Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-12-02
AMONG THE MINERS.
Trial of F<ilc Atkins at PocnhOntax-
Other Interesting Case.

Other Interesting Case.
POCAHONTAS VA. December l.
(Special.l-The case Of the Common
wealth against Kilc Atkins, who was
jointly indicted with Yayett Irvine. Lee
Tribitt. and Jim Maloy. for felonious
assault upon a Hungarian by the name
Of Shoepola, and who elected to be tried
separately, was commenced in the Coun-
ty Court Of Tazewell county last Mon
day and completed Friday night The
Jury brought in verdict for simple as
sault and fixed his punishment at five
days in Jail and $50 fine. Atkins was
sworn in as a guard for the Pocahontas
Galleries Company during the recent
strike, and Shoepola was a man brought
in on transportation from Pottsville, Pa,
the night before the assault was made
upon him. Shoepolla claimed that it had
been represented to him by the COM
pany's agent that there was no strike
at Pocahontas, and that was the reason
he came here, as he was a union man
and out on strike in that field. When
he came here and found out there was
strike he refused to work. Because of
this, the guards of the company assault
ed him, and locked him up. after beating
him in the head with a pistol. He broke
but Atkins and others ran him for nearly
mile, shooting at him and finally over
taking him and beating him again. After
this they took him to the town Jail and
locked him up. but no charge being pre-
ferred against him, he was soon released.
Atkins claimed that Shoepolla hit him III
the breast with his fist and that he hit
him with the pistol and locked him up,
intending later to take him to the town
Jail for the assault he had made upon
him. He claimed that he was not one of
the party who pursued Shoepolla after
he broke out of the shanty. The cases
against the other. guards were continued
until the next term OF court. They re-
newed their bonds in the penalty of $1,000
each
Friday the trial of the Commonwealth
against Sue Minis alias Sue Holly, was
begun in the County Court. The defend
ant was charged with killing a negro
man by the name of Trigg some two or
three months ago in the town OF Poca-
hontas. and while the evidence is purely
circumstantial. there having been no one
in the room but the two. it is said the
Commonwealth will make a strong case
against the woman.
Mile Hamlet. one of the men convicted
by Judge H c. Mcdowell a the Abing-
don term of court. for violating his in
junction order cnjoining certain defend
ants therein named tTOlu III any way III
terfering with the work of the Poca-
hontas Galleries Company. and who was
given forty-five days in Jail at Tazewell.
died there Tuesday night of consumption.
His remains were brought to this place
Wednesday and buried. Hamlet's time
would have been out next Monday. tia
list instant.
The cases of the Commonwealth against
J. r. Davis and others charged with fir
ing the mines at Poca hontas. have also
been continued until the 9Th Of next
month. All the accused are now out on
bond.
T. w. Kirl1bride, a contractor. has TAX
en- a contract to build for the Pocahon-
tas Galleries Company about thirty new
houses for their employees. The work
will commence next week.