The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-10-26
DECLINED TO ANSWER.
President LOuclKs, of CIaicaGO-Vir-
den Coal Company, NOn-Coan initial

den Coal Company, NOn-C0asa m IttaI.
CHICAGO, Oct 25.-President T. c..
Loucks, Of the Chicago-Virden Coal
company, refused point blank to an
swer to a coroner's jury any questions
as to the purchase of guns and ammu-
milton used in the defense Of the stock
ade at the Virden mine when the riot
occurred two weeks ago. A. j.. Rob
ertS, Justice of the peace, who is also
foreman of the coroner's jury, came to
Chicago to take the testimony of Pres
ident Loucks and w. S. York, who was
said to be the secretary of the COM
pany. Deputy Sheriff Webster, of Vir-
den, came to Chicago last week to ar
brest the officials, but as it was con-
sidered their lives would be endan-
gered by going to the scene of the
trouble it was decided to take theiT
testimony in Chicago. The inquiry
was held in the private office of Mr..
Loucks in the Western Union building.
Those present were President LouckS,
w. S. York, Fred Lukens. manager Of
the mine; F. e. Halligan, attorney for
the coal company; Attorney William
Mooney, Joliet, representing the min
ers' union, and the following officers of
the United Mine Workers Of America;
John Hunter, Streator, ILL.,, state pres
ident D. w. Ryan, BraidWOOd, state
secretary and treasurer, while James
Boston, of Duquoin, vice president of
the State Federation Of Labor, repre-
scented that. body.
Before the coroner's examinat ton Jus
tice Roberts formally arraigned the
mine officials on the charge of conSpir-
acy to murder. President Loucks and
York waived examination and gave
bonds of 81 900 to answer an Indictment
next January, should one be found by
the grand jury in the circuit court at
Carlinville. The Virden Coal company
became the surety in each case.
The examination was a star cham
Der affair, reporters being barred out
by the mine officials. The testimony
was taken by a stenographer employed
in the office and will be presented to the
full coroner's jury at Virden.
What is your position with the Chi
cago-Virden Coal company, Mi.
| Loucks?' Attorney Mooney asked.
1T ann the president"
us it a fact that the dispute be-
tween your company and the miners
was submitted to arbitration and that
the decision was in favor Of the min
ers?" was the next question.
Il decline to answer"
"You may take advantage of the con-
stitutional provision that gives you i'm
munity where your testimony might in
criminate yourself. Now, 1 ask vow
whether you know anything about the
purchase OIL dTIilS anu 10
defend the stockade at Virden?"
II decline to answer" was Mr.
Loucks' reply.
'sDo you know that there was an
inclosure known as the. stockade?"
II don't know"
You visited virden yourself since
Oct. 11?''
yes"
Now, tell me what was the material
IN, fI1a ,hi1i1 nj
Wasn't it built of b0ards?"
yes"
How many guns were purchased by
your orders for the defense Of tho
stockade?"
"I decline to answer"
"I wish to inform you that Mr.. Lu.
kens testified that 500 rounds of am.
munition was purchased to be used in
the gums in defending the stockade
Was that ammunition purchased with
your knowledge? 2"
Mr. Loucks again declined to answer
and stated in reply to the, attorney
that on the advice of counsel he de-
c1ined to answer any question that
might incrlminate himself.
Mr. York was then examined. He
denied that he was secretary Of the
company or held any official position
He said he was simply an employe
He was questioned by Attorney Mooney
as to whether he made a trip to Ala
bama to hire the imported negroes; also
| whether he employed the men of Thiel's
detective agency who accompanied the
miners on the train. He declined to
answer any of the questions.
At the close of the investigation Mr..
Loucks shook hands with his visitors
and said he hoped to see them again.
John Mitchell, of the mine workers
union, said overtures had been made
to him in Indianapolis on behalf Of q
prominent coal operator in Chicago to
have the strike settled by arbitration
He said the operator spoke on behalf
of Mr. Loucks. This Mr.. Loucks de.
| MED. The union men said the miners
would never again submit the case to
arbitration, as it had twice come be>