Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1903-01-09
SHERlFF'S STORY.
Pres. Mitchell Cross Examines
a Witness.
Interesting Testimony Brought Oub
Before the Coal Strike Commis-
sion 4 Deputy SheriHs Were
Paid for by the Coal
Companies.

Philadelphia, Jan. 7.-Twenty-two
men, all but one of whom were en-
ployed in and about the coal mines,
appeared before the anthracite coal
strike commission at it's first session
in this city yesterday and recited the
oft-told tales of persecution because
they chose to work rather than join
the strikers. The single exception
was Charles H. Schadt, of Scranton,
the sheriff of Lackawanna county,
and his presence on the stand under
the cross-eXamination of President
Mitchell, of the Miners union, proved
to be the principal feature of the
proceedings.
The sheriff, in direct examination
said, among other things, that he is
sued u proclamation shortly after the
strike was inaugurated, calling upon
all persons in the county to keep the
peace; that it was difficult to get men
to act as deputy sheriffs; that in
most cases, where there was trouble,
it was usually over when he and his
men arrived: that he attempted to
keep the peace in all localities and
that the disturbances became so nu-
merous and serious that he had to
call on the governor for troops. He
appealed to Mr.. Mitchell. whom he
knew quite WELL to assist in keeping
the peace and the miners president
promised to do so and in several in
stances was of material help to the
sheriff.
Sheriff Schadt was then turned over
to the miners for cross-eNamination.
To the surprise of most persons Mr..
Mitchell took up the examination. IL
is not known whether he decided to
do it because his principal attorney,
C. S. Darrow, of Chicago, had not az
| rived, or whether it was because Mr..
Mitchell was well acquainted with the
| sheriff.
The sheriff said he had employed 40
or so deputy sheriffs and admitted
that they were paid by the coal COM
| panies. He could not say that a gen.
eral state of lawlessness existed in
the county, but said there was q
reign of terror in existence in some
localities. He said that as a rule
crowds dispersed when he ordered
them to do so, and that striking mi
ners whom he knew obeyed his orders
the same as other persons. He also
admitted that the second contingent
of troops sent into his county was
ordered there without his request.
This appeared to satisfy President
Mitchell and then Mr.. 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 wit
ness explained that it was the law in
Pennsylvania that the company ask
ing for protection was compelled to
pay for it. The explanation rather
surprised Chairman Gray, who said:
81 am not familiar with such an
un-American law. When the county
or the state relinquishes the duty OF
maintaining and protecting life and
property and keeping the peace, then
they are open to criticism"
Lyman Croop, of Plymouth, go
year-old mine worker, told of having
been beaten on several occasions
while on his way to work and of hav-
ing complained to Justice of the
Peace Philip Walters, of Plymouth,
for protection, but without avail. The
Squire, he said, would do nothing for
him