The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1898-02-05
THE SHOOTING OF
STRIKING MINERS.
Continuation of the Trial Of Sheriff
Martin and Deputies.
More Witnesses for the Commonwealth Give
Their Testimony.

Miss Grace Coy1e, a School Marin,
Called by the Prosecution,
Proves Also q Strong Witness
for Defense, in That Her Evil
dencc Showed That the Strikers
Had Terrorized the Residents of
Lattimer Previous to the Shoot
ing.
WILKESBARRE (Pa,). Feb. 4.--Tha
trial of Sheriff Martin and his deputies.
Jointly charged with the murder OF the
striking miners at Lattimer on Septem-
Der 10th, was continued to-day. The
court room was crowded, notwithstand-
ing Judge Woodwards order that no
one should be allowed TO enter after the
seats had been filled.
The deputies seem TO realize the po-
sition in which they are placed, and
are paying the closest attention to the
testimony of the Commemorative wit
nesses. The witnesses are brought into
court only as they are required to tes-
tify. Many of them bring reminders
of the Lattimer shooting in the shape
of CHASTITY wounds in legs. arms, etc.
One man with eight buckshot wounds
in the back. who is just recovering
sufficient strength TO enable him to
move, was present.
Charles Guscott the Lattimer school
tencher, who told such a thrilling story
yesterday afternoon, was recalled this
morning. He was chiefly occupied in
pointing out those OF the deputies he
remembered having seen at Lattimer
just previous to the shooting. After
this Guscott pointed out by maps and
photographs the scene of the shooting,
just where the deputies stood, where
the strikers halted, where the Sheriff
met the strikers and where the dead
and wounded had fallen
1t was shown by this witness in cross
examination that the strikers were at
Lattiner on Tuesday previous to the
shooting, and that there was some riot
ing.
Dr. w. a. Kellar, who viewed the re-
mains of the strikers and attended
many of the wounded, testified that q
number of strikers were shot in the
back, thus bearing out the allegation
that the deputies fired when the men
We're running away.
DR.. kellar mentioned in order each Of
the thirty nine patients taken to Ha-
zleton Hospital, and described their
wounds sarrltely. 1t was evident that
they had been shot in all positions some
while fronting the deputies, some while
running away and some while lying on
the ground in the hope of escaping in
jury. Forty-six wounds on thirty-nine
men were inflicted by 44-caliber Win
chester bullets, and only a small ma
jority of them We're caused by the buck
shot. OF the thirty-nine patients sew
en- died in the hospital, two are still
there and recovering slowly, Gnd thirty
have been discharged, all Of them cured
except one who is now in a Philadel-
phia hospital.
Rev. L. Staffiet, pastor of the Eman-
uel Reformed Church OF Hazleton, tes-
titled that the strikers We're orderly and
apparently unarmed.
Miss Grace Coyle, Principal Scott's
assistant at the Lattimer School, proved
to be the most important witness of the
day. She said she was standing on the
porch of the school house and saw the
deputies line up along the roadside.
Then the strikers approached quietly
and ORDERLY. The Sheriff stopped
them and some of them gathered
around him, but she did not see any of
them attack him. Some of them cried.
Go ahead" and a few strikers pushed
past the Sheriff. At TIT moment a
shot was fired. then cana another. and
in an instant the volley.
Il saw men fall" said Miss Coyle.
Some of them ran toward the school,
house and when they had got half way
they fell The shooting continued for
about two minutes, and after the first
volley it was scattered"
Miss Coyle made a good witness for
the Commonwealth, bJt~In The cross
examinatio she also made good wit
ness for the defense.
The defense will try to prove that the
people of Lattimer were very much
afraid of the strikers, and became much
alarmed when they heard they were
coming.
Continuing, Miss Coyle said: Shortly
before 4 O'Clock Miss Cora Heinbacn
came to the school a~f said: The
strikers are coming and / want my
little sister to go home with me-.
excused the little girl. and then thought
it best to dismiss the class, so they
could get home before the strikers
came
This will be strong evidence for the
defense, as it will show that on the
Tuesday previous TO the shooting
number of strikers were rioting in Lat
inner. and terrorized the residents.
While these were not the same men
who marched on the fatal Friday, the
testimony will be valuable to prove
that in view of the 1cting Of Friday.
the Sheriff considered the lives and
property Of the Lattiner people in dam
ger.
The Commonwealth called Stephen I.
Adams, travelling man, by whom IT
was 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 strikers. The
witness said he could not identify any
of the deputies on the car.
AS he was proceeding to tell his story
the defense objected. The objection
was sustained, and court adjourned un-
til tomorrow.
Execution Postponed.
HARRIsoNvILLE (Ndo.). Feb. A.
The hanging of E. B. Soperu, the triple
murderer, set for to-day, has been post
poned, pending an appeal Of his SEN
tence TO the Supreme COnrt.
Condit;on Of tn Treasurv.