New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-10
TRIAL OF SHERIFF MARTIN.
STORY OF THE LATTIMER SHOOTING TOLD
BY MORE MINERS.

BY MORE MINERS.
Wukesbarre. Penn. Feb s.-When court opened
this morning for the trial OF Sheriff Martin and his
deputies Judge Woodward spoke 70 the Jurors
about receiving letters bearing on any point In the
trial. He said: IF you receive any letters with
reference to the trial. whether anonymous or
signed. 1t is your duty to hand them over TO the
ict-Attorney. and you must not allow them
TO make any impression upon your mind"
The first witness called to-day John Your
shekowicz. one of the Harwood strikers. He said
that on September the strikers held a meeting at
Harwood. and they understood that If they could
get the Lattimer to Join them they would win
the strike. They decided not to carry anything
having the semblance Of weap ons and TO behave
quietly and peaceably. At West Hazleton he said.
they met the Sheriff and the deputies who pushed
them around with guns and hit several Of them.
One man. and the witness pointed out Ario p.
Plat. down the flag. At Lattmer the Sheriff
stopped them. hit two men in the front rank. and
tried to fire his revolver. II snapped twice and
then exploded. At there voey from
the deputies. and many OF the strikers fell
on crOss-examination the witness said that at
West Hazleton tho Sheriff got hold of his and
pushed his revolver in his face saying: II am
the Sheriff OF Luzerne County, and you cannot go
10 Lattimer" He did nothing. being frightened.
The witness also said the Harwood men decided to
send n committee over 70 Lattimer. and that the
committee was composed Of all Of them about
four hundred or FIVE hundred. because il they sent
only three men or a small number Pardee & Co
would discharge them.
Steve Jusko. the man whose arm was broken and
head cut by blows Of rife in the hands ~ a
deputy AT West Hazeton the next witness.
He said that AT the time OF the assault ne was be-
having in an orderly manner and saying nothing
Afterward. he said. the deputies put him IN the
lookup for two days. and then he taken to
the hospital He laid up for TWO months.
The evidence Of Michael Popsos who followed
Jusko. merely corroborative OF what had AL
ready been told about the shooting at Lattimcr
Only three witnesses were heard this after
Moons session. and only gave evidence which
was at all new. Lewis Kitzsk told how. arriving
at IVES, Hazleton with the strikers. two deputies
seized him by the coat. hustled and pushed him
around and tore his shirt. He said number OF
the men were 50 frightened by the action Of the
deputies in threatening them with their guns that
they home and did not march 10 lattmcr. At
Lattimer the witness said. the Sheriff asked for
the committee. and while man was looking for
the three commit eemen the Sheriff pulled two
ont Of the line and tried to fire his revolver. ON
cross-examination he admitted that the Sheriff had
told the strikers to 10 home. and that they dis
ODE yed and marched on TO Lattimcr.
Ellory Benin. an undertaken Of Hazleton. who
buried thirteen Of the victims. gave their names
and described their wounds saying all were shot
in the back except one, who had a bullet in his
forehead.
John Andreaski told the same story as many
others about the meeting on tho night before tho
CURED there. and the march on 10 Lattimer. The
witness poirted OUT Frank Clark OF
deputies with the Sheriff lie could not identify
the others.
Court adjourned at this point and the cross-ex-
animation will be heard in the morning Tho Com
monwealth has about hundred more witnesses.