Omaha daily bee., 1903-01-08
SEPARATE BRIDAL COUPLE
Mob During Late Goal Strike Sends New
Made Wife Home Alone.
JUDGE GRAY ASTONrsHEO At STORIES
Cannot understand Alleged state OF
ARairs IN Pennsylvania when
Tales Are Told by Nom
union Miners.

PHILADELPHIA, Pa, Jan, THE non
union men continued today to present the
coal strike commission with evidence Of
lawlessness in the anthracite coal region
during the strike.
The testimony included many acts OF
violence, from murder dow to plain as
sault and petit larceny Dynamite played
a leading part in the alleged persecution OF
nonunion men and their relatives. Five
witnesses said their houses were more OF
less seriously damaged by high explosives,
while others told Of bridges and fences
damaged by incendiary fires and the at
tempted wrecking Of trains. Ono witness
said he was, stabbed. Several were boy
cotted and others beaten by crowds and
had their houses stoned.
Besides all this a young woman told the
commission that she was dismissed as a
school teacher because her brother chose to
work during the strike. A young man said
he was attacked as he was coming out OF
church after being married and forced to
seer refuge while his bride got home as
best she could, and another witness said
he was afraid to attend the funeral OF his
mother, who had died while he was work
ing behind a c%olliery stockade. other tes-
timony was also presented in the endeavor
" ohoN AhdA q Itlhu VI AtEEoI tAlbNNu hui
ing the strike and that members of the
union were largely responsible for it.
Separate Bridal Couple.
The most interesting story of the day was
told by Thomas Washaiski Of Hazleton, a
clerk for Pardee & Co., who was married
Gu the night Of September 16. He was at
work at the collisry and his neighboTs
begamtto annoy him. On the night Of the
wedding a small crowd gathered at the
Catholic church and as the bridal party en-
tered the edince he and his bride we're
called "seabs." on coming out after the
ceremony he was assaulted by the waiting
crowd, which had greatly increased. The
driver of the carriage was not permitted
to take the couple home and the witness
sought refuge in the parochial residence
and the bride was escorted home in a trolley
car by friends. While in the parochial
residence the crowd remained in the vi
cinlty, calling the bridegroom vile names
and yelling '''scab" at the rector Of the
church because he had performed the cere-
mony.
Later on he managed to get away from
the house and spent the night in the col
liery, being afraid to go to his room. The
bride spent an anxious night. as some I'm
known persons came to the house and threw
stones at the place.
All listened TO the story with close at
%tention, Judge Gray remarking at the end;
What sort Of q community is this. any
wayg"
During the proceedings James H. Torrey
of Scranton, counsel for the Delaware 4
Hudson, interrupted long enough to ex-
plain the law in Pennsylvania regarding
the payment of deputy sheriffs for special
duty, saying corporations footed the bills.
The operators would, however, gladly join
the miners in asking an amendment SO that
the companies asking protection would not
have to pay for 1t and that the burden be
placed upon the people, where It belonged.
Judge Gray said he was glad to hear that
ar attempt would be TO amend the
laws to that eject and added that, with all
due respect to the great commonwealth OF
Pennsylvania, he thought 1t was a most
deplorable state of law" when a sheriff
could not hire help, but must depend on
the rich to assist him. f'"If that be the
case" he said, "the POOR; are helpless"