Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-03-04
SHERIFF MARTINS TRIAL.

The Cross Examination of Deputy Hess
Continued said sheriff Martins Life was
in Great Peril.
Wilkesbarre, Pa, March 3-When
court opened this morning in the Mar
tin trial, Deputy Hess was placed on
the stand, and his cross examination
was continued. Witness said he heard
no command to fire and did not fire
shot, nor did he know what men Of
the company he commanded did
shoot Deputy Hess said that Sheriff
Martins life was in great peril from
the shooting, as he was in group of
strikers.
James A. Salem, Of Harrisburg, but
formerly Of Hazleton, said he was act
ing as deputy for four days He cor
roborated the testimony OF other wit
nesses as to Sheriff Martin being
roughly handled by the strikers, and
saw their main body make a rush to-
ward the deputies. He said no shots
| We're fired after the yolley and that
he did not fire at ali. AT the time the
! firing began he was overcome by the
heat and was leaning against the fence.
Lawyer George A. Cox, of Philadel-
phir, representing the Austrian gov
| eminent, was here to-day for the first
time since the trial began. He said
his visit was unofficial.
IA hpnn
heard, the defense, so Attorney Lena
han says, will ask Judge Woodward 10
give binding instructions to the jury
to bring in a verdict of not guilty for
all the defendants.
Il fired one shot" said Charles J.
| Haenes this afternoon. He was the
first Of the deputies to admit that he
had shot. He told how he had seen
at West Hazleton Deputy Platt level
his gun at a striker who was picking up
a stone He also rode in the car WITH
Thomas Hall and did not hear him
making any threats against the strih-
ers. Eat Lattimer,' he said, Il saw
the sheriff hold up both hands to stop
the strikers. In one hand he held a
paper | saw him grab for man ana
also saw two strikers with revolveTs
thrust them at the sheriff, while an
other made dig at him with knife.
Then they rushed upon US, ana When
they got within ten or fifteen feet CT
us I raised my gun and fired.
thought my life was in danger and felt
if they got at us they would XIII us.
On cross examination witness SAID
| he did not fire at any particular point
of the mems bodies, that he did no;
take aim, and that he did not desire 70
Kill. and did not think he shot 10 take
life.
Thomas Hall, who organized the
! posse for Sheriff Martin, was the next
I witness. He told how the sheriff had
told him to gather a lot of men. He
had done so and they had been sworn
in by Sheriff Martin, who had instruct
ed them not to shoot unless their llavs
were in danger, and said that he would
tell them to dispense, that if they re-
fused he wou!d make an arrest, and II
they then resisted the deputies should
shoot.
Il heard two shots before the vol
ley" said the witness, they sounded
like revolver shots When | saw the
sheriff surrounded l thought he was
gone. and when the strikers charged
on us | thought they would at least
disarm us. | did not shoot"
On cross examination witness said
that he had organized the posse Of
coal and iron policemen on the Satur-
day before the sheriff reached Hazel
ton. This was at the request of Super
intendent Scribe, of the Lehigh Valley
Coal Company, whose colliery had
been attacked and the men driven out.
The cross examination was very
lengthy. but brought out nothing par
ticu]arly new. Sheriff Martin was re-
called at tnis point and asked If n"
observed any weapons on the strikers
ar We: Ha2leton. He answered that
he saw three men with revolvers ia
their hip pockets. On cross-examin
alton ne said he did not converse with
any of them nor did he arrest them.
Asked if any Of the men in line az
Lattimer had not teen sworn IL as
deputies. he said: Well there were
not many WHO had not been SWORD in
He could not tell how many.
T. NJ. Commit, a tipstaye said that
or The night Of the shooting be net
Sheriff Martin in the court house about
s O'Clock. The sheriff hal brn.se
on his check and a scratch on his uech.
This was the last witness for the de-
Tense, and when be left .he stand, At
torney Lenahan acnolhced the clos
ing
District Attorney Martin said he had
six or eight witnesses in rebuttal whom
he could have in court in the morning.
Court then adjourned.