The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-03-03
SUSTAINING MARTIN.
Two of His Deputies Give Impor-
tant Evidence.
A. PARDEE PLATT's TESTIMONY.
The Guns with Which the Deputies
We're Armed Were Furnished by an
Association of Property Owners
Formed to Protect Their Property.

Formed to Protect Their Property.
Wilkesbarre, Pa, March 8-When
court opened yesterday for the con-
tnuation of the trial of Sheriff Martin
and his deputies Sheriff Martins cross
examination was resumed. The main
point established was that the wit
hess denied the remark, after the shoot
ing, that he had merely taken
hand In the matter as plain James
Martin, and not as the sheriff of Lu-
zerne county"
The defense endeavored to have the
sheriff testify that he was unable to
suppress the riot and disorder, and that
the civil authorities were unable to
cope with it and had telegraphed to
the governor Or aid to suppress the
riot. The commonwealth objected to
this line Of testimony, and Judge
Woodward sustained the objection.
Samuel Price, a contractor and COM
mission merchant of Hazleton, testi-
fled that he was Sheriff Martins chief
deputy during the week, and had been
selected by Mr.. Hall. He told about
the sheriff giving all the deputies ex-
plicit orders to keep cool and not get
excited: to protect pl perty and MAIN
tain the peace. He also told them
they we're not to shoot unless for self
protection. At Lattimer he heard sew
eral Hungarians jeer the deputies and
remark: You shootee me, killee me,
me no citizen, my wife and children get
plenty money" The witness also dis
covered, by going among the strikers
and feeling about their clothing that
they were armed with revolvers and
stones. The sheriff declined to have
any Of the deputies accompany him
when he walked down the road to Lat
timer to meet the mob and endeavor
to halt the strikers. The witness de-
clared that just before the first vol
ley was fired a pistol shot was fired
from behind the deputies. He turned
to see where the shot came from and
striker behind the deputies aimed a
revolver at him. He dropped to the
ground and heard the bullet whistle
over his head. BY the time he got on
his feet all the shooting was over and
the strikers were fleeing He did not
known who gave the order to fire.
Orio Pardee Platt, of Hazleton, man
ager of the Pardee department store,
proved the best witness the defense
has had SO far, rs he gave clear and
detailed description Of the whole mat
ter. He was one of the deputies, and
told how the property owners in Halle
ton and vicinity appointed special
watchmen to guard their properties at
night from being damaged by the riot
Gus mob of strikers. and how they
mn u hnp oil vi
and breechloading shotguns for these
watchmen. These were the arms that
were afterward given to the depu-
ties. He also told how chartered po-
lice organization had been organized
in 1870 and had guarded company
properties ever since in that region.
MIR. Platt told how a striker, carrying
a flag nailed on stick, had struck him
with 1t, and how the witness broke the
stick and took the flag when the
striker tried to run the stick in his
face.
The witness saw the sheriff halt the
strikers at Lattimer on Sept. 10 and
advise them to disperse. The sheriff
was knocked down upon his knees and
pummeled by the strikers, some of
whom flourished revolvers and knives
and tried to kill him. the witness left
the deputies. rushed to the sheriff's
rescue and tried to stop the strikers,
but his gun would not work. The bal
ance of the strikers rushed toward the
deputies. While the witness tried to
rescue the sheriff he heard a shot and
then came the volley. There was no
shooting after the volley, and the
strikers scattered. The strikers were
shot while on company property. The
witness did not shoot, and does not
know who gave the order to fire.
On cross examination the witness
substantated the bravery of his an
cestors. the Pardees. by telling how
his great grandfather fought in the
revolution. how his fathers uncle,
Ario Pardee, equipped two entire COM
panies for the late war and how Cen
eral Pardee served throughout the war
and was breveted for bravery in the
battle.
A. M. Hess, a civil engineer of Ha-
zletou. who commanded Company A,
of the deputies, corroborated Mr. Platt
about the attack on the sheriff and
how Mr.. Platt flew to his rescue. There
was no shooting after the fatal vol
ley. The witness did not shoot, but
several of his company did. but he
could not tell who.