The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1898-03-03
SUSTAINING MARTIN.
Two Of His Deputies Give Impor-
tant Evidence.
A. PARDBB PLATT's TESTIMONY.

The Guns with which the Deputies
Were Armed Were Furnished by an
Association of Property Owners
Formed to Protect Their Property.
Wilkesbarre, Pa, March 3.-When
court opened yesterday for the con-
tinuation of the trial of Sheriff Martin
and his deputies Sheriff Martins cross
examination was resumed. The main
point established was that the wit
ness denied the remark, afterthe shoot
ing, that he had merely taken a
hand in the matter as plain James
Martin, and not as the sheriff of Luz
zerne county"
The defense endeavored to have the
sheriff testify that he was unable to
suppress the riot and disorder, and that
the civil authorities were unable to
cope with it and had telegraphed to
the governor for aid to suppress the
riot. The commonwealth objected to
this line of testimony, and Judge
woodward sustained the objection
Samuel Price, a contractor and COM
mission merchant of Hazleton, testi-
fed that he was Sheriff Martins chief
deputy during the week, and had been
selected by Mr.. Hail. He told about
the sheriff giving all the deputies ex-
plicit orders to keep cool and not get
excited; to protect property and main
tain the peace. He also told them
they were not to shoot unless for self
protection. At Lattimer he heard sew
eral Hungarans jeer the deputies and
remark: You shootee me, killee me,
me no citizen, my wife and children get
plenty money" The witness also dis
covered, by going among the strikers
and feeling about their clothing, that
they were armed with revolvers and
stones. The sheriff declined to have
any of the deputies accompany him
when he walked down the road to Lat
timer to meet the mob and endeavOr
to halt the strikers. The witness de
clared that just before the first vol
ley was fired a pistol shot was fired
from behind the deputies He turned
to see where the shot came from and
a striker behind the deputies aimed a
revolver at him. He dropped to the
ground and heard the bullet whistle
over his head BY the time he got on
his feet all the shooting was over and
the strikers were fleeing. He did not
known who gave the order to fire.
Orlo Pardee Platt, of Hazleton, man
ager of the Pardee department store,
proved the best witness the defense
has had so far, as he gave a clear and
detailed description of the whole mat
ter. He was one Of the deputies, and
told how the property owners in Halle
ton and vicinity appointed special
watchmen to guard their properties at
night from being damaged by the riot
Gus mob of strikers, and how they
purchased a hundred Springfield rifles
and breechloading shOtguns for these
watchmen. These were the arms that
were afterward given to the depu-
ties. He also told how a chartered po-
lice organization had been organized
in 1870 and had guarded company
properties ever since in that region.
Mr. Platt told how a striker, carrying
a flag nailed on a stick, had struck him
with it, and how the witness broke the
stick and took the flag when the
striker tried to run the stick in his
! face.
The witness saw the sheriff halt the
strikers at Lattimer on Sept. 10 anC
advise them to disperse. The sheriff
was knocked down upon his knees anC
pummeled by the strikers, some OF
| whom fourished revolvers and knives
and tried to kill him. the witness lef'
I the deputies, rushed to the sheriff.
rescue and tried to stop the strikers
but his gun would not work. The bal
ance of the strikers rushed toward the
deputies. While the witness tried tC
rescue the sheriff he heard a shot anC
then came the volley. There was NJ
shooting after the volley, and tn,
strikers scattered. The strikers wer,
shot while on company property. TIL,
witness did not shoot, and does no
know who gave the order to fire.
On cross examination the witnes
substantiated the bravery of his an
cestors the Pardees, by telling hov
his great grandfather fought in tn
revolution, how his fathers uncle
Ario Pardee, equipped two entire com
panies for the late war and how Gen
eral Pardee served throughout the wa
and was breveted for bravery in tn
battle.
A. NJ. Hess, a civil engineer Of Ha
zleton, who commanded Company a
of the deputies, cOrroboTated Mr.. Plat
about the attack on the sheriff an,
how Mr.. Platt flew to his rescue. Their
was no shooting after the fatal vol
ley. The witness did not shoot, bu
several of his company did, but h
could not tell who.