New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-12
POINTS FOR THE DEPUTIES
A GOOD DAY FOR THE DEFENCE IN THE
LATTIMER TRIAL

EVIDENCE TENDING TO SHOW CONSPIRACY ON
THE PART OF THE OFFICERS RULED OUT
WITNESSES EXHIBIT THEIR SCARS.
Wilkesbarre Penn, Feb u-When court opeheu
this morning for the trial Of Sheriff Martin and
his deputies who are charged with the Killing Oh
the strikers at Lattmer, the defence INTRODUCED
new feature in the cross-examnation by endeavor-
ing show that the evidence OF the witnesses WAS
Influenced by the hope OF securing damages i'o''
the Government in the event OF a conviction
Adam Lapnsk who was on the stand wneh
court closed last night. was asked what country
he came from "Russo-Poland." he said
Counsel for the defence then asked DO you not
expect In the event OF a conviction In this case
that your country will file claim for damages
against the United States?'
II don't know" replied the witness.
did you not read In the papers that such would
be the case?"
II can't read" said Lapinski.
The Commonwealth objected 10 this line OF
DISCRIMINATION on the ground that II was not
proper The defence contended that this method
was adopted for the purpose OF showing that the
testimony OF the witness might be Influenced by
pecunary considerations. The objection was over
ruled.
The witness then asked: Did anybody tell
you read to you from the papers that you
would get money from the Government II the
deputies were convicted"
NO, sir | don't know anything about H. 1his
closed Lapinskis cross-examination
Thomas Paris. the next witness. told the storv
OF the march to Lattimer He said the men wee
unarmed and orderly. and that they intended to
make no trouble. He was standing near the Sheriff
when the line OF marching strikers was halted.
He heard the Sheriff say they could not go on to
Lattimer. At the first shot Parts said. he ran.
but was struck by bullet when he was about
nifty yards from the deputies. The ball struck him
In the back Of the arm and passed through, while
some bullets pierced his coat He struck by
one Of the shots fired after the volley
Mike Srochak told how about eight Of the
deputies had followed the fleeing strikers at Latt
mer and shot at them they ran. II stand
ing near the deputies" said he. when tho firing
began. man fell dead by my side. and dropped
too. instead OF running. After the voey about
eight OF the deputies followed the strikers for
about thirty yards shooting all the time
Andrew Mater. who lost his leg In the shooting
at Lattirer. came into the courtroom crutches
His RICH; leg is of few inches below the hip. He
said that he not at Yves: Hazleton, but Joined
the strikers further on and marched to Lattimer
He could not tell anything about what the Sheriff
said or did AT Lattimer He was standing In the
middle OF the line when the shooting began. and
started 10 run. but got bullet In the leg and
dropped. He saw many others drop too. Mailer
said the shooting continued for a couple Of min
utes after he was shot He out OF his mind
for two weeks afterward.
Martin Lacher said that when he was at West
Hazeton one of the deputies had taken hold OF
him, pushed him around and cursed him He told
now ne hah seen one OF the deputies at Lattimer
Kick Maier as the latter lay in the road with his
Tho defence objected to this evidence or the
ground that the shooting was all over whom the
deputy alleged to have kicked Maier had not been
a conspiracy existed 10 shoot and kill. that
according 10 law all who mplicat ed In the
liz Ctttu ~
formed BY Of them and that as ths kicking Si se Of
the wounded striker showed malice. II com
The defence contended that conspiracy had
heen shown to exist that the act Of one man
the man who kicked Mailer hi. testimony wa: II,
Judge Woodward; in sustaining the objection.
legally a Ra y S S nh consider
is to sh0~ R maee by both desa, "a and
esan and after IN. ssootps % cur d tho
The jury was not admitted to the court until
after tho decision was rendered.
On cross-exanlination LAohsr denied that tho
STRIKE strikers had injured man At Crystal Ridge 50
Isias deputy hat the sfHfs. 1srs going %S'i to
yards from the deputies when he heard a single
shot and was hit in the shoulder. This was after
wound to the jury. On crossexamination he denied
that the strikers had forced him to march with
strike willingly
Mike Julas. who shot through the body at
Lattimer. and who is still weak and ill., said that
when the strikers halted ne heard some deputy give
only few steps when he was hit and fell. The
ball struck him in the back, pierced his left lung
denied that he had shouted e the Sheriff we e
John DsrOck also testified that he heard com
mand to IRE but could not tell who gave It, Court