The herald., 1898-10-16
MAKE SLOW PROGRESS
WITH INQUEST ON DEAD MIN
ERs' AT vIRDEN
NEGROES NOW AT ST. LOUIS
But Mine Managers Promise to Bring
Them to Virden When Protect
ion Is Given
Associated Press Special Wire.

Associated Press Special WHe'
yIRDEN, ILL.,, Oct. 15.-Coroner Hart to-
day resumed the inquest over the bodies OF
the victims of the fight at the Chicago
Virden Company's mine inside the STOCK
nde. Three witnesses were examined, All
ex-euards OF the company. They admitted
that they were present during the fight,
hut denied having taken part IN the bat
tie. One witness swore that he came to
help build the stockade and afterwards
was employed as cook. He said that he
and about 25 others were sworn in by Sher-
iff davenport as deputies. In the cross
examination Assistant Attorney Mooney,
renresenting the Miners Union, brought
out the fact that the witness had never re-
ceived q written commission and had never
filed bond. Attorney Patton asked If 1t
was necessary to have written commission
and bonds; If so he would like to see the
authority.
.'Have you copy Of the statutes?" the
attorney asked.
mo; not with me-" replied Mr.. Patton.
II am sorry" said Mr.. Mooney, "as I
would like very much to show you my
authority"
One of the Jurors then asked: "Mr.
Mooney, do l understand you to say that
1t Is necessary to file bond and have
written commission to create a legal dep-
uty sheriff.
The miners attorney assured him that
such was the fact.
"Then," said the juror, IT can say there
have been lots of papers served in Macou-
pin county that are illegal. as have served
as deputy sheriff numberless times for
years, and have never given bond nor
received a written commission"
The jury had two sessions today and ex-
emined several witnesses. They were all
ex-guards, ho are under nominal arrest
by the militia, and for whom a blanket
warrant was sworn out yesterday. charg-
ing them with conspiracy to murder in
connection with Wednesdays fight.
The general idea conveyed was that while
the men were employed to defend the prop
erty of the Chicago-Virden Coal company,
they not only did not fire any shots them
selves. but they had no time to see whether
any Of their comrades fired upon the mob
This applied to the guards stationed inside
the grounds. The members of the train
escort either declined TO answer on that
point or said they did not remember. The
coal company has several witnesses 20 ex-
anime, including Manager Lukens.
from the leisurely manner in which the
inquest was conducted today, it will prob
ably be prolonged a week. 1t is the evil
dent Intention 10 bring out as much testi-
mony on both sides as possible.
The Legal Outlook
V1RDEN, Ill.,, Oct. 15-Attorney VIM.
Patton, of the Ch.cago-Virden Coal Com
pany, Is authority for the statement that |
no further attempt will be made to land |
mere the Alabama negroes, whose coming
resulted In the loss of SO many lives. There |
Is under consideration, according to At
torney Patton. an attempt to fix the re-
sponslb.lity for the tragedy upon the Gov
ernor OF Illinois. The lawyer declare |
tnat 1t Is the intention of the coal company
70 press the matter, and 1t will be for the |
grand jury Of Macouptn county to say
whether Governor Tanner shall answer
in court.
j. Franklin Eister. manger of the COM
pany store, who was SO nearly killed by |
the mob on Wednesday, Is recovering
The militia commander, Colonel Young
has placed q guard of soldiers at the house
where E!ster was taken
The authorities at Springfield are con-
sidering the adv.sabiltty OF sending an
other gatling gun here to be placed In
side the stockade. Colonel Young. how
necessary
The Negro Workmen
ST. LOUIS, Oct. 15.-The tifty-seven
negro men, with their f.fty-one women
and children, who were brought to St.
Louis last night after being driven out of
Virden, are being cared for by the city
temporarily. The negroes desire to be
taken back to Alabama, but they have no
transportation. Mayor Zeigenheim says
that he will demand that the Chicago,
Peoria and St. Louis Railroad, which
landed them here hungry last night, take
them out Of town again.
Mr.. Mills received a telegram late this
afternoon from the Chlcago-Virden Coal
company at Virden, H.. telling him to
keep the tifty-seven negro miners here
the coal company TO pay expenses. The
telegram said that the negroes would be
kept in st. Louis until protection for them
at Virden could be had, and that they would
then be taken there and put 10 work in the
mines at that place
ThieIs men and the police Immediately
began to round up the blacks who had
scattered around the city and took them
10 the Four Courts, where they will be
kept until other quarters can be secured.
Affairs at Pana
PANA, H., Oct 15.-Quet prevails here
today, the excitement over the reported
coming of the V!rden negroes having been
disappeared to great extent Major But
Ter Is In full charge of the city and has a
guard watching every entrance.
Many Of the Pana miners who were ot
Virden during the riot have returned.