The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-03-09
WERE SHOT DOWN
WITHOUT MERCY
Story Of the Killing Of the Co..
Ored Miners at AtkinsYiIIs.
CRIME WITHOUT PRECEDENT
AN OFFICER OF THE LAW FIT
TED FOB THE GALLOWs.
INDIANAPOLIS. Ind, March S.-The

TNDIANAPOLIs. Ind. March S.-The
official report of Chris Evans, who
was sent 10 the West Virginia coal
fields 20 investigate the killing OF coll
ored miners at AtkinsviIle. has been
received at the headquarters Of the
United Mine Workers.
The report says that General ST.
Clair who IS the attorney for the coal
companies, created an agitation to
have the men arrested and taken 20
Charleston and that Immediately aft
erWard arrangements were made with
the United States marshal by the Mine
Workers Omcials 20 give bonds for all
who were arrested, but that later on
account of the agitation created by
Deputy Marshal Cunningham. the
agreement entered into with the mar
shall was broken and Cunningham was
sent to arrest the men.
Telegram Held Back.
According 10 the report there was
great feeling against Cunningham and
the men decided not TO allow him TO
arrest them, and he was driven away.
Ar. Evans SAYS that be sent "a tele-
b
but that the coal companies. who own
an OF the telegraph and telephone lines
connecting with the town. refused 90
deliver 1t and before he could get any
message 90 the men Cunningham and
his deputies who. he said. were the
worst characters he could collect. went
20 the town a second time and killed
the miners in the nighttime I'm their
beds.
Mr.. Evans says that he went TO the
scene of the trouble the next morning
after forty eight men had been arrest
ed for "a conspiracy 10 kin Cunning
ham. and found there, in a house Oc-
Cupied by a cOlOred man, the dead
bodies OF William DOdsOn. William
Clark and Richard Clayton. an coll
fOred.
Butchered by Officers.
The report continues; con inquiry
we found that the wife of the colored
man, with four children. together with
eight cOlOred men. were in the house
and that about daybreaK all that We're
inside were awakened by shots being
fired into the house from the outside.
This shooting took place without any
thing being said 10 those on the i'm
side. and the three cOlOred men j have
floor. Two were In their night clothes
and the other one was partly dressed
with one shoe on, partly laced and the
other foot bare. We visited another
house where Joseph Hiser lay I'm bed
mortally wounded. having been shot
through the window CAS- he was STOPPING
10 put ON bis trousers after getting ou-
or bed Hlser lived with his sister and
she made the statement at the inquest
that she pleaded with those shooting
not TO Kill her children. and i'm reply
Cunningham said. Women and chill
dren must take care of themselves In
no instance could we find where these
people had been asked To surrender
until after the deputies had commenced
60 shoot at the occupants of the houses
named.
Pleaded For Mercy.
1--WE next went 10 the house OF Luz
clan lawson. who was considered NOR
tally wounded I am led 20 under
stand that after the shooting referred
90 this man. with others. returned the
fire of the posse and this is the only
instance where any attempt was made
10 return IRE on the part of the miners.
During the shooting i'm many instances
the men and women pleaded with the
men outside 90 have mercy on them.
but their cries were met with derisi0u
and curses. Our Investigation proves
conclusively that no effort had been
made 90 shoot or resist except I'm the
one case menuOuer, but that AN would
have been too glad 90 have surrendered
IF they had been allowed the oppOr-
Lunity 10 do So"
Mr. Evans says that the cOr0uer's
jury returned "a verdict of felonious
killing against Cunningham for the
killing of William Robson.