Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-12-07
MINE OFFICIALS
BRIBED WITNESS?
Hearing Indicates That Rosenjack,
Who Saw Cherry Disaster, Is
Paid to Keep Away-Child La
Dor Law Violated.

bO4 Law NAO4dGO0s
CHERRY, Ill, Dec. "details of a Sc
cret conference at night in a lonely cross
road near Cherry, in which Alexander
RosenJack. the fugitive mine witness, was
assured OF financial support by an agent
for the st. Paul Coal company today. was
revealed by reluctant witnesses before
the joint investigating commission.
The conference occurred late last night,
and was between Fred H. Buck. son Of
the chief clerk for the coal company.
Both of the Bucks concealed the facts
even after they were summoned to the
witness stand today. Frank Buck, the
elder. stubbornly refused TO answer ques-
tons even when threatened with jail.
you can't scare me. I'm not afraid
of going to JAIL replied Buck.
II was the first indication that the coal
corporation or the Chicago, Milwaukee
and St Paul road were endeavoring to
block the present investigation and cause
the state officials and Coroner Malm i'm
mediately to shift their line Of inquiry.
ANY doubt as to the authority upon
which the Bucks acted in assisting Ros-
enjack to escape was removed by state
ment made i'm the evening by Frank
Buck. the younger man.
'T have every assurance that my sal
airy will continue while I am In jail, so
I have nothing 10 fear" he said. MY
wife will be provided for, no matter
what they do TO me-
Just who informed members of the
commission of last nights conference is
not known.
ELDER BUCK DEFIANT.
Late i'm the afternoon session. however,
the younger Buck was summoned per-
emptorily to the inauisitorial chambers
Instead OF answering personally the
father appeared. From the first the
elder Bucks attitude was one OF defiance.
. Have you received communications OF
any form from the missing Rosenjack
within the last few days?" asked Chair
man Traer.
81 refuse to answer was the reply.
isn't It a fact that this man was in
the city Of Cherry last night?'
THAT depends where the town limits
are"
well. was he in the vicinity Of Cher
ry7'
II refuse to answer" again said Buck.
After several more questions, Attorney
Steadman told the witness that he was
placing himself in a perilous position by
defying the coroner and the commission
well. what can you do IL 1 don't an
swer?" demanded Buck.
I'VE can put you I'm Jail, and the sher-
III is here right now ready to take you
over to Princeton" said Steadman.
However. II was agreed to delay DEL
mite action until Monday.
The younger Buck was questioned i'm
mediately after his father was dis
dismissed.
sYes. I saw Rosenjack." he admitted.
in reply 10 a question. But I did not
consider II my duty to tell the ofhcers
about it,
isn't il a fact that you have author
lied the state bank of Cherry to adj
vance a salary 10 Rosenjack during the
period that he is in hiding2" he was
asked.
AUTHORIZED BANK.
IT have authorized the bank to advance
him money" said Buck.
Meanwhile. the search for Rosenjac<
continues.
EVERY member of the joint investigat-
ing commission tonight said that unless
the missing man is found within the next
q hours the prospects are that either or
both of the Bucks may go to jail TO-
aiding and abetting the escape of an i'm
portant witness.
Complete responsibility for the entire
cost OF the lives of the 80 men in the
ST. Paul mine was assumed today by a
boy. who by his own admission. had been
employed by the mine in violation o.
the child-labor law.
The boy told members of the joint IN
vestfgating commission that he never had
been warned of the danger of the open
torches used in the mine. and that he
never had been instructed by anybody
connected with the mine just what his
duties were.
The story was told by Matt Francisco.
trapper who was among the first to
escape from the burning mine. He de-
clared that he with Bob Dan
snother trapper. who was one of those
brought into question. and who as mys-
teriously disappeared shortly after the
fire. unwittingly pushed the hay-laden car
against a torch that was dripping burn
ing oil. thus bringing about the fire that
destroyed the mine.
Following close upon the testimony Of
Francisco came a frank admission from
State Mine Inspector Thomas Hudson
in whose district the ST. Paul is located
that he had not visited the mine since
last July. and that he was in utter tg-
inorance OF the fact that such torches
we're being used instead Of the electric
lighting system that he knew was par'
of the equipment of the mine.