Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1898-02-12
MARTINS NAN KILLERS.
Trial Of Deputies Who Engaged in
the Massacre at Lattimer.
FERMENTATION TESTIFIED TO.

IereSl IN the trial OF Sheriff James
Martin and 81 deputies. charged with
the murder of strikers at Lattimer last
September, continues undated The
taking of testimony began on Thursday
Of last week.
In his opening address on Thursday
Attorney McGahren. for the prosecu-
tion. asserted that 1t would be proven
that the deputies had threatened the
lives Of the strikers.
John silva was the first witness. The
defense endeavored to show that this
witness had been engaged In terror
izing men to join the strikers; but silva
made a good witness for the prosecu-
ton.
John Mahala, the chosen leader Of
the HARDWOOD strikers, testified to his
reading the instructions issued by the
national union to avoid violence or
disorder. He detailed the unwarranted
interference with the strikers, and the
shooting without warning.
Rev. Richard Aust, who conducted
the funeral services of many of the
victims. could not describe the nature
of the wounds received.
Rev. Carl Hauser testified that he
had examined several of the wounded,
and all were shot in the side or back
The most important witness of the
day was Charles Guscott, principal of
the Lattimer school. He heard an I'M
usual noise, and going to the window
noticed some so deputies alighting from
an electric car. Miss Coyle, his as
sistant, also watched them. They lined
up by the side of the road, with rifles
ready. Soon the strikers appeared.
marching in quiet and orderly man
ner. They were halted by the sheriff.
He did not hear the sheriff say anything
or see him read any paper One of the
deputies started to advance alone,
when another shouted: IF you don't
come back we will shoot you, too"
The man jumped back. and almost i'm
mediately came shot, then two others,
and then volley. The strikers started
and ran in all directions, but 16 fell
within few feet. He saw one man
shot While running a hundred yards
from the road. He assisted several of
the wounded to the schoolhouse and
dressed their wounds
On Friday Schoolmaster Guseott
completed his testimony and identified
number of the deputies.
DR.. H. M. Kellar, who attended many
of the wounded, said that of as wounds
on ~ men were shot directly in front
indirectly in front, Is rectly in the
side, directly in the rear and q in
directly in the rear. Two of the men
had wounds that could have been in.
fiicted only while the man was r,n-
ming at full speed.
Rev. s. e. Staff1ett, OF Hazleton fold
of seeing the paraders en- route to
Lattimer, and of their peaceable and
orderly demeanor
Miss Grace Coyle, Mr. Guscott's as
sistant teacher, was the star witness
on Friday She detailed the events
leading to the shooting. corroborat;ng
Mr.. Guscott, and insisting that tbe
strikers were peaceable and orderly
After the shooting she helped MANY of
the wounded to the schoolhouse and
dressed their wounds as best she could
There was blood all over the scboo1-
house floor, she said, and she described
it as a horrible sight. She continued.
Il helped about II or Is of the wound
eo' ana dld not see any weapons on any
OF them. While I was helping them a
deputy named Hess laughed at me as
he walked about smoking a cigar.
a.. ~
uty Clark laughed. and I said to him.
DO you think you've done a glorious
deed today? 1 called two more of them
buns"
Miss Coyle stated that when she
learned the strikers were coming she
dismissed the class, deeming it best that
they should be at home. This is seized
upon by tAe defense as important testi-
mOnV for their ciin nd
the strikers.
DR.. John J. Corrigan was the next
witness, but his testimony developed
nothing new
Then the commonwealth called to the
stand S. t. Adams, a travelling man. by
whom it hoped to prove that some of
the deputies while journeying to the
scene of the shooting made threats
that they would kill some of the strik-
ers. The witness said he could not
identify any of the deputies on the
car, and objection being raised his evil
dence was ruled out.
On Saturday there was a controver-
sy between the opposing counselregard-
ing bail. The defendants bail expired
in November last, but through mad
vertinence was not renewed Mr.. Gar
AAAelli llloloIOQ that petll SIlOulQ ne re-
newed Immediately or the defendants
committed to jail. Judge Woodward
however, allowed the defendants until
today to furnish bail.
Michael Nicholson was the first wit
ness on Saturday He testified, among
other things, that when he denounced
the shooting as a scandalous piece of
work Deputy Alfred Hess said to him:
cI1
same way" On motion his evidence
was stricken out.
John Egler, secretary of the Harwood
Union of the United Mine Workers, was
the only other witness Saturday
His testimony was corroborative of
that already introduced.
On Monday of this week Judge
Woodward severely denounced news
papers that published sensational ac-
counts of the trial, and declared that
IF the astounding falsehoods and mis-
representations continue the represent
atives of the papers will find the door
of the court closed to them" He also
rebuked opposing attorneys who en-
gagged in wordy warfare after Satur-
days adjournment, threatening pun
ishment for contempt.
The witnesses on Monday were George
Yeager, a Slovenian, who required an
interpreter; Thomas Hall, hotel clerk
and Christopher Brehen, miner, and
John Costello. Yeager recognized a
number of the deputies who had done
shooting, and also a number of others
who he said were among the deputies
He weakened his evidence by recog-
nizing as among the armed deputies
John Hampton, who was in Hazleton
at the time of the shooting. Hall de-
clared he had hoard Deputy John Tur-
ner declare after the shooting: IT shot
nine of then. and killed FIVE" Bre-
hen decla.ed he had been urged by
Deputy Boz lheiser to join the deputies
in order to go out and shoot the strik-
ers." A few days before the shooting
Deputy Dodson said to him: I'VE ought
to get so much a head for shooting
down these strikers. I would do it for
cent a head, and make money at it."
Cross examination failed to shake Bre-
hens testimony. Costello's testimony
was interrupted by an argument and
adjournment.
On Tuesday of this week Judge
Woodward announced that he had re-
ceived threatening anonymous let
ter, and vigorously denounced the
sender.
When court adjourned Monday John
Costello had the stand, and objection
had been taken by the defense to the
admission of his evidence. He de-