Evening journal., 1902-08-19
STRIKER KILLED
BY A DEPUTY
Fatal Clash Between Miners
aud Guards
Cool Heads Prevented Riot aud Order
Vas Restored Without ANY
Others Being Injured

and deputies here last night, Patrick
Sharp, striker, of Lanstord, was
shot and killed almost instantly by
deputy. The shooting caused consid-
cradle excitement for a time, but or
der was soon restored without any
other persons being injured A deputy
named Harry McElmoyle was arrested,
charged with the killing of Sharp and
was taken to the county Jail at Mauch
Chunk.
The shooting occurred shortly after
o'clock. Five deputies were on their
way to shaft No. 1 of the Lehigh Coal
and Navigation Company, just outside
of the town. In the center of the town
they were met by a number of strik-
ers. who began persuading them not |
to go to the colliery. The officers did |
not stop, but kept on their way and |
tried to prevent any trouble The |
strikers. it is said, then began to
abuse the men and followed them I
nearly up to the colliery. There are |
conflicting stories as to what actually |
brought on the clash, but just before |
the deputies entered the place a shot |
was heard and Sharp dropped to the |
! ground. The bullet entered his body |
close to his heart, and he died almost |
instantly. Witnesses say that the
shooting was done by McElmoyle, and
that he stood only six or seven feet
from Sharp when he fired his revol-
yer. Only one shot was fred.
The deputies Immediately withdrew
to the coliery and a large crowd
gathered about the place. When it
was learned that Sharp was dead
there was the greatest indignation
among the strikers and other town
people, and for a time It looked as
though serious trouble would follow.
Cooler heads among the mine work.
ers. however, prevailed upon the crowd
to disperse, using the argument that
If there is any bloodshel troops would
surely be sent here from Shenandoah.
The crowd dispersed and tho town
soon calrsed down to it's normal state.
Witnesses to the shooting went to
the Office of w. r. Watkins, the JUS
tice of the peace, and made informa-
tion against Harry McElmOyle. charg-
ing him with the shooting OF Sharp.
The justice placed the warrant in the
hands of Constable Deckert who found
McElmoyle at shaft No. ]. and, ac-
companied by a guard OF other off,
GERS, took his prisoner to the county
jail at Mauch Chunk.
Another version of the encounter
says that Sharp and three friends met
the party of five deputies, who were on
their way to work, and that Sharp
walked up to one of the men, presum-
ably McElmoyle, called him an unfair
worker" and told him that he would
''be more of a man If he did not wear
a star" He then made a lunge at the
officer, whereat the latter drew his re-
volver and fired, and that Sharp fell
TO the ground dead After the shooting
the five officers made their way to the
4 Nesquehoning colliery, where they
were employed. Sharp was a leader
lamong the younger element of the
strikers, and when the news of his
death spread the entire Panther Creek
Valley was thrown into a turmoil.
When his body arrived at his home in
Lansford a mob of about 500 miners
had gathered. After the dead striker
had been carried home about half the
mob started on a march over the noun
tain to Nesquehoning to wreak ven
geance upon the deputies. Before they
reached there the FIVE officers were
spirited away and taken to Mauch
5 Chunk under a heavy guard.
p Baird Snyder, assistant superintend-
ent of the Lehigh Coal and Navigation
Company. appealed to General Goblin,
in command Of the detachment of the
= National Guard now on duty at Shen-
andoah, to send troops to Iansford to
preserve order. He said that the en-
/ tire Panther Creek Valley from Mes
quehoning to Mauch Chunk was in a
+. riotous state, and that serious trouble
was feared. General Goblin said that
he could not send troops until an ap-
peal had been made by Sheriff Gombert.
Mine Guards Discharged.
/. Wilkesbarre. Pa, Aug. 19. The
hearing in the habeas corpus proceed
ings in the case of the guards and
worSmen employed at the Warnke
washery at Duryea, who were arrest
4 ed last Thursday by the authorities
of the town. charged with melting a
- riot a~1 felonious wounding. came up
q before Judge Halsey in court yester-
K day. A large number Of witnesses
Y we're examined, and the testimony
: was conflicting. The attorneys for
the defense said it was a travesty on
justice TO arrest the officers and jail
them for doing their duty. After hear
] ing the evidence, Judge Halsey dis
charged all the defendants except
t three-Kinney. Reynolds and Mad
den. They were held in 5000 bail each
for trial at court
Frederick Warnke. the owner of the
washery where the riot occurred. says
the acquittal of the deputies will jus
tify him in starting up the washery
again, and he has served notice on
Sheriff Jacobs that II he does not pro-
J. vide ample protection for his work
! nan oud nronarfv fouaorrouv ha will