Evening journal., 1903-03-09
KILLED MINERS
IN THEIR BEDS
Union investigating Shooting
Affairs in West Virginia
Mining District
HAD no CHANCE TO SURRENDER

indianapolis, March 9.-The official
report Of Chris Evans, who was sent
70 the West Virginia coal fields TO
Investigate the killing of the colored
miners at Atkinsyille, has been re-
eeiyed at the headquarter of the United
Mine Workers.
The report says that General st.
Clair, the attorney for the coal COM
panies, created an agitation to have
the men arrested and taken TO Charles
ton, and that Immediately afterward ar
rangements were made with the United
States marshal by the Mine Workers
officials to give bond for all who were
arrested, but that later, on account OF
the agitation created by Deputy Mar
shall Cunningham, the agreement with
the marshal was broken, and Cunning
ham was sent to arrest the men.
According to the report, there was
great feeling against Cunningham, and
the men decided not to allow him TO
arrest them, and he was driven away.
Mr.. Evans says that he sent tele-
gram to the men to submit quietly,
but that the coal companies, who own
all the telegraph and telephone lines
into the town, refused to deliver IL,
and before he could get any message
to the men Cunningham and his depu-
ties. who, he says, were the worst
Characters he could collect went to
the town a second time and killed the
miners in their beds at night.
MT. Evans says that he went to the
scene OF the trouble the next morn
ing, and that 4S men had been arrest
ed for conspiracy to kill Cunning
nam. He found In a house occupied
BY a colored man. called rStonewall'
jackson. the dead bodies of William
Dodson. william Clark and Richard
Clayton. all negroes.
The report continues: "We found
that the wife OF Jackson and her four
children, with eight negroes, were in
the house, and that about daybreak
all we're awakened by shots fired into
the house from the outside This shoot
Ing took place without warning, and
the three colored men were found dead
on the feor. Two we're in their night
clothes, and the other one was partly
dressed. We visited another house,
where Joseph Hizer lay in bed, NOR
tally wounded, having been shot as he
was dressing. Hizer lived with his sis
ter, and she Eade the statement at
the Inquest thd e pleaded with those
not % kin her children, and
WIS" said: Women and children
AXE care OF themselves In no
ance could we find where these
fAslple had been asked to surrender
until after the deputies had commenc-
ed shooting at the occupants of the
houses.
I'VE next went to the house OF Lu.
cien Lawson. who was considered NOR
tally wounded. I understand that af-
ter the shooting referred 20, this man.
with others. returned the fire OF the
posse. and this is the only instance
where any attempt OF resistance was
made By the miners. During the shoot
In. in many instances, the men and
women pleaded with the men outside
to have mercy on them, but their cries
were met with derision and curses.
Our investigation proves conclusively
~ANN AZ tAoAN was ihtut 10 oAoOt OF
resist, except in the one case men
toned, but that all would have been
glad to surrender II they had been al
lowed the opportunity"
Mr.. Evans says that the coroner's
Jury has returned verdict of felonious
killing against Cunningham for the
killing of William Dodson.