The Minneapolis journal., 1901-07-31
RUN OUT OF TOWN
Charge Against Two Leaders of
NorthpOrt, Wash, Strike.
THE STORY TOLD BY JACKSON
NOn-UniOnists Assert They Were
Beaten and Robbed and Warned
to Stay Away.
Special to The Journal.

Special to The Journal
Northport, Wash, July S1.-Two Of the
leaders in the smeltermen's union are
under arrest 1t is asserted that they ran
three workmen four miles down the track
under threats of dire vengeance if they
returned. 1t is alleged also that the lead
ers beat their victims severely with beer
bottles and ended a nasty nights work
with robbing one man of $35. Charges
against them are assault with deadly
weapon and highway robbery.
MortRead, vice president Of the union,
and Louis Cook, a prominent member,
are the men under arrest. In the absence
of Prosecuting Attorney Bailey of Col
willie, the state was represented by D. H.
Carr, attorney for the Northport Smelt-
ing and Refining company. The prisoners
had been served with warrants and were
at liberty on their own recognizance. The
local officials did not think it necessary
to demand bail
The principal witness was Thomas
Jackson, one of three non-union men. who
said they were run out OF town. Jack
son is laboring man of about 40 years
and he showed little outward signs Of
intelligence. Yet he told his story in
court without break, and under severe
cross examination he showed a keenness
and subtle spirit that kept the lawyers
all guessing.
Jackson testified that with three COM
panions, he made trip through the bad
lands along the river. They spent some
time drinking beer in a resort, and Jack
son cashed a check for $43.15 in the place.
On leaving it with companions he found
himself beset by band of about twenty
men. One of them, Cook, and another,
whom he says he afterwards recognized
as Read, attacked him yiciously with beer
bottles and dazed him completely for
moment form the effects of blows. Then
they went through his clothes, according
to Jackson's story, and took $35 in paper
money, which he had in his pockets.
Read, he declared, took $15 from his
right trouser pocket and Cook robbed him
of $40 from the left pocket Then they
ran him and two Of his companions four
miles down the track after a consulta-
tion as to whether they should drown the
trio or merely drive them from town
On reaching a point down the river, the
attacking party, Jackson went on to say,
forced the captives to their knees and re-
quired them to swear that they would
never come back to Northport Then.
with many oaths and threats, according to
Jackson, the captives were turned loose.
Jackson, however, worked his way back
to Northport through the mountains and
Is again at work in the smelter. He is
complaining witness in the action now
under way. A severe cross examination
did not feaze him.
A. Botterhoff, who was with Jackson on
the eventful night, told substantially the
same story.
All is quiet in Northport to-day. The
strikers are keeping up a strong picket
and they approach every man who comes
to town in search Of work. A large pro-
portion of the arrivals are prevailed upon
not to. accept employment at the smelter
The. strikers are running kitchen
where their men are boarded
The smelter Is running one furnace with
150 men. In addition fifty men are work.
ing under contract at various points
around the works.