The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-02-08
JUDGE SCORES newspapers
CHARGES THEY MIssTATE THE
TESTIMONY N LATTlNER CASE.
the NIsrepresentations Continue
sheriff Martin and His Deputies

wII.KESBARRE, Pa. Feb. Hun
sir-ls OF persons anxious 10 hear what ac
ton Judge " Woodward would take IN refer
s-nce to the Sensational outbreak on Sauur-
day between Attorneys GarInan and Len
4llsn opposing counsel IN tire Lattimer
shooting case. ,hronsed tie court room 20
dag.
Judge Woodward spoke OF the Incident Of
Saturday aying that after he had left the
bench and before court adjourned al al
tercatfon has arisen between two % The
lawyers engaged in the trial which the
court did net fully hear nor realize until
il vas seen in The newspapers
Had We heard" said the judge. what
was said. We should have dealt with the
lawyers in q summary manner. the az
fair deserved. and II there is repetition
OF II ws shall punish the guilty parties for
contempt Of court.
Then came a severe denunciation OF the
sensational issue of certain newspapers N
endeavoring. as the court said, 10 prevent
justice by an exaggeration OF the facts OF
tbs. trial lie wouid. he said. not mention
any names at present. "but IL the astound-
ing falsehoods and Misrepresentation coR-
tlnue the representatives OF the paper VIII
find the doors OF the court closed
The first witness today was Silas Jones.
5uStice Of the peace OF West Hazleton. lie
stated that he had seen the meeting OF the
deputies and strikers at West Hazeton
and followed them 10 Lattimer. He saw
Sheriff Martin advance toward them with
a paper in his hand. Some OF them sur
rounded him and an alteration occurred.
bat the witness could not see exactly how
the alteration commenced or how II ter
minated. He heard q couple OF shots and
then Il volley and saw several men fall.
Two who fell near him were dead. He WAS
asked what the spectators said after the
shooting. The defense objected. After
listening to all the arguments. the court
sustained the objection. thus shutting out
tho evidence. This is regarded an inn
portant point gained for the defense.
Counsel for the defense asked the wit
ness il ne was not frightened when he saw
the sheriff surrounded by the strikers. and
he replied he was. and that owing to this
fact he could not tell clearly just what
hlppened at the moment.
John Yeager. Siav. who required an
Interpreter. said he had seen the deputies
on their way 10 Lattimer on the day OF
the shooting All were armed with rifles
but he could not see whether the sheriff
had any weapons.
Just before the noon adjournment the
court accepted bail for all the accused
deputies and the sheriff in the amount of
5000 in each case. making $4,000 Bail
was furnished by the Philadelphia Trust
Company.
When court met again in the afternoon
John Yeager resumed his testimony
He Joined the strikers and marched with
them TO Lattimer. He described the meet
ing with the sheriff. and said the sheriff
drew his revolver and pointed IL at the
strikers. He grabbed one Of them and
pulled him out from among the others.
ali the time holding the pistol ut his
breast. Then someone shouted TO shoot,
and the deputies fred
after the first few shots" said the wit
ness, There was a volley and then a num-
Der Of single shots. and eleven men Were
killed in FIVE minutes and lots wounded"