The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-03-04
THE DEFENSE CLOSES
In the Trial Of Sheriff Martin and
y His Deputies.
THEIR LIVES WERE ENDANGERED

Only One of the Deputies Has ADMIT
ted That He Fired a Shot at LattI-
mer, and He Fired But Once, With
ont Intent to KIN.
Wilkesbarre. Pa. March 4.-The trial
of Sheriff Martin and his deputies for
the shooting of the strikers at Lattimer
on Sept. 10 progressed very slowly YES e.
terday, all the witnesses being ex-
amined at great length.
Deputy Hess was recalled to the
stand and his cross examination was
continued. He said that he kept his
gun after the shooting for his own pro-
lection, but would produce 1t in court
If necessary. He was sure he did not
fire shot. He had heard no command
given to fire and does not know what
men of his company did shoot. AL
though the life of the sheriff was in
great peril the witness claimed he did
not order his company to FIRE upon the
strikers. as he was afraid that the
sheriff might possibly be shot instead,
as he was in the midst of the bunch of
strikers.
John A. Salem testified to being for
four days deputy sheriff. He said
he never fired a shot. He saw the
sheriff assaulted as other witnesses
have testified, and saw the main body
Of strikers rush towards the DEPUTIES,
who were all on company property
when the volley was fired
OBJ
Haens when brought to the stand. He
was the first of the deputies to admit
that he had shot. He told how he had
seen at West Hazleton Deputy Platt
level his gun at a striker who was pick
ing un stone! He also rode in the
car with Thomas Hall and did not hear
him making any threats against the
strikers. AT Lattmcr," he said, Il
saw the sheriff hold up both hands to
stop the strikers. In one hand he held
paper. l saw him grab for man
and also saw two strikers with revolt
vers thrust them at the sheriff, while
another made dig at him with a
knife. Then they rushed upon us, and
when they got within ten or fifteen feet
of us raised my gun and fired. l
thought my life was in danger. and felt
If they got at us they would kill u.s."
On cross examination the witness said
he did not fire at any particular point
of the mems body; that he did not take
aim, and that he did not desire to kill
and did not think he shot to take lie.
Thomas Hall, who organized the
posse for Sheriff Martin, testified that
the sheriff had instructed them not to
shoot unless their lives were in danger,
and said that he would tell the strikers
to disperse. that if they refused lie
would make an arrest, and if they re-
sisted the deputies should shoot The
witness continued: "When l saw the
sheriff surrounded I thought he was
gone, and when the strikers charged
on us I thought they would at least
disarm us. l did not shoot"
On cross examination witness said
that he had organized posse of coal
and iron policemen on the Saturday
before the sheriff reached Hazleton.
This was at the request of Superinten-
dent Ierbe of The Lehigh Valley Coal
company, whose colliery had been at
tackled and the men driven out.
Sheriff Martin was recalled at this
point and asked If he observed any
weapons on the strikers at West Halle
ton. He answered that he saw three
men with revolvers in their hip pockets.
On cross examination he said he did
not converse with any of them nor did
he arrest them. Asked If any of the
men in line at Lattimer had not been
sworn in as deputies he said: well,
there were not many who had not been
sworn in" He could not tell how many.
r. M. Coniff, a tipstave, said that on
the night of the shooting he met
Sheriff Martin In the court house about
s o'clock. The sheriff had a bruise on
his cheek and scratch on his cheek.
This was the last witness for the de-
Tense and when he left the stand AT.
torney Lenahan announced the closing.
This morning the prosecution is pre-.
senting evidence in rebuttal.