Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-02-04
FOR MURDER.
Trial of Sheriff Martin and Deputi, S
for the Lattimer Affair.
Testimony Shows that the Dead Men Were
Shot in Side and Back.

Wilkesbarro Pa, Feb 3.-Taking Of
testimony in the trial of Sheriff
Martin and his deputies began In
the Luzcrne county court at Wlkcsbarrc.
Pa, Thursday. Attorney McGahren pre-
seutcd the ease for the commonwealth.
we Will prove to you" said he that 10
men were killed ana IS wounded When
v. have proved these facts to you We
shall say. and we shall expect his honor
ID say tLat those mon mad right to Or
ganize, a right to march and a right to
use The public highways We win then
expect you 10 10 your duty and 10 vim
dcate these men and find these defend
ants guilty Mr.. Mctiahrcn completed
his opening address at Ills O'Clock. An
drew Silver was the first witness called
aud was sim on the stand when the court
LOOK q recess
TIE defence attempted to show that the
witnesses had been terrorizing men who
uid net want 50 strike. to such an extent
tiHtt they We're forced 10 join the strike
nat the court would not allow it. The
witness denied tnat he had been engaged
iu or had known Of cases If violence with
iha strikers as Tho aegress0rs on the day
tfe strikers were shot.
Thc second witness was John Mahala.
no was president cf the 'nited Work
MS oi HarWnod. lie tod Of the meeting
when u WAS agreed Ia march to Iatti-
EH-f. nus foUHSc Is. Of peace aud tnn start
iftc uHNt Gay, 1ll The members unarmcd
Al IVES; Iazlotpa. The sheriff ordered
thrm To dispense. Nahald protested that
iHeN were breaking no Jaw. whereupun
"it "i iho deputies grabbed the Ameri-
sen Tag from him and tore il in halves
Fhr sheriff. he said. pointed his re-
EolVtr ard Threatened 10 shoot. The dep
Hittt pushed as around with the muzZIoS
~ their guns and Swore at us and one
struck John EuStiS twice with his gun
cutting bis bead and breaking his arm
IA ~" places, Then Burgess Jones. of
West HaZIrlOu. demonstrated with The
-herin. saying that he could keep tho
peace without using any weapons The
sheriff aud his deputies then hoarded III.
ears ana We marched on toward Lat
timer"
Witness was IN the rear Of the crowd
when thc shooting commenced. When
hc reached he front. the shooting had
ended, llt saw II dead men and num-
Der IF wounded lying in Tie road.
RcN. Fr. Richard Aust pastor of the
81 Stdnisiaus Polish Catholic church 1T
!ia%le'on, chairman Of the prosecution,
MAS called ii prove that many Of the
strikers were shot in the back
XIV. Carl liauscr. pastor Of the
Lutheran church at Frceland said he had
examined several of the victims ana
found 2il of them were shot in the side
~ the back.
mas tHSCptt. principal of the Iatincr
school. about 6J yards from the scene of
tho shooting and i'm full view Of an that
took place, testified that he saw the
deputies line up across tho road and then
move over 10 tn" side of the road and
form with rifles ready. The strikers were.
coming over the brow of u hill 2n1 or 30
yards away. They were quiet and Or
derry. Witness could not see that they
carried weapons As they drew near the
ShcT1f advanced TO meet them and "A
dozen or 50 formed a sort of half circle
around him. He did not hear the shcr-
IT say anything nor sec him read any
paper
\ minute after the line first stopped.
those behind pushed ahead 10 see what
WAS going on and got ahead of the sher-
ln. bnc deputy stepped out Of the linz.
ANA advanced 10 or Z PAGES whcreupon
another shouted If you DO not come
back Wc will shoot sou too. TIE fellow |
Jumped back into nh" line and almost i'm |
n"ilatriy after the witness heard d shot !
iTeln thn left line nf tn" deputies A
moment later two more shots were fired |
and then came a Voil-y.
p" strikers ran i'll all directions Be |
tween the road and the 81 hoolh0use Is |
men f@ii struck down hy shots fired ar- /
ter th" ilr>t voIley. He saw one man |
Shot and killed while running at full !
speed iHn wards from the road. The shoot I
Ing continued or ; minutes.
GGsCptt VIII continue tomorrow.