The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-07-17
Who Knows Much About the
VindicatOr Explosion.
HIS STORY WEAKENED
When Richardson Takes Up the
Cross Examination.
Hawley Promises 12 More Wit
neSSes in Rebuttal.

an assayer of Victor, Col, who wa:
powder man in the Vindicator mine al
the time of the explosion in 1908, was
called in the Haywood case yesterday
in further rebuttal of the witness, Wood
whose testimony was regarded as high
ly important as tending to indicate that
the occurrence at the Vindicator was
an accident instead of the plot out
lined by Harry Orchard.
Wood told of seeing box of dyna-
mite left on the water barrel in the
eighth level of the mine. and drew the
Inference that Mccormick and Beck
took this powder with them to the
sixth level. where in some manner it
exploded. Wood explained the finding
of the remnants of a PISTOL near Beck $
body by saying that Beck carried
pistol.
In contradiction of all this. Ramsey
declared that during the time he was
in the mine he never saw pistol in
the possession of either Beck or Nc
Cormick. All powder passed through
his hands. and every morning and ev-
ening he inspected the mine to see that
no powder was left about
WAS there a water barrel left on
the eighth level?' asked Hawley.
mo, sir, there was not"
Wood said McCoI mick and Beck had
been on the eighth level just before go
ing to the sixth, where the explosion
occurred. Ramsey contradicted this
absolutely, saying he saw the two men
plosion and heard them give instruc-
tions to the eager to stop at the sixth
level.
When Ramsey resumed the stand af-
ter the noon recess he said he found
some 40 per cent powder where Beck
and Mccormick Were killed. The only
powder regularly used in the mine was
IS per cent.
g On cross-examination Ramsey said
there was water barrel on the ninth
level but not on the eighth.
,, t. how
water barrels in mines?" asked Attor
ney Richardson.
Yes, they have water barrels for
drift work.
How did you happen to think of
this matter of water barrels in the
Vindicator?"
When Troops Were Called.
when 1 saw Woods testimony IN
the papers | called up MI Arnold, OF
the mine, and told him 1 knew that
some of Woods testimony was false,
and that 1 was ready If need be to go
to Idaho and say so.''
Ramsey said that both Mccormick
and Beck had pistols in their offices or
at home, but never carried them in
the mine.
Attorney Richardson read extensive
ly from the testimony given by the
witness al the coroner's inquest follow
ing the explosion In that testimony
Ramsey told of finding but one bundle
of powder in the Vfndicator coal bins.
He said today there were two bundles
as a matter of fact.
rs your recollection better today
than it was them" queried the attor-
ney.
81 was not altogether responsible at
that time and I don't think you would
have been either if you had been
Maybe not" commented Richard
son.
Ramsey said that McCork. who was
killed. was his stepfather. and he was
IL aff a6 he
But 1 think I have improved since
then" said Ramsey.
One of the Jurors. Samuel D. Gill
man. at No. g. wanted to know the
witness age. He said he was %. At
the time of the explosion he was IS.
Sheriff Routan of San Miguel coun-
ty, Colo. of which Telluride is the
county seat, succeeded young Ramsey
riot in the Telluride district prior to
the calling out of the troops. The
riot, he declared. was led by Vincent
St. John of the Western Federation of
Miners, and he recognized many of
the men in the mob members of the
federation.
The witness also told of the murder
of Arthur Collins. superintendent of
the Smuggler Union mine, as one of
the incidents which led up to a dec |
laration of martial law.
What other crimes led up to the |
calling out of troops2"
well. Wesley Smith and another |
man working in Smuggler Union mine |
mysteriously Disappeared
Conditions I'm District.
The Witness was interrupted by At
torney Richardson who declared the |
Western Federation of Miners could |
not be held responsible for every man |
who disappeared from the district.
THE evidence will be admitted as |
showing the conditions which led to |
martial law" ruled Judge Wood
Sheriff Routar told of q Mexican be |
ing killed and of James Phillips being |
shot through the arm and beat up. The |
shcriff signed the request for troops |
Martial law was not declared for more |
than a month after the arrival of the |
militia.
Cross-examining Sheriff Routan. AT
torney Richardson said he wanted to
show who it was that ombined to fight
the miners union
when the strike was declared" he
asked the witness, isn't 1t a fact that
the miners boycotted all the gambling;
places, all the stores except F1otan's,
and all the banks?"
Sheriff Routan said he did not know
that this was true. A. S. Flotan did not
belong to the Cftizens' Alliance. He was
afterwar6 deported.
And he was beaten UP. too?.'
Il don't know as to that
''And when went dowr. there to try a
case one of your deputies beat me up.
didn't hep"
II didn't see that"
You appointed Buckley wells, a !
manager at the Smuggler Union mine,
as one of your deputies, didn't you?'
Yes
And the managers of the Tom Boy
and the Liberty Bell mines also?"
Yes"
And all the bankers and some of the
gamblers?''
ct don't remember as to the bankers"
''It was the policy of the interests
opposed to the union to beat up and
drive out everybody connected or in
sympathy with the union, wasn't it,"
GunTnen as IDENTITIES.