The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1898-02-24
THE DEPUTIES DEFENSE
In Their Trial For the Shooting Of
Strikers at Lattimer.
L REIGN OF TERROR EXISTED.

The Deputies Counsel Declares They
VIM Prove the sheriff Was Brutnlly
Assaulted Before the Fatal Voiiey,
and the strikers started the shoot Ing
Wilkcsbarre. Pa, Feb. 22.-when the
fourth week Of the trial of Sheriff Mar
tin and his deputies began yesterday
the prosecution had only two more wit
nesses to hear before closing. They
were James Hennahan, of Lattimer
and Mike Damschak. Their testimony
added nothing new, though Hennahan
identified a number of the deputies.
Mr.. George S. Ferris made the open
ing address for the defense. speaking
for over an hour. He presented In de-
tail the facts of the case as the defense
hopes to prove them. In the first place
1t will endeavor to shoW that there had
been rioting Throughout the region;
that the sheriff was justified in calling
out the posse, and that he was also
justified in ordering the shooting at
Lattimer II he deemed II necessary. He
said:
I'VE shall show you that during the
acts OF riot and outrage were of more
than daily occurrence. The reign OF law
had given place to a reign of terror
The highways were swept by surging
masses of armed and desperate men,
Peaceful citizens were forced into their
ranks. Those who resisted We're set
upon. beaten, dubbed and wounded
some of them nigh unto death. The
whole community was terrified. The
local authorities were powerless." He
then detailed the movements of the
strikers from the time they left Har-
wood until they reached Lattimer.
There" he said, the sheriff ad-
vanced alone to meet them. Instantly
there was n tumult OF yells. Five or
six men bounced upon the sheriff
seized him, showed him into ditch on
the left of the road and began beat
Ing him. Two Of them ilourished revol-
vers at him and third made savage
stab at him with Il knife. The sheriff
in his struggles freed his right arm
and drew his revolver and snapped 1t
at one of his assailants. 1t would not
go off. Instantly the man, Novnatna,
struck him vicious blow in the face
with his fist and knocked him to his
knees. All at once a revolver shot rams;
out from the rushing mob-then an
other-then three close together--then a
rattling volley from the guns which
lasted few seconds, less than half Il
minute, and ceased when the mob gave
away. The orderfo fire was given, by
whor we do not know. but 1t was none
too soon, for the head of the charging
column had rushed within 10 fceet of
the deputies line before the attack was
repulsed."
The first witness for the defense was
Mrs. Catherine Weisenborn. She said
The strikers gathered at Harwood on
the day of the shooting, and one of
them. Gasperick. who testified for the
state, entered Mike Kinaski's house
and tried to get him out, crying: II
you don't come, We'll kill you Kinaski
was In hiding, and escaped. AS the
strikers departed they cried: Wen
show the white people what Wen do
when we come back | saw the strk-
ers chase number Of people. They
were all armed with clubs and stones,
and some had revolvers-"
Mrs. Eliza Grace. Of Harwood, said
her husband ran into the brush when
he heard the strikers were approach
Ing. He was afraid OF them" They
trampcd through my fruit garden and
broke my bean poles In two to make
clubs. They caught John Edmondson
and would have taken him along for
chilly had not his wife clung to him and
begged them to release him."
Mrs. Rose Gillespie. of Harwood, told
how she had sent her four boys into
the brush to hide. fearing the strikers
would hurt them.
Mrs Catherine Brennan hid her Is
year-old boy and went out to look at
the strikers. They were armed with
clubs. hammers and stones. One man
fired q shot In the air. Others fired into
the brush. where many Of the men were
hiding. Mrs. Brennan said she saw
Martin Shofronick march into Joe
Shultx's house. crying that II ne dad not
come sut he would be killed. Shultz
was In Aiding. and could not be found.
Mrs. Michael Gallagher. OF Harwood,
said abe was stoned by the strikers.
and Mrs. Charles Miller said her hus-
band had gone TO West Hazleton when
he heard the strikers were approach
ing. This concluded the testimony for
the day,