The record-union., 1898-02-08

NILkESBARRE (Pa.), Feb. Huh
dreds OF persons anxious to hear what
action Judge Woodward would take i'll
reference 10 the sensational outbreak
on Saturday between Attorneys Gar
man and Lenahan, opposing counsel in
the Latimer shooting case. thronged
the courtroom to-day. Judge Wood
ward spoke of the incident Of Saturday.
saying that after he had left the bench
and before court adjourned an alter
cation had arisen between two lawyers
engaged in the trial. which the court
did not fully hear nor realize until they
were seen in the newspapers.
Had we heard said the Judge,
what was said we should have dealt
with the lawyers in a summary man.
ner, as the affair so deserved, and if
there is repetition of ii we shall pun
ish the guilty parties for contempt of
court
Then came a severe denunciation OF
the sensational issue of certain news
papers in endeavoring, as the court
said, to prevent justice by an exagger-
alton of the facts and incidents of the
trial. He would. he said, not mention
any names at present, but if the as
founding falsehoods and misrepresen-
tations continue the representatives of
the paper Will find the door of the court
closed to them"
The first witness to-day was Silas
Jones, Justice of the Peace of West
Hazleton. He stated that he had seen
the meeting of the deputies and strik-
erS at West HaZleton, and followed
them to Latimer He saw Sheriff Mar
tin advance toward them with a paper
in his hand. Some of them surrounded
him, and an alteration occurred, but
the witness could not see exactly how
the alteration took place, or how it
terminated. He heard a couple of shots
and then a volley, and saw several men
fall. Two fell near him. He was
asked what the spectators said after
the shooting. The defense objected.
After listening to all the arguments.
the court sustained the objection, thus
shutting out the evidence This is
regarded as an important point gained
for the defense.
Counsel for the defense asked the
witness if he was not frightened when
he saw the Sheriff surrounded by the
strikers, and he replied that he was.
and owing to this fact he could not tell
clearly just what happened at the mo-
ment.
John Yeager, a Slav, who required an
interpreter, said he had seen the depu-
ties on their way to Latimer on the
day of the shooting. All We're armed
with rifles. but he could not see wheth-
er the Sheriff had any weapons. Just
before the noon adjournment the court
accepted bail for all the accused depu-
ties and the Sheriff in the amount of
$4,000. making $4,000 in ALL Bail
f,,,4, i-Ia1 l.Nr oil lai
Surety Company.
When court met again in the after
noon George Yeager resumed his testi-
mony He joined the strikers and
marched with them to Latimer. he
described the meeting with the Sher-
if, and said the Sheriff drew his re-
volver and pointed it at the strikers.
He grabbed one of them and pulled
him from out among the others, all the
time holding the pistol to his breast.
Then some one shouted to shoot and
the deputies fired.
After the first few shots" said the
witness there was a vOlley, and then
a number of single shots, and eleven
men We're killed in five minutes and
lots wounded
Upon cross examination the witness
stated that he could point out any dep
uty who was present at the shooting.
and the defendant Immediately called
before the witness John Hampton,
Chief of the coal and oil police Yeager
was asked if he had seen Hampton
with the deputies.
Yes" he exclaimed, che was in the
line, and was holding his rifle this way
and he Illustrated the position.
The defense will prove that Hamp-
ton was not on the scene at all, but
was in Hazleton at the time.