Evening journal., 1898-03-03
SOME ONE ELSE SHOT
Deputies Testify Their Hands
Are Free From Blood.
SHERIFF MARTINS ORDEAL ENDED.
His Evidence About Warning His Men 60
Keep Cool Corroborated--One Witness
swears That Strikers Were Armed
with RevoIvers and Knives.

WILKESBARRE, Pa. March g.
When Sheriff Martins cross examina-
tion was resumed, the main point es-
tablished was that the witness denied
making the remark after the shooting
that he had merely taken hand in the
matter as plain James Martin and not
as the sheriff Of Luzerne county.
The defense then endeavored to have
the sheriff testify that he was unable
to suppress the riot and disorder that
existed in the Hazleton region and that
the civil authorities were unable to cope
with Il and had then telegraphed to the
governor of Pennsylvania for aid to
suppress the riot, and that consequent
ly the governor ordered out the state
militia on the night Of Sept. 10. The
commonwealth objected to this line OF
testimony, and Judge Woodward sus-
tained the objection.
Samuel Price, a contractor of Halle
ton, testified that he was Sheriff Mar
tins chief deputy. He told about the
sheriff giving all the deputies explicit
orders to keep cool and not get excited,
t. protect property and maintain the
peace. He also told them they were not
To- shoot unless for self protection.
The witness corroborated Sheriff Mar
tins testimony from the time the dep
uties went on duty at o'clock Sept.
until the deputies formed in line at Lat
timer He heard several Hungarians
jeer the deputies and remark: You
shoot me, killee me. Me no citizen. MY
wife and children get plenty money"
Mr.. Price testified on cross examina-
tion, that he did not know who gave
the deputies the order to fire. He said
that he himself did not fire shot and
that he did not hide in the alley to es-
cape being shot by his own men.
Trio Pardee Platt of Hazleton, man
ager OF the Pardee department store.
and one Of the deputies, gave a clear
and detailed description Of the whole
affair He also told how a chartered
police association had been organized
/ in 1870 and had guarded company prop
erty ever since In that region. Mr..
! Platt said that a striker carrying a
| flag nailed on a stick, had struck him
with IT, and that he had broken the
stick and taken the flag when the striker
! tried 70 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
| pommeled by the strikers. some of
I whom fourished revolvers and knives
and tried to kill him. The witness left
the deputies, rushed to the sheriff's res
cue and tried to stop the strikers. but
his gun would not work. The rest Of
the strikers rushed toward the depu-
ties.
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 COM
| pany property. The witness did not
shoot and does not know who gave the
order to fire. He aided the injured after
the shooting.
A. M. Hess, civil engineer of Halle.
ton, who commanded a company Of the
deputies. corroborated Platt about the
attack on the sheriff and how Plat
flew to the rescue. He heard one sho
first, like a pistol shot, then another
and then came the volley There wat
no shooting afterward. The witness
said he did not shoot. but that severa
OF his company did, but he could no
tell who. He assisted with the deas
and wounded and gave the latter water
He did not see Deputy Raugh shoot an.
one on the railroad. but saw him car
for a striker there. The witness salt
he was frightened when he saw tn
strikers come rushing toward him. a
he was sure they would overpower tn
deputies and disarm them. The wood
were black with strikers in this rush.