The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-03-06
NO CHARGES WERE
MADE AGAINST THEM
Brutal Deputies Who Were
Handy With Guns"
People Were Terrorized By the Mill
tary and Families of Imprisoned
Men Suffered From Want of Food
Women Claimed That Negro Sol
diers Tried to Enter Their Houses
General Merriam, Governor
Steunenberg and Others Testify.

Washington, March 5.-Moses s. ST.
mons continued his testimony before
the house committee on military affairs
on the Occur d'Alene investigation to-
day. He testified to the circumstances
Of his removal from office shortly af-
ter the mining demonstration, and his
arrest and Imprisonment in the county
Jail for five days.
A sharp controversy occurred be-
tween Chairman Hull and Representa-
tive Lentz. who conducted the examina
ton, as TO whether the witness should
state his opinion on the necessity for
martial law. On a vote the commit
tee sustained Mr.. Hull and excluded
this line of inquiry. The witness said
he did not have a fair trial on his re-
mOval from office.
William Powers testified that he was
nightwatchman and constable at Null
Ian, Ida, at the time of the demon
stration at Wardner. He disclaimed
any knowledge of the blowing up of
the mining property. He saw two
wagonloads of men returning from
Wardner late in the day after the ex-
plosion.
The town was entirely quiet, and
men went about their work as usual.
]
witness was arrested by soldiers, but
later released. He was summoned TO
/ appear before the United States indus
trial commission, when he was again
arrested by a deputy. He demanded
to know what charge was against him,
whereupon, he said. the deputy drew a
, gun and an exciting ARRAY occurred,
in which the deputy lost his gun.
Thrown Into "Bull Pen"
A soldier interfered and Powers was
arrested and put in the bull pen" He
/ sent word to the industrial commission
+ that he was there, and they notified
! him that the commission would come
/ 10 the pen" and take the testimony Of
! all prisoners But the witness said this
! testimony was never taken. He said
/ he never learned the nature of the
/ charge against him.
Powers said the families of impris-
Oned men suffered until a cOmmiSSary
store was established at Mullan, and
about S11, 900 Of charitable contribu-
/ tons from labor organizations and the
! antitrust association was distributed
+ The military terrOrized the people The
women complained that negro soldiers
attempted TO enter their houses. One
/ woman, whose husband was in the
bull pen" had a note signed a Col
/ ored Soldier" put under her door. He
/ knew of no complaints to the COM
manding officers, and there was no in
vestigation. He had seen soldiers en-
ter houses to make arrests and search
Blowing Up OF Mines.
! On cross-examination, efforts were
made to get the names of the men who
returned after the blowing up Of the
mining property Mr.. Lentz protested
to this as in the line of intimidation.
as the information would be used q
make military arrests.
The witness did not give the names
but said he had furnished them TO tbs
sheriff He said the terrOrization O
the soldiers gradually diminished
There were no actual OUtrages, but thu
witness had seen negro soldiers spying
around houses at night. He was treated
kindly in the bull pen" and saw NJ
Outrages. He and the sheriff intended
to arrest the ringleaderS Of the Grove
which blew up the mining property
but his own arrest prevented action OF
his part.
Representative Lentz said he hac
about concluded the direct presenta
ton Of the case. and after hearing on
witness tomorrow, would yield TO Gen
eral Merriam. Governor Steunenbers
anu Ol0EIS utli1 iifE inc NlAolA A1CN
eraI witnesses. including former Mas
ter Workman Sovereign of the Knight
of Labor, he said, would be reserved
for rebuttal.
Mr.. Lentz asked that the cOmmitte
again call on the war department 70
all kilograms connected with the sub
ject. and particularly the original in
structions to General Merriam. Thi
was agreed to. Mr.. Lentz also aske'
that President Mckinley be asked I
submit affidaVits alleged to have bee
filed by citizens of Idaho. showing tina
there was no need of martial law, an
that abuses were recurring under tn
military system.
This request went over, Chairman
Hull expressing doubt as TO the righ
to call on the president for papers.
The committee admitted the plea o
Attorney General Hayes of Idaho 1
the habeas corpus proceedings, MI
Lentz's purpose being to show by
that the state conceded that the wri
of habeas corpus was suspended