The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-02-12
KICKED DYING MEN.
Brutality of the Sherifis at Latti,ner De-
scribed in Court.

Wilkesbarre, Pa, February 1.-THE
new feature in the cross examination
today by endeavoring to show that the
evidence of the witnesses was influenced
| by the hope of securing damages from
| the government in the event of conVic-
| ton.
! Adam Lapinski, who was on the stand
when court closed last night, was asked:
DO you not expect, in the event of con-
viction in this case that your county will
file claim for damages against the
United States?'
81 don't know" replied the witness.
odd you not read in the papers that
such would be the case.
. can't read, said Lapinski.
The commonwealth objected to this
line OF cross-eXaminatiOn, but the OBJ
| lection was overruled.
| The witness was then asked: Ibid
anybody tell you or read to you from the
papers, that you would get money from
the government If a deputy was con-
victed?''
"No, sir, don't know anything about
it,"
Thomas Paris told the story of the
march to Lattimer. He said the men
| were unarmed and orderly.
| Mike SrOCnak bOlu uOW dUOub olSAU VI
| the deputies had followed the fleeing
strikers at Lattimer and shot at them as
they ran.
| Andrew Meier, who lost his leg in the
shooting at Lattimer, came into court
on crutohes. His right leg is off a few
inches below the hip. He said that he
was not at West HaZleton, but joined the
strikers further on end marched to Lat
timer. He could not tell anything about
what the sheriff said or did at Lattimer.
He was standing in the middle of the line
when the shooting commenced and start
ed to run, but got bullet in the leg and
dropped. He saw lots of others drop.
Maier said the shooting continued for
| couple of minutes after he was shot.
Martin Lachar said that when he was
at West Hazleton one OF the deputies
took hold of him, pushed him around
and cursed him. He told how he had
seen one of the deputies at Lattiner kick
Maier as the latter lay on the road with
his leg almost shot off.
The defence objected to this fact on the
ground that the shooting was all over
when the kicking is alleged to have TAX
en- place, and the deputy alleged to have
kicked Maier had not been identified.
The commonwealth contended that a
conspiracy exis6ed to shoot and kill and
that according to the law all who We're
implicated in the conspiracy were equal
ly guilty of any act performed by one OF
them.
The defence contended that no conspi
racy had been shown to exist; that the
act of one man could only be considered
as the guilt of that man, and rs the
witness had been unable to identify the
man who kicked Maier, his testimony
was totally irrelevant. Judge Wood.
ward sustained the objection.
On cross-examination Lachier denied
that the strikers had injured man at
Crystal Ridge SO badly that he died
few days later. He also denied telling
8 deputy that the strikers were going to
Lattimer "to raise hell. :"
Masihas CHA said he was about 200
yards from the deputies when he heard
single shot and was hit in the shoulder.
This was after the volley was fired He
denied that the strikers intended forcing
out the Lattimer men if they did not 60
on strike willingly.
Mike Julas who was shot through the
leg and who is still very weak and sick,
said that when the strikers halted he
heard some deputy give the order to fire.
He at once ran, but had gone only
few steps when he was hit and fell.
John Derock also testified that he heard
command to fire, but he could not tell
who gave it.
Court adjourned after cross examine
ton.