Evening journal., 1903-01-27
MINERS REFUSED
THEIR 0VERTURES
Markle & Co. Tell the Strike
CommissionersIWhy Miners
4 Were Evicted
MCCARTHY CAUSES A SENSATION

operators, the first case presented be-
ing that Of G. B. Markle & Co., whose
collieries are located in and about Jed
do, in the Lehigh region. Ten wit
nesses for the company were ex-
amined, the more important being Sid
. ney Williams, general superintendent
Tor the firm; Gertrude Martin, a pro-
fessional nurse in the employ of the
company and Frank Walk, general
storekeeper at Jeddo.
Mr.. Williams testified that on Octo-
Der p, at his direction, notices were
posted asking the striking employees
OF the company to appear at the Office,
bringing their brass checks, and apply
Tor work. Probably $50 men respond
ed, but witness learned that pickets
had been stationed along the roads
leading to the office to prevent others
from doing likewise. On October % a
committee Of miners waited upon Mr..
Markle and said the men desired to
return in body as they had quit.
They were told that certain men would
not be re-employed.
Witness was asked the object Of the
brass checks and said that the miners
were numbered, the checks containing
the individual numbers. The company
also wanted to know if the men as in
dividuals were willing to accept the
commissions arbitrament The min
ers failed to accept the overtures Of
the company, and on October q
twelve notices of eviction were issued.
The thirteenth man affected was not
tenant of the company. On November
6 the evictions took place.
Cross-examined Mr.. Williams said
he was present at all the evictions.
Was any appeal made to you by
the men?" asked Mr.. Dickson.
Two of the men came to me and
desired to see their leases. 1 granted
them their request.
Was any undue force used in max
ing the evictions?"
mo, sir; the goods and furniture
were placed out on the main highway
with reasonable care"
Did you hear of any case of sick
ness that made you grant any extern
sions Of time to one or more of the
tenants?"
1.-TWO men, I was told, requested an
extension of time. but our agent ad-
vised US not TO grant it, as it was
asked for in order that an appeal
might be made to the courts"
did you see any children?"
"I did not"
"Did you see a blind woman almost
100 years of age in your capacity as
chief evicter?"
mo, sir"
Rain was falling on the furniture
and goods of the poor people?"
q can't say"
'It was raining. thought"
Eyes, sir"
'You made no inquiries as to where
OF how the old blin. woman and the
children spent the night?"
Il learned that the old woman's son
and daughter-in-law habitually abused
her, and that she sat on the ground
most of the time"
"Who told you that?" inquired Mr..
Darrow in a sneering tone.
81 can't remember"
"You have been told that since?"
elm December, think"
$50 that you didn't turn her out to
sit on the ground in October because
you thought it was her habit?"
mo, sir"
sIs there one of the IS men mentions
ed who has ever been guilty of Grim
inal act. so far as you know?" queried
Mr. Darrow.
sfNro % caid fhe witness
eWhy we're these men turned out?'
Because Mr.. Markle said they hat
committed acts for which he did moi
care to reemploy them"
Miss Martin was a good witness fol
the company. She told Of the efforts
of Mr.. and Mrs. Markle to properl,
care for the sick employees, and stated
that where cases Of necessity were dis
covered patients dere furnished will
medicines and food free of charge.
Frank Walk described the opera
tions of the credit or company stor
system. The prices of articles, h
said, were about the same as thos
charged by other dealers, but admitte'
that none other than employees of tn
company were given credit
Samuel Dickson, counsel for the CON
pany sprung a surprise on the oppos
ing counsel by requesting the commits
sion TO summon to the stand d. !
Mccarthy, OF Hazleton, one OF tn
miners attorneys. Mr.. Dickson state
that he desired to question Mr.. Nc
Carthy concerning the evictions mad
by the Markle company and also re
garding a statement he had made be
fore the commission at Scranton.
Mr.. Dickson then asked Mr.. McCal
thy if he went to see the sherin
the county about the evictions, where
upon Mr.. Mccarthy announced:
'I asked the sheriff to give m
twenty-four hours notice Of his IL
tention to serve the writs, as it wa
necessary for me to know in order thi
might appeal to the court to preyel
the summary elections. He said
would be only too glad to give me nj
tice. He failsd to do so, and the me
q 0Vf