The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-14
OUTRAGES BY SOLDIERS.
Wore Evidence Against the Troops
on Duty in Idaho.

"" buty
The Occur d'Alene enquiry occupied the
attention Of the Committee on Military
Affairs OF the House of Representatives
during the greater part OF yesterday. The
committee met in executive session at 10
| O'Clock. At II o'clock the public was ad-
mitted
Representative Lentz said that in view
Of the fact that kilograms from capitalists
, to the War Department asking protection
for their property had been given out for
publication he thought It fair that the
J afidavits presented to the President
by Senator Hetfeld and others should also
be made public. He, therefore. moved that
| the President be requested to furnish the
! committee with copies OF those papers
| In which prominent officers of the mining
and labor organizations stated that mar
tial law was unnecessary in the COeur
d Alene district
The motion was discussed in executive
session and was voted down.
L. J. Simpkins. whoso examination was
not concluded on Monday returned to the
witness stand. Under direct examination
the witness had testified that the cOTOneTs S
jury OF ShOshone county was prejudiced
and unfit to carry out the obligation OF
the Oaths taken by them. II was along
this line that Colonel Dick cross-examined
the witness. asking him questions concern
ing the probity and reputation of each
member of the jury In explaining why
he considered the jury unfair the witness
said that it was composed Of persons
drawn from the scab faction.
Colonel Dick asked him what was meant
by scab faction Simpkins replied
We'll. you see. there are three factions
in Wardner-one is the scab faction, the
other the union faction, and the other the
neutral faction
What did the scab faction stand sor?'
That was made up of the Bunker Hill
people"
What did the union faction stand fOr?"
ITO maintain the union scale of wages
What did the neutral faction stand
for?"
They were business men who attended
to their own business and did not mix up
with either of the other two sides
Now. why do you think the coroner's
jury was improperly constituted?'
Because the business of that cOroner's
jury was not to enquire injo anybOdy's
death. but to find out. If possible. who
blew up the mill. therefore the jury Ought
not 10 have been composed OF Bunker Hill
men"
Were they all Bunker Hill men?'
Every man of them"
ITO which faction should the members /
OF the jury have belonged in your opin-
ion ?"
To the neutral faction"
How do you know that the business
Of the Coroner's jury was to enquire into
the destruction Of tho mill?'
The statement is based on my own oo-
servation and experience"
How about the members OF that jury?
What do you think of Mr.. Rowley?'
He is devoid Of principle"
In what Particular
In every particular"
Was he ever convicted Of a crime
Il do not know that. but he was impli-
Gated"
rs he member Of the Church."
Il believe he is"
What about r II. Knight
He was not Fl to serve on the jury be-
cause ne was a Bunker Hill spotter who
busted himself with pointing out 20 the
soldiers citizens whom they should rrest.
He belongs to the Church, he is an at
torney- at-law. and a clerk in a dry goods
store"
What about George Bitner?"
He keeps a nOn-uniou saloon. The
Bunker Hill men go there to buy the
drinks for the shift bosses"
You don't think he was disqualified be-
cause Of being a saiOOnist2' .
NO sir but his money came prin-
cipally out of the Bunker Hill men"
What about the reputation OF J. r
Camrbell?"
His reputation is poor. He is reputed
10 have killed several men"
DO you know that?"
Well he told me, and has told others"
What do you know about Perrin"
Il do not think ne is very truthful. He
is undpr ObIie3t ton to the Bunker Hill
people. They gave him leases on certain
properties and gave him advantages above
other men"
He took a lease On the Bunker Hill and
did not pay his men for the work they
had done2" asked Mr.. Lentz.
That is right" replied the witness.
Mr.. Simpkius insisted that Gay. Wright.
Grant, Wilson, and Smith, Of the jury,
were Bunker Hill men. and therefore enc
mics Of the union men who had been cor
raled in tho bull pen.
Colonel Dick carried the witness over a |
part Of his testimony in chief concerning
arrests Of citizens by soldiers.
"A scab would just point out a union
man" said the witness. and that man
would be taken into custody BY the mill
tary and thrown into the bull pen.
DO you mean TO say that soldiers would |
arrest citizens at the simple suggestion Of !
other citizens
Il have seen them do it.
How do YOU know that the citizens who
pointed out men 10 the soldiers were not I
deputy sheriffs or deputy marshals?'
We'll I know that they were not I !
have also seen soldiers arrest men and
take them off to the bull pen without a
word or suggestion from anybody-just
Of their own sweet will
The hearing will be resumed today.