Evening journal., 1898-02-22
WOMEN WITNESSES.
The Martin Defense Opens at
Wilkesbarre.
Mr.. FERRIS OUTLINES THEIR CASE.
Mrs. WeisenbOrn swears strikers Threat.
ened so Kill a Man, and Another
Woman Testihes They stoned
Her-Other Evidence.

WlLKESBARRE, Pa, Feb. 22.-After
examining two witnesses in the Martin
trial the prosecution closed its case, and
the defense opened. Hon. George S.
Ferris presented in detail the facts of
the case as the defense hopes to prove
them. II 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 IL he deemed il necessary 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 a tumult Of yells. Five or
six men pounced upon the sheriff, seiz-
ed him, showed him into a ditch on the
left Of the road and began beating him.
Two of them flcurished revolvers at
him, and third made a savage stab at
him with a knife. The sheriff in his
struggles freed his right arm and drew
his revolver and snapped it at one Of
his assailants.
1T would not go Off Instantly the
man, Novnatna, struck him a vicious
blow in the face with his fist and knock
ed him to his knees. All at once a re-
volver shot rang out from the rushing
mob, then another, then three close to-
gether. Then a rattling volley from the
guns which lasted a few seconds less
than half minute and ceased when the
mob gave way.
"The order to fire was given. by whom
we do not know, but it was none too
soon. for the head of the charging col
i 4 f1.r
deputies line before the attack was re-
pulsed That, gentlemen, is the story
Of Lattimer as you viii hear it from the
deputies. We expect a verdict of ac-
quittal."
The first witness for the defense was
Mrs. Catherine Weisenborn. She said:
1.-The strikers gathered at Harwood on
the day of the shooting, and one OF
them, Gasperick, who testified for the
state, entered Mike Kinaskfs house and
tried to get him to go out, crying, II
you don't come, Wen kill you Kinask
was in hiding and escaped and as the
strikers departed they cried, Wei
show the white people what We'll dc
when we come back l saw the strikers
chase a number of people. They were
all armed with clubs and stones, anc
some had revolVers."
Mrs. Catherine Brennan hid her 10
year-old boy and went out to look al
the strikers. They were armed with
clubs, hammers and stones. One mar
fired a shot in the air. Others fired intS
the brush where many of the meI
were hiding. Mrs. Brennan said she
saw Martin Chofronick march into Jol
Schultzs house, crying that if he diC
not come out he would be killed
Schultz was in hiding and could not b.
found.
Mrs Michael Gallagher of HarwOo
said she was stoned by the strikers, an
Mrs. Charles Miller said her husban
had gone to West Hazleton when h
heard the strikers were approaching.
Mrs. Eliza Grace of Harwood said he
husband ran into the brush when h
heard the strikers were approaching
He was afraid of them. They trampe
through my fruit garden and broke m,
bean poles in two to make clubs. The,
caught John Edmondson and woul
have taken him along forcibly had no
his wife chung to him and begged then
to release him"
Mrs. Rose Gillespie of Harwood toll
how she had sent her four boys into tn
brush to hide, fearing the striker
would hurt them.