The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1898-03-03
YuE DEPUTIES DEFENSE
In Their Trial For the Shooting Of
Strikers at Lattimer.
FAMILIES FLED IN TERROR.
One Woman OF LattImer Went with
Her Children at Two O'Clock In the
Morning TO MiinesvIile, Fearing the
strikers Would Blow Up the Town.

her sHiturcu ut Two O'SlOck IN the
Morning TO Milnesviile, Fearing the
strikers Would Blow Up the Town.
Wiikesbarre. Pa. Feb. 2S.-The de-
fense in the case against Sheriff Mar
tin and his deputies, on trial for the
shooting OF strikers at Lattimer last
September. is producing strong evil
dence to show that the rioters had
been riotous and threatening for some
time previous to the fatal encounter.
Many witnesses testified that they had
been forced by threats to join the
strikers ranks, while others who re-
fused were brutally beaten. A score or
more witnesses have testified that
some of the strikers We're armed with
revolvers. and several swore that the
first shots at Lattimer were fired from
the strikers ranks.
on Wednesday last Jacob Williams,
timekeeper Of the Cranberry braker
described an attack by strikers en- that
breaker on Sept. 3. when they also
stopped a coal train and stoned the
crew. on Friday Sheriff Sellizer. Of
Carbon county, told of his defense of
Coxe's breaker at Beaver Meadow. Just
inside of the Carbon county line. Sher-
IN Martin and his deputies were near
by. and Sellizer called upon them.
Martin instructed his deputies not to
shoot except In defense OF their own
lives.
On Saturday one OF the chief wit
nesses was Mrs. Elizabeth Harvey,
wife Of Lattimer physician. She told
how the armed strikers terrorized the
entire town on Sept. Z. and were chased
away by the deputies. Everybody in
Lattimer. Mrs. Harvey said. was afraid
Of the strikers. The witness was so
frightened that she collapsed and was
unable to sleep for several nights. She
sank down on her knees through fright
when she beheld the strikers coming
on Sept. 10. Mrs. Annie Goodwin. Mrs
Madge Kilmer and Mrs. Genevieve
Wackley gave similar testimony.
Monday of this week Miss Cora
Heniback, IS years old. was the frs,
witness. She testified to the terror
inspired by the strikers. and said tina,
when she heard the strikers were
coming she went to the schoolhoust
and took her little sister home.
Mrs. Katherine Craig described the
fright Of her children when the strik.
ers appeared. and declared that the
strikers crowded past the sheriff and
we're going toward the deputies wher
the fatal volley was fired. Al 2 O'Clock
the next morning. fearing the striker.
would blow up the town. she and hel
po xvnpt % Nltlo
Other witnesses testified that a mum
Der OF the strikers were armed with
revolvers. Benjamin Norris. a motor
man on the trolley line. testified Il
bringing the dead and wounded T.
Haxleton. and an to the finding Of al
empty pistol in the coat OF one Of tn,
dead men.
Stephen Guttenmiller gave the frs
evidence to substantiate the assertion
Of the defense that a man stood be
hind the line OF deputies and urged tn,
strikers on. He said: Il was drivin,
from West Hazleton to Lattimer ant
got there just as the deputies lined VI
/ along the roadside. l stood some lit
tie distance behind them and saw
the strikers coming up. AS they ap
preached l saw a man standing be
hind the deputies. He was big fel
low. and had no coat on. l saw hin
/ wave his arm and beckon to the strik
er3 to come on. They did so. AZ e
stopping a moment with the sheriff
they pushed past him and on towart
the deputies. They were close to then
| when the shooting commenced"
/ On cross examination he said tha
many Of the men were lying dead an,
wounded in the road. and he saw on
of the latter trying TO raise. whereupol
two men whom he thought were depu
ties kicked him.