The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1903-03-12
KILLED IN THEIR BEDS
Giaers Union Investigates Shooting
CT Men in West Virginia.
HID NO cAANcE TO SURRENDER

It is said Deputy Marshal Cunning
hams Posse Fired Into Miners
Homes at Night, Killing Them With
out a Moments Warning.
indianapolis. March 9.-The official
report OF Chris Evans. who was sent
10 the West Virginia coal fields to
Investigate the killing OF the colored
miners at Atkinsville, has been re
ceived at the headquarter OF the United
Mine Workers.
The report says that General st.
Clair. the attorney Tor 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
r 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
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 second time and killed the
miners in their beds at night
Mr.. Evans says that he went to the
scene of the trouble the next morn
ing. and that As men had been arrest
81 for conspiracy TO kill Cunning
eam. He found in a house occupied
by colored man. called "Stonewall'
! Jackson. the dead bodies of William
Dodson. William Clark and Richard
/ Clayton. all negroes.
THE report continues: 1--WE found
that the wife of jackson and her four
children with eight negroes. were in
the house and that about daybreak
all were awakened by shots fired into
the house from the outside. This shoot
ing took place without warning. and
the three colorcd men were found dead
on the floor. Two were 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 made the statement at
the inquest that she pleaded with those
shooting not 10 kill her children. and
in reply said: Women and children
must take care of themselves In no
instance could we find where these
people 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-
Glen lawson. who was considered NOR
tally wounded | understand that af-
ter the shooting referred to, 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 mef and
women pleaded with the men outside
were met with derision and curses.
Our investigation proves conclusiveIy
that no effort was made to shoot or
resist. except in the one case men
toned. but that all would have been
glad to surrender if they had been al
lowed the opportunity"
MIR. Evans says that the coroner's
Jury has returned a verdict of felonious
killing against Cunningham for the
killing of William Dodson.
Many Dead In Terrible Snow Storns.
London, March 9--The st. Peters
burg correspondent of the Daily Mail
telegraphs that terrible snow storms
have been raging during the past
week in the government of Samara and
have caused hundreds of deaths.
Horses drawing sledges have returned
to villages. with the passengers frozen
to death. The village bells are rung
nightly to enable travellers to find their
way TO shelter. Many persons have
been frozen TO death within the viii
Il