The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-01-07
Sheriff of Lackawanna County Crosse
Examined and an Important Point
Developed by the Inqufsitor.
OPERATORS PAID DEPUTIES
In ACCORDANCE WITH THE STAT
UTEs OF THE KEYSTONE STATE.
Chairman Gray, Of the strike Com.
mission, Much Surprised To Learn
of Such an Unamerican Law.

PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 6.-Twenty-two
men, all but one of whom were employed
in and about the coal mines, appeared be-
fore the anthracite coal strike commission
at its first sessions in this city to-day ana
recited the oft-told tales of persecution they
and others underwent during the late coal
strike because they chose TO work rather
than join the strikers. The single exception
was Charles III. Schade. Of Scranton, the
sheriff of Lackawanna county. and his pres
ence on the stand under the cross-examina-
ton of President John Mitchell, of the
Miners Union. proved to be the principal
feature of the days proceedings.
When the commission adjourned at Scran-
ton the Saturday before Christmas for the
holidays, the attorneys for the nonunion
men, who are a party before the commis-
sion 0hey having asked for an increase In
wages and protection against discrimina-
ton by the union), were engaged in pre-
senting witnesses to prove that a reign OF
terror existed in the coal regions during the
period Of the strike. Seventy-four witnesses
had been called TO prove this. and when the
commission began its sessions in the United
States Circuit Court room In the federal
building here at IL o'clock to-day, Attor-
neys Joseph O'Brien, of Scranton, and John
L. Lenahan of Wilkesbarre. representing
the nonunion men, resumed the calling Of
their witnesses. Sheriff Schade was the
second witness called.
The sheriff, in directing examination,
said, among other things. that he issued a
proclamation shortly after the strike was
inaugurated calling upon all persons in the
county to keep the peace; that ii was diff
| ficult to get men to act as deputy sheriffs:
| that in most cases where there was trouble
| it was usually over when he or his men
| arrived; that he attempted to keep the
peace in all localities, and that the dis
| turbances became so numerous and serious
| that he had to call on the Governor for
| troops. He had appealed to Mr.. Mitchell,
| whom he knew well, to assist in keeping
the peace. and the miners president prom
ised to do so, and in several instances was
of material help to the sheriff.
Sheriff Schadt was then turned over to
the miners for cross-examination. To the
| surprise of most persons Mr.. Mitchell took
| up the examination. 1t is not known
| whether he decided to do Ii because his
principal attorney. c: S. Darrow. of Chica-
| whether it was because Mr.. Mitchell was
personally well acquainted with the sheriff.
| 1t was the first time that Mr.. Mitchell had
| attempted cross-examination to any ex-
| tent. In answer to questions of the mine
workers leader, the Lackawanna sheriff
| said he had employed about forty or fifty
| deputy sheriffs and admitted that they
| were paid by the coal companies. Led by
| Mr.. Mitchell, he said he could not say that
| a general state of lawlessness existed in
| the county, but in answer to another que
| ry said there was reign of terror in exist
| ence in some localities. Among other things
| he said that a rule crowds dispersed
| when he ordered them to do SO, and that
| striking mine workers whom he knew
| obeyed his orders the same as other per-
| sons. He also admitted that the second
| contingent of troops sent into his county
| was ordered there without his request.
This appeared to satisfy President Mitch
| ell, and General Wilson took the witness
| in hand and asked him why the county did
| not pay the deputy sheriffs. The sheriff
| replied that the companies had made the
| request for protection, and counsel for the
| witness explained that IL was the law IN
| Pennsylvania that the company asking for
| protection was compelled to pay for it,
| This explanation rather surprised Chair
| man Gray, who, as he Strengthened himself
up in his chair, said: II am not familiar
| with such an un-American law. When the
| county the state relinquishes the duty
of maintaining and protecting life and
property and keeping the peace, then they
| are open to criticism"