The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1905-03-29
SpIEMAN. ~ Va.
March %. l905.


Editor Point Pleasant Register:
My Dear Sir From time tc
time since the little Russell boy
was killed. July End. last. near
West Columbia. this county. the
papers of Pomeroy. MiddlepoIi
and the Point Pleasant Gazette,
have published biased accounts OF
the troubles between my company,
/ The Consumers Coal 8 Mining
Go and its ex-employees. in which
I have gotten a fair share of the
mud thrown by them. am ac-
oused. Ist. of importing Italians to
take their work End, of furnish.
ing them with FIRE arms and tell,
ing them to shoot or kill any one
molesting them. 3rd, of selling or
supplying them with intoxioants.
Replying to these charges. We
brought these Italians from Graft
on and Clarksburg to work in our
mines as We were short of men, and
needed them to work our mines
probably. Most of the native
miners refused to work for us nn-
less We acceeded to certain unreas.
enable demands made by them,
which we refused. and in April paid
them off and took steps to get other
men.
We have always had the impress.
sion that this was our work and We
had the right to employ who we
pleased. and believe that most of
the land owners and farmers in Ma
son county have the same ideas re.
specting their property and rights.
In addition to the Itelians, We
have brought good many native
born Americans from Ohio and
Kentucky Bringing these men to
our mines was the signal for all
kinds of petty lawlessness to begin.
Our employees were CURSED, stoned
and insulted nearly every time
they passed along the public road
to and from work, and dire threats
made if they did not quit and leave
When the Italians moved here
several of them had old shot guns
which they used for hunting. L
gave instructions to our Superin-
tendent and foremeu to warn the
Italians and Americans both not
to carry weapons, and if possible
to avoid any trouble whatever, and
frequently personally talked to the
men and advised them not to carry
weapons or to go to places where
they were liable to be assaulted.
About this time 1 discovered
that the position of Constable was
vacant in this district, and applied
to the County Court to appoint
Art Jeffries who / had employed
as night watohman around the pro.
perty. The County Court made
the appointment. and the evidence
in Antonio Wales case shows
what kind of an officer of the law
he made. 1 must confess my con.
idence in this man was misplaced,
and I attach no blame to the
County Court as they were dubious
about making the appointment,
and 1 insisted. This man is as
much if not more to blame for the
death of Philip. Russell, as Antonio
Viale. If he had done his duty
Philip Russell, would be living
to-day.
The Italians and Americans
wanted some beer on Saturdays
and those that spoke to me about
it, were told that they would have
to arrange for it or buy it them
selves. They were not long in
perfecting their arrangement with
the brewery, and the wagon came
nearly every Saturday, delivered the
beer and collected for it from the
men, who paid for it with their own
money. I or my Company, or any
of its employees did not furnish
FIRE arms or tell the men to shoot
or kill anyone molesting them
(except Art Jeffries) and we have
never sold or given them any in.
toxicants. On the contrary, We
have been very vigilant and per-
sistent in advising against these
things.
Ny intention has been not to
notice these biaeed and one sided
accounts, or attacks and to treat
them with the contempt they de.
served, but noticing the lying and
bloodthirsty venom displayed by