The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-02-04
STORY or IN EYE WITNESS.
Principal of Latimer High School Tells oil
the shooting of Miners.

WILKESBARRE, PA, Feb. S.-Taking
Of testimony In the trial of Sheriff Mar
tin and his depaties began this morning
in the Luzsrne County Court.
When court opened District Attorney
Martin made a motion that the jury be
taken to Latimer. to view the scene OF
the shooting. but as this would occupy
the entire day, the court denied the mo-
ton, saving the Jury should be able 10
get an idea of the situation from maps.
Attorney McGahren then presented the
case for the Commonw ealth. after which
Andrew Siyer was called. lie Is Hun
garian but speaks excellent English. lie
proved the death of Mike Cezlak. saying
that he saw him lying dead on the road
az Tatimer with a bullet in his head.
witness said he saw the sheriff draw his
revolver, and heard heard 1t snap, and
then the shooting commenced, and the
witness dropped 10 the ground to AVOID
being shot.
Witness said there was first one shot.
then two and then volley. The second
witness was John Mahala, who was at
the time Of the strike the president OF the
Harwood Local Union OF the United Mine
Workers Of America.
He told of the meeting, where II was
agreed 10 march TO Lattimer, at the In
yitation of the miners there; his counsels
OF peace and the start the next day, all
the men being unarmed. Witness was
the flag bearer At West Hazelton they
were stopped by the sheriff, who ordered
them TO disperse. Alahala protested that
they were breaking no law, whereupon
one Of the deputies grabbed the American
flag from him and tore Il in halves. Con-
tinuing the witness said:
THE Sheriff pointed his revolver and
threatened to shoot. The deputies push
ed us around with the muzzles OF their
guns and swore AZ us and one struck
John Eustis twice with his gun cutting
his head and breaking his arm IN Two
places "Then Burgess Jones. OF West
Hazleton demonstrated with the Sheriff.
saving that he could keep the peace With
out using any weapons; that he had con-
fdence in US, and would let us march
through the streets OF his borough as
much as we liked. The Sherin ana MS
deputies then boarded the cars and we
marched on toward Latimer."
Witness was in the rear OF the crowd
when the shooting commenced. BY the
time he reached the front, the shooting
had ended He saw dead men and
number OF wounded ones lying In the
road.
Rev. Father Richard Aust. pastor OF
the ST. Stanislaus Polish Cathohc chucn
at hazelton. chairman OF the prosecuting
committee, was called 10 prove that many
OF the strikers were shot IN the back.
he had buried thirteen OF the dead and
looked after n number OF the wounded.
Rev. Carl Haus. pastor OF the Lutheran
Church at Freeiand. said he had examin-
cd several and found all OF them were
shot in the side or back.
II boarded a car" he said. which
brought ten OF the dead. and q lot OF the
wounded from the scene Of the shooting.
There was a pile OF rifles In a corner.
said 10 one OF the deputies. Frank
Clark:
Il am afraid OF some OF them falling
and exploding"
''You need not be afrald.' he said.
they are all empty now"
CHARLES Guscott. principal OF the Lau-
mer school. a frame building about GOO
Yards from the scene of the shooting and
In fulI view OF all that took place on the
eventful tenth OF September at Lau-
me. said he was teaching school when
he heard an unusual noise, and going 10
the window he found that number of