walsh said he
got on "a car and started for Lattimer
He heard one of the deputies, named
Turnback, 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 neai
Lattimer The strikers came up, and
witness saw Deputy Hess grab one OF
the strikers and cry Halt" There was
a scufiie, and some one cried "Firei"
There was one shot, then another and
then volley The deputies kept on
shooting as the men ran away He said
the firing lasted about five minutes
Johnathan Lichensberger, n HasletoI
contractor, was the next witness. He
said he was standing about 15O yards
from the strikers when the trouble be.
gan. He saw Sheriff Martin approach
the men. The sheriff had a paper in his
hand, which he read. After reading the
proclamation he ordered the crowd tC
go back. Then they had a scufie with
him. He drew his revolver, but some
one grabbed his wrist and held up his
hand so that he could not do anything
Then the shooting began.
Charles Gussrot, a schoolteacher OF
Lattimer, testified to seeing Sheriff
Martin scufling with the deputies His
testimony was much the same as the
preceding witnesses.
At the conclusion of Gussrot's testl.
mony the judges, after a 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 suret,
company of Philadelphia, qualified az
bondsman in the sum of $256, 900.