The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-02-09
COWARD AND SCOUNDREL
TERMS APPLIED TO THE WRITER OF
AN ANONYMOUS LETTER.
Judge Woodward, Who Is Presiding
at the Trial of Sheriff Martin
and Deputies, Indignant.

WILKESBARRE, Pa, Feb. S.-Before the
trial of Sheriff Martin and his deputies was
resumed to-day Judge Woodward stated
that he had received an anonymous letter
stating that if he did not do certain things
something would happen, and a threat was
made. The judge said: THE man who
wrote this will probably hear what we have
to say, and L want to tell him that he is
scoundrel and a coward, and that no such
dishonorable means will in any way affect
my judgment
Judge Woodward ruled out certain evil
dence given yesterday by John Costello, a
witness for the prosecution, and which had
been objected to by the. defense. During the
course of Costello's testimony yesterday he
stated that he had said to Deputy Hess,
referring to the shooting of the strikers:
This is nice thing you have done" Cos
tello said he had replied angrily: Shut up,
or I'll treat you the same way" at the same
time leveling his rifle at Costello's head.
Costello was recalled and asked to tell what
he saw from Farleys Hotel to Lattimer.
He said that he saw eight wounded men
lying along the road and three dead men.
He stated that he did what he could for the
wounded and that he had found no weapons
on any of them.
Evan Jones, chief of police at West Hazel
ton, testified that the strikers reached West
Hazelton on the afternoon of the shooting,
and there met the sheriff and deputies
They carried a flag and talked rather loud,
but they had no arms and made no dis
turbance. The sheriff told them that they
could not march to Lattmer. and that they
must go home, whereupOn he (Jones) in
duced them to go back and showed them
how they could march by side street
In1,a II hn
that he was at West Hazeton when the
strikers arrived, and that they were I'M
armed and orderly. The sheriff told some
of tie spectators they had better get out
of the way. there was liable to be trouble
if the strikers did not dispense. The witness
further testified that Deputy Manly struck
him with a gun as he was moving off the
street, and that another man had also been
struck. One deputy pointed his gun at a
that fellow" Deputy Ferry told a man who
was sympathizng with striker whose head
was bleeding that if he did not shut up he
would blow off his head. Witness denied,
ON cross-examination. that he had black
jack and tried to hit a deputy with it.,
Herman Pottinger, of Hazelton, said that
while he was at West HaZetOn on the day
of the shooting Deputy Henry Delhi threat
ened to blow my brains out If | did not
get off the road" Another deputy said: L
bet l drop six of them when l. get over
there" The cross-examination failed to
shake Pottingers story.
The testimony of the other witnesses eX-
amined to-day was along the same line, re-
lating to the scenes at the place Of disturb
ance and showing that the strikers were
unarmed. John Fortschek said that Chief
of the Coal and Iron Police Hampton was
the man who tore the flag at West Hazel
ton.
Simon Kowalslxi said: MIR. Dodson, a
deputy. came over as ] was helping a
wounded man and said: You run away or
II shoot you. too
Walter Pekerski said that at West Hazel
ton the sheriff was pointing his revolver at
everybody near him.
Counsel for the defense claimed that Dis
trict Attorney Martin was merely taking
UP time in asking each witness If the strik-
ers were armed.
.'Wiu YOU admit it?' asked Martin.
mo sir: we admit nothing.
Then we will go ahead and prove it,"
Go on" said Palmer; lit will take you
seven years"
After several other witnesses had been
heard court adjourned.