The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-07-28
Sentenced BY Judge Stewart to Serve Ssy-
enteen Years Ia the PenltentIary.
The Shooting Occurred in April
Last, During the Riots, When q
Mob of One Thousand Miners
Blew UP the Bunker Hill and
Sullivan Concentrator at Ward
ner, Idaho.

WALLACE Udaho), July 2t.-Paul
Corcoran was this morning found guilty
of murder in the second degree by a
jury in the District Court for the kill
ing of James Cheyne at Wardner on
April 29th last, during the riots when
a mob of LOCO miners blew up the Bun
ker Hill and Sullivan concentration. :.
Judge Stewart this evening sentenced
Corcoran to serve seventeen years in
the penitentiary.
Corcoran's was considered a test case
and had he been acquitted it is inn
probable that any of the other 800 men
who are under arrest would have been
tried for participation in the riots and
murders at Wardner. This afternoon,
however, Judge Stewart set the trials
of Graddock and Inman on a charge of
numbering Schmidt and Cheyne for,
September 4th.
The trial of Corcoran consumed about
one month, and attracted wide atten-
ton in the United States. especially
among Union laborers. The jurymen
We're from a distant portion of the
county, and consisted of farmers and
miners. Hundreds of witnesses were
examined. and both the State and the
defense were represented by able coun
sci.
The jury retired about 10 o'clock last
night, after listening to the charge, and
at 4 o'clock this morning verdict of
murder in the second degree was agreed
upon. Within twenty minutes after the
jury retired last night eleven of them
favored the verdict finally rendered,
but one held out six hours for murder
in the first degree.
Under the Idaho laws murder in the
second degree is punishable by impris,
onment for from ten years to life.
Many prominent members of the min
erS' union here expressed great sur
prise to-day at the verdict. and stated
that they confidently expected an ac-
quittal. Although the union men con-
slider the sentence of seventeen years
severe, no move has yet been made by
Corcorans attorneys for a new trial.
and it is stated that none will be made.
The crime for which Paul Corcoran
was to-day found guilty and sentenced
to seventeen years in the penitentiary
was committed at Wardner on April
18th, last when a mob of LOCO miners
captured Northern Pacific train here
and rode to Wardner and blew up tho
Bunker Hill and Sullivan concentration
with dynamite. During the riot hum
dreds of shots were fired. and two men,
Schmidt and Cheyne, were killed. The
trouble was of long standing. and grew
out of the refusal of the Bunker Hill
and Sullivan Company to recognize the
miners union. The miners union de-.
manded that all non-union men be dis
charged by the Bunker Hill Company.
and that only union men be employed
The company declined to accede to the
demand and the result was their con-
centrator at Wardner. valued at a quar-
ter of million dollars. was blown up
with dynamite. About 300 miners are
now under arrest charged with riot
conspiracy, murder. stopping a mill
tary train and other offenses. The
trials will not occur until the next
term of court in September.
George Craddock and Joseph Inman.
indicted jointly with Corcoran for tina
murder of John Schmidt and James
Cheyne, were taken to court to-day
and had their trials set for September
4th. when the regular fall term of court
begins.
The Congressional Industrial Commits
sion spent considerable time to-day
with Manager Burbridge of the Bunker
Hill Company. securing from him the
anti-union opinion in the Occur d Alene
troubles Ex-senator Lee Mantle,
member of the commission. arrived yes
terday, and will remain during the ses-
sion IF tho commission