The Elk Mountain pilot., 1901-05-14
WITNESSES FOR THE DEFENSE
in THE STRONG DAMAGE SUIT

stated that in company with Edward
Heaton he visited Giddings for the
purpose of soliciting subscription for
the erection of Baptist church in
Victor.
''I'll ask you if these remarks We're
made to you by Mr.. Giddings at that
time" said Attorney Waldron. when
you stated your errand Mr.. Giddings
said to you: L am in no frame of mind
this morning, gentlemen, to discuss
business. / have just had an inter
view with n witness whose expenses
l have paid from Arizona and all
through British Columbia and the eX-
tent of his crimes appalls me. He told
me that he had killed three men, rob
bed two bands and committed many
other acts of lawlessness and dep
relation. He told about all with so
much coolness and impudence that l
felt like killing him where he stood"
Yes, sir; or words TO that effect"
"What was his manner when he
made these remarks?'
when we went in to see him we
We're told that Mr.. Gddings was busy
and we would have to wait When he
entered his manner was very agitated.
He supplemented his statement by
ton to talk business this morning. He
then made the statements that | have
told"
Fred Troutman, who at the time of
the explosion was superintendent of
construction of Stratton's Independence
mine, testified that the morning of the
explosion he was at the Independence
mine, and saw the movements of the
strikers. He first saw n man who
seemed to signal from the top of Battle
mountain. Five minutes later Il body
of strikers came down the hill. His
attention was then directed to Sam
Mcdonald, who was running toward
the shaft house of the Strong mine.
About fifty shots We're fired at Melon
aid before he reached the shaft house.
About that time powder wagon COM
ing from the direction of Goldfield
crawled up the hill. 1t was stopped
before the Strong mine and six or
eight men carried powder from the
wagon to the shaft house. He did not
see any wire strung from the mine to
the battery. which was located on the
hill above the mine.
Did you see anyone with the bat
tery?"
Yes, sir; Nicholas Tully had the bat
terry in his hand"
did you see him work it?'
81 did not
How soon after you saw Nicholas
Tully with the battery did you hear the
explosion?"
About minute later. Then n man
came up to me from the Strong mine
and asked me for piece of fuse. He
went away without it."
After the first explosion / went to
the Independence office and stayed
there until after the second explosion.
Sheriff Bell was in the office. He was
not in n position to see the explosion.
l don't think Bell could have seen the
powder wagon, either"
Last Saturday Mr.. Bell testified that
he saw the powder wagon drive past
the Independence office in charge OF
"kIu' Allen and Harry Munford.
"While Bell and i We're sitting In the
office" continued Witness 1Toutman,
Jerry Dunn and another man came in
and threatened to blow up the Inde-
pendence mine. They also said they
would get the deputies in the Indepen-
dence bunk house.
II waited for Bell TO say something
and when he didn't told the men not
TO do II. Bell then spoke up and tried
to conciliate them"
Did he appear frightenedg"
Yes, l felt him tremble. We were
all pretty much frightened"