The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-03-09

The investigation into the Idaho mining
troubles and the action Of the military
authorities iE that State was continued
this morning by the Committee on Mill
tary Affairs Of the House, J. r. Sovereign
returning TO the witness stand.
Colonel Dick asked. Did you ever see
any arrests made BY sOldiers2"
"Oh, yes. sir; in g number Of instances"
Are you sure that the persons arrested
were not taken into custody by deputy
marshals. and then turned over By them
to the soldiers2"
4 saw the soldiers take the men into
custody, and heard them on several occa-
sion say: Consider yourself under ar
rest
The witness said he did not know the
names Of the men arrested by the soldiers.
In those days we were not going 100
close to men who were being put uzder ar
rest
Were not the military forces senl there
70 preserve the peace"
Il don't know what they were seat there
for, but 1 know. as matter Of fact. that
they not only did not preserve the peace,
but that they acted in a contrary way"
In your examiuation-in-chief you have
said that the soldiers persecuted iruo-
cent citizens and treated them without
mercy Now in what manner we're these
citizens prosecuted and cruelty trestede"
We'll, 10 take men into custody with
their wet clothes on, stand them up i'm
the cold and refuse 20 permit them 10
change their clothes or 10 get a blanket
l certainly consider that 10 have been
cruel"
Mr.. Dick wanted 20 know from the wit
ness II il were not true that the State OF
Idaho declared martial law
Mr.. Sovereign said it was his under
standing that the War Department had de-
Clared martial law
DO you know why the men in the bull
pen were 40 one time sentenced TO nine
days on bread and wateT."
We'll, 7 think that was inflicted as a
punishment for the refusal OF some OF the
men 20 dig a ditch around the bull pen.
10 may have been though that this order
Of starvation was issued by Captain Ed
wards because Of the fact that some ot
The men threatened 10 make a break for
liberty"
IN reply 20 searching questions by Colo
mel Dick. the witness maintained that the
citizens were prevented by the military
ON peaceably assembling 10 discuss
JlSir grievances
Can you make an estimate Of the per-
centage Of American citizens who were con-
fined in the bull pen?'
Il think that uine-teuths OF those pris-
oners were American citizens. either ua-
tive born or uaturaliZed-'
Then you say that only 10 per cent Of
them were foreigners"
Mo- more than that
During a lulI In the examination Nj Hay
OF Virginia asked why a number Of Wit
Eesses who had been examined were held.
He said that this euJaiIed great and. he
thought. unnecessary expense upon the
Government. The question was discussed.
but decision was not reached upon this
point, Mr.. Suizer saying that he would
need some Of the witnesses in rebuuai-
Mr.. Sulzer brought ont from the witness
the information that aliens are prohibited
from working in the mines OF Idaho The
object OF this was 10 show that the men
alleged 20 have been maltreaJed by the
soldiers were American citizens.
On redirect examination by Mr. Lentz
the witness reiterated his previous state
ment that marshal law existed in the
Occur d'Alana district before il was de-
clared by Ia State authorities One OF
the orders ISSUED by General Merri-
and saying This is martial law" was
read. The despatch of Adjutant General
Corbin TO General Merriam. approving the
lattCr'S action in declaring martial law,
was also read These dispatches ante
dated the proclamation OF the Governor Of
Idaho.
rs it not the law Of Idaho that the
/ duty Of a coroner is TO enquire into the
/ cause Of the death Of a man found dead,
| and not to seek TO find out who blew up a
/ building or burned a house,
| Il understand that il is"
| Did you ever know OF any other inquest
/ in which witnesses were led in and led
| away by soldiers. or in which prisoners
l were denied he right Of having an aJt0T-
/ ney?"
| No sir: I did not"
! Did you ever know Of any coroner's in
/ quest which sat for one month after the
/ grand jury had returned indictments?"
! No sir"
/ A.. Did YOU ever know OF any other inquest
/ in which the coroner sent into another
/ state for an attorney 20 ask questions2"
/ In all those coroners' inquests which Il
l has been my privilege % attend. the ques
/ tions have been asked by the coroner and
| the coroner's jurors
In reply to a question by one Of the
/ members Of the committee the witness
| said that a large percentage OF the men In
| Idaho. as in other mountain districts own
! firearms. but the habit Of carrying pistols
was not more general in Idaho the witness
thought than in Washington
Mr.. Moudell wanted to know II IL was
| not a fact that there is no law in Idaho
| against the carrying OF concealed weapons.
/ The witness thought there was.
At noon the committee took a recess till