The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1903-03-28
Coal Miner in Jail Makes an Affida-
Wit, Giving Alleged Plans of An
archy and Murder Away.
Says Coal Operators Who Were Active in Breaking
Up Strike Are to be Killed One by One by
Union Miners, Who Have Taken Oath
Like That of an Anarchist.

Fayetteville, W. Va, March 2s-Geo.
Coon. member OF the AtIinsonyiIle 10
cal miners union. Who is now in jail
awaiting trial FOR burglary, has made
an affidavit wherein he discloses most
Jiabolical plot on the part OF the union
h Kill and murder prominent Loop Creek
and Piney operators VINO have been most
active in breaking up the strike.
The sworn statement of Coon Is cor
roborated from other sources. Other
startling disclosures are to be made
within few days.
Following is Coon's affidavit:
State Of West Virginia
County Of Fayette, to-wit:
George Coon, being first duly sworn.
upon his oath says that he is a mem
Der Of the organization known as the
United Mine Workers Of America; that
he is n resident of the town OF Atkins
Vile, Raleigh county. West Virginia;
that he Is a married man and has two
children; that he belongs to Local No.
1866 at said AtIlinsville; that W. y.
Wood is the president of said local, John
Lilly Is vice president, ami - Miller
Is secretary; that said local in the
month of December. 1902, had about
60 to so members; that at one OF its
meetings held on the 22nd day of De-
cember, 1902, 1t was decided among the
members at said meeting that the strike
of the miners for recognition must be
won and that in order to DO 50 it was
necessary to get rid OF some oi the lead
ing operators who were the most active
in fighting the strike; that ii was also
decided that Justus Collins. sam Dixon,
James Stcrrett, NJ. 7. Davis. operators.
and D. W. Cunningham, United States
deputy marshal, SHOULD BE KILLED.
unless they G'ithdrew their opposition
to the strike; that it was decided to
give them until the lst Of April and if
they then continued in the fighting Of the
strike that what the lodge called the
dead line" should be made not later
than the 18th day OF April. before which
last named date the said parties We're
to be killed; that the method decided
upon for :s:a,.....:ig away with said parties
was a follow:
That tie ...csubers should decide by
lot as per anarchists plan uf desis-
Mating the parties to do the particular
act; that a member when selected was
to make way with a particular person
and that enough should be nominated
for that purpose TO get rid Of the num-
Der Of persons who had been decided
we're necessary 10 be removed in or,ier to
make the strike successful, and when
said members were so designated they
were then under obligations to curry ou'
and perform the duty assigned 70 them;
that they were to buy a lot Of the i'm.
proved. long ranged, globc.sightcd guns
that shoot trr steel Jacket bullets So
that the pir,ie, could be Sillcd ut 4
distance from: half 10 mile away and
that By secreting themselves in the
proper place these men could be kiIle.
and ii would 5, next to impossible 10
catch the party who did it; that W. y.
Wood. presiG,..t. made this motion and
informed the lo,a! that it was generally
understood throughout the other locals
OF the district tLrt this was the thing
TO do and would have to be done unless
terms were agreed upon: that it was
also discussed anil advised by quite a
number OF members who were present.
some Of whom took the ground that the
sooner done the better. while Others took
the ground that il would be better 70
give them a charcc TO come 10 terms,
but the time tscd was not later thaa
April 18th, 1905: that this movement
was urged in said meeting BY the presi-
dent, W. 4. Wood, the vice president.
Lilly, ami Others members. K. Z. Pat.
terson Ccolored) '. P. Nelson and 9th
ers.
1t was also there stated that il the
said Collins and Dixon were ont Of the
way that they would have very little
trouble with Loop Creek district.
The names OF those present whom
affant remembers are as follows; W.
A. Wood, John Lily, - Miller. Pearl
Stoycr, Penn Stoyer, win Reed, Frank
Huh. r. f. Patterson, Joe Billings, e.
bert Evans, James Deal, Jack Cox, -
Pike, Henry Jamison, Kelly Monk and