Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1898-02-21
MURDER WAS PROVEN.
TESTIMONY STAMPS DEPUTIES AS A
GANG OF MAN-KllLERS.
Prosecution Has Closed Its Side in the
Martin Trial-Awful Evidence of the
Havoc Wrought by winehesters Shown
in Court-A Freeland Witness.

| Havoc wrought by Wlnehesters Shown
in Court-A Freeland Witness.
The case for the commonw wealth
against the Lattimer deputies closed on
Saturday, and public opinion emphatic
ally declares that clear charge OF
wilful murder has been indisputably
proven by the prosecution against sew
eral of the accused men. Regardless of
the legal rights of the sheriff IN the
premises, the testimony of dozens of
witnesses has shown that premeditated
and deliberate murder was committed
during and after the general slaughter,
and while judge and jury may white
wash this bloody crime, the stain on the
characters of some of these deputies will
remain in the public's eyes as brand
to mark the men of this region who un-
der the guise of law have assassinated
many of their fellowcreatures.
The defense will open today, and the
opening argument will be made by Geo.
S. Ferris, after which the first of hun
dred or more witnesses will be put on
the stand. At least two more weeks
| will pass before the end of the trial.
The last days of the prosecutions side
OF the case were dramatic. Never since
the trial began have the barbarous
cruelties of Sheriff Martin and his in
human thugs been more graphically
recited; never have the awful effects of
Winchester bullets been so horribly
demonstrated.
Into the court room Thursday after
noon came four men carrying a fifth
man in a chair. Up the aisle the
human burden was borne and down in
front of the witness box 1t was deposited.
Then in tone of voice scarcely above Il
whisper, John Gusperik was sworn. He
was the victim of u bullet that crashed
through his skull and imbedded itself in
his brain, leaving him hopeless para
lytic.
Il saw Sheriff Martin approaching us
at Lattimer," Gusperk feebly declared
Then he disappeared, and his men be-
gan to shoot. | tried to run, but bull
let struck me, and | fell down. / can't
see well now. and every time | move nv
head feel something rattle in there. |
am unable to raise my arms or legs, and
they tell me l will never be any better. ="
Here Gusperik was carried to the Jury
box, where juryman stuck his finger
into the wound at the back of the poor
fellows head while he, without changing
countenance, for he had no pain. Law
lamblike in the arms of his supporters.
The CORY possession of victims then
moved on and into the box. Tattered
John Slebodnik, wrapped in heavy
overcoat, was next. Slebodnik's head
also contained bullet, and the doctors
at the University of Pennsylvania hospi-
tai, In Philadelphia, who located the
bullet with the X-rays, say that he will
die the minute it is removed.
Slebodnik showed the jury the scar.
and after declaring that he ran at the
first shot, but'did not get far, was assist
cd back to the witness room.
Angelo Matz, an Italian rag-picker.
who joined the strikers simply because
he wanted to see what was going on.
told ghastly tale and illustrated it with
the aptness Of an artist.
II heard the shooting," he said
through an interpreter, "a man was
shot and fell into the gutter. He tried
to get up and go away, but l saw a
deputy run up to him and putting a rife
to his back send several more bullets
into him. Then he laid still"
"Show us how the deputies aimed,'
commanded District Attorney Martin,
giving Matz rifle. He straightened
up. He was soldier and his eyes
glistened with delight. Quickly bring
ing the piece from an order to a ready,
Matz swept the first six rows of the
deputies with the blue barrel, and the
towards, hitherto unmoved by the sight
OF the wounds they inflicted, quailed as
the barrel was, pointed at them.
Casper Mozeer is destined to hobble
through life with stiff leg, as the result
OF the wound he received at Lattimer.
Upon the stand he barred his knee and
showed the jury where a rifle ball had
ground its way through that member,
leaving scar "a by IA inches in size.
John Hryzo, when fleeing from the
wrath of the deputies, saw men falling
like straw and turned to see what the
deputies were doing, when he received
bullet through both legs.
John Kulik, a little shaggy-headed
Pole, whose home is at Harwood swore
that the deputies robbed as well as shot
him. The witness wore the same coat
that he had on during the shooting and
he showed the bullet hole. He also dis
played the scar made on his side by the
wound.
Two bullets pierced Constantine Man
oski, one at the right ankle and the
other his thigh. The deputies were
shooting, he declared, when he fell after
running 100 yards.
n., H,fI