The Portland daily press., 1898-03-04
DEF eNSE CASE IN.
The Trial of Hazelton Sheriffs Approach
ing the End.

| Wilkesbarre, Pa, March 3.-The trial OF
| Sheriff Martin and his deputies for the
shooting of the strikers at Lattimer on
September 10 last, progressed very slowly
| this forenoon.
Deputy Hess was recalled and his cross
examination was continued.
Although the life of the sheriff was in
great peril, the witness claimed he did
| not order his company to fire upon the
might possibly be shot instead, the latter
being surrounded by strikers.
| John A. Salon, testified to being four
days deputy sheriff. He said he did not
fire shot and had returned his gun after
the trouble. He saw the sheriff assaulted
and saw the strikers rush toward the
deputies.
representing the Austrian government,
made his first appearance since the trlal
commenced. MIR. Coke stated tnas MS
visit is purely an unofficial one.
| AS soon as all the witnesses have been
heard the defense will ask Judge Wood
ward to give binding instructions to the
Jury to bring in q verdict of not guilty
for all the defendants.
| ~ fired one shot, said Charles J.
Haines, who testified this afternoon. He
was first of the deputies TO admit that he
had shot. He told how he had seen at
| West Hazleton Deputy PIatt level his gun
at striker who was picking up stone
| He also rode in the car with Thomas Hall
and did not hear him making any threats
against the strikers. CAT Lattimer, he
said, IT saw the sheriff hold up both
hands to stop the strikers. In one hand
| he held q paper. I saw him grab for q
l oJr txuO ctrth hnTG with
volvers thrust them at the sheriff, while
| another made dig at him with knife.
1 Then they rushed upon us and when they
got within ten or fifteen feet OF us raised
my gun ana fred. I thought my life
was in danger and felt If they got at us
| them would kill u.s.
On cross-examination the witness said
he did not fire at any particular portion
of the miners BODY, and that ne dld not
take aim, and that he did not desire to
kill and did not fire to kill.
Thomas Hall, who organized the posse
for the Sheriff Martin, testified that the
sheriff had instructed the deputies not to
/ and said that he would tell the strikers to
disperse and if shey refused he would
make an arrest, and il they resisted the
deputies would shoot.
| III heard two shots before the volley.'
said the witness. "They sounded like re-
vOlver shots. Wnen saw Gne SneflH sur
| rounded, i thought he was gone, and
when the strikers charged on US thought
they would at least disar;n US. did not
shoot.
The OF ross-examination was very lengthy
but brought ont nothing new.
Sheriff Martin was recalled and asked II
he observed any weapons on the strikers
at West Hazelton. He answered that he
saw three men with revolvers in theii
hip pockets On cross ss.examinatfon, he
said he did not converse with any OF them
or arrest any one. 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 beer
sworn in" He could not tell how many
r. NJ Coniff, tipstaff, said that ou
the night of the shooting he met Sheriff
Martin in the court house. The sheriff
1 had bruise on his cheek and a scratch
on his neck. This was the last witness
for the defense and when he left the
stand Attorney Lehman announced the
closing.
Il District Attorney Martin said he hat
six or eight witnesses in rebuttal whom
he would have in court in the morning
Court then adjourned.