Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1898-03-03
THE SHERIFF'S STORY.
HIS VERSION OF THE SHOOTING
GIVEN ON TUESDAY.
Attorney Scarlet Brought Out Some I'm
portant Admissions in His Lengthy
Cross determination of Martin-Sherif
Didn't X now Where Guns Came From.

The chief story of tho defense in the
Lattimer case was heard on Tuesday
from Sheriff Martin, the man who is
held to be responsible for the shooting.
He told a straightforward story. al
though under high tension all the time.
speaking slowly, and without Interrupt
tion, for over an hour. He had, ap-
parently, carefully rehearsed his story
and knew by rote the way he would tell
it; how fact would follow fact, by
passion, and at one time said: Il don't
mind telling them l was pretty mad and
said lot Of things to the strikers
This was in reference to the meeting al
West Hazleton.
On the cross-examination he was in
clined to levity. One or two OF his
answers bordered on the humorous, and
he smiled broadly, but there was no look
Of amusement on the stern set faces of
the jurors, who leaned forward drinking
in every word of the testimony.
The cross-examination was conducted
Oy NlI oCdIlGlb.s uO 81 Tar udS udu DuJ
little to say in the case. He had the
sheriff under fire two hours. He brought
out many important facts not given in
direct examination. The sheriff ad-
mitted that he had not gathered the
deputies; that he did not know where
they got their arms or what became Of
them after the shooting. He knew they
were loaded with sixteen ball cartridges.
and gave no instructions that one shot
only should be fired, or that the deputies
should first fire volley over the strikers
heads or at their legs. He found some
of the wounded strikers on the other
side of the railroad track.
Attorney Scarlett also brought out
the fact that no justice of the peace, no
law officer, no mayor or no burgess
notified the sheriff that he was unable
to preserve the peace and called upon
him for assistance.
Altogether his cross-eXamination made
his evidence lose much of its value. Mr..
Scarett used Martin very nicely for
the benefit of the commonwealth by
getting him to name seventeen of the
deputies whom he remembered positively
were present at Lattimer.
In beginning his testimony, Sheriff
Martin said he returned September
from Atlantic City in response to tele-
gram from General Superintendent
Lathrop, of the Lehigh Valley Coal
Company. After learning that the
strikers had damaged the companys
property and interfered with employees,
he issued proclamation, commanding
order and obedience to the laws. As to
his instructions to his deputies, he said:
II told them that it was our duty to
maintain the law, and If / found any
body violating the law we should arrest
them. | said we did not want to hurt
or shoot anybody, and that we should
not shoot unless our lives or theirs were
in danger"
The deputies were ordered out at
o'clock on the morning of September
to intercept the McAdoo strikers. The
next day he dispersed three crowds at
Crystal Ridge. Continuing, he said:
II had appointed Samuel Price chief
captain, having full charge, when was
away; also Thomas Hall and A. E. Hess
and Thomas Memford, each in charge of
a company. Then came home here and
went back next morning. This was We'd
nesday. l had received a dispatch from
there. | went there and met General
Manager |. A. Stearns, of the Coke es-
tate. There were a number of men
gathered there to act as deputies. put
to them the same questions as | did to
the others and swore them in"
Sheriff Martin told of the several COL
lisions with the strikers at various points
on Wednesday and Thursday. At Crys-
tai Ridge, one of the strikers said, as
they moved off when commanded to dis
perse; We've got to go, boys; they're
too strong for us today; but tomorrow
we'll come back and stop the work then"
AT Beaver Meadow, on Thursday, the
sheriff testified, a body of strikers charg-
cd on the deputies. my men," he said
chad to push them away by holding
their guns like rails before them, and
then it was hard work. As they dis
persed one man deliberately fired IA pistol
at us, some deputies pursuing him, but
he escaped"
Friday mornings scene at West Halle
ton, when the miners were marching to
Lattimer, was described by the sheriff
when | learned the strikers were going
to Lattimer," he said, Il hurried off
with my deputies to intercept them /
told them again to keep cool and not to
shoot unless their lives or mine were in
danger. After lining them mp alongside
the road | told them | would go ont to
meet the strikers and try once more to
disperse them. deputy asked il he
should not go with me. No. said; I'll
20 alone thought one man was enourh