The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1908-09-07

in KILLING
Coroner's Jury Decides PoIIette
Slew Scales at 0'NeiI in
Self Defense.

A coroner's jury decided Monday
morning that Sam 'Pollette, an tai
ian. was justified in killing Frank
Scales. another foreigner, with big
club at the o'Neil coal mine Sunday
evening. holding that It was In self
defense. Immediately after the YER
diet was rendered. Coroner w. P.
Camp released the prisoner from GUS
tody
Attacked With Razor.
According to the testimony given
by eye witnesses Of the killing,
Scales was running after Pollette
with an open razor in one hand and
slashing 1t right and left. "a am go
ing 20 cut your ID throat of, :"
Scales yelled. To defend himsels.
Pollette picked up heavy club, big
at one end. and hit Scales a terrific
blow on the left side of his head be-
hind the ear. Scales dropped to the
ground and died within a few min
utes without regalring consciousness.
Pcllette made no effort TO leave the
place after the killing, but said he
intended to give himself up to the
authorities. Magistrate John T.
Flynn, OF Wilsonburg, was notified OF
the. tragedy. went to the scene and
took charge of 'Pollette. who gave
himself up. The body OF Scales was
taken ir charge by Coroner W. p.
Camp, who made an investigation,
and ordered 1t removed to an UNDER
taking establishment.
Whlskcy the Cause.
Whiskey. with which he had been
well soaked. was the cause of Scales's
tragic death. He came TO the O'Neil
mining camp early Sunday afternoon
in very drunken condition and
wanted to fight every one he met.
Three or four times his desire was
gratihed and he had lively encounter,
with that many miners there. He
was in an exceedingly obstreperous
mood all afternoon and evening. He
kept shouting THAI he wanted To fight
somebody and that he wanted to kill
some one and that he wanted to die
as he did not want to live any more
anyway. H.. .a
Tried to Quiet Him.
Scales kept up his boisternusness
toward dark and a crowd of the min
ers there tried to quiet him down.
1t was in an open field. in the mining
town, not far from the mine, that
the tragedy occurred. There was a
crowd Of the miners around Scales
trying to make him behave himself
when he and Pollette had an alterca-
tlon which resulted in Scales pulling
q razor from his pocxet, opening the
blade and going after Pollette. The
latter ran away as fast as he could
hut seeing that Scales was gaining on
him. he saw long heavy club on the
ground, picked it up and swung It
violently against Scales's head.
Inquest Is Held.
Coroner Camp emlanelled the fol-
lowing jury, which convened Monday
morning at 9 O'Clock: Charles T.
Martin. Hugh Callaghan, Frnak Shut
tleworth. Edward ]. Doyle, Robert
shuttleworth and W. o. Straley. AZ
ter examining the body at the under
takers establishment, the jury went
TO Coroner Camps Office in the court
house where the witnesses to the
killing were examined. After al
short deliberation the jury came to
the conclusion that Pollette was justi-
fed In killing Scales as in their opiu-
ion he did 1t in self defense.
Scales was about so years old and
single. Pollette is &c years old and
has wife in the old country Both
we're employed At the o'Neil coal
mine.