The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-12-05
FUGITIVE WITNESS is
STILL AMONG MISSING
Agent Of Mine Company Is Accused
Of Paying Salary to One of the
Miners Who Is Wanted as
Witness In the Case.


tails OF secret conference at midnight
on 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, in
vestigating commission.
The conference occurred late last night
and was between Rosenjack and Fred II.
company. Both Of the Bucks concealed
the facts even after they were sum-
moned to the witness stand today. Frank
Buck, the elder, stubbornly refused to
answer questions even when threatened
with jail.
You can't scare me. Pm not afraid
of going to JAIL" replied Buck.
1t was the first indication that the coal
corporation or the Chicago Milwaukee
and st. Paul road were endeavoring to
block the present investigation and caused
the state officials and Coroner Malm inn
mediately to shift their line of inquiry.
Any doubt as to the authority upon which
the Bucks acted IN assisting Rosenjack
TO escape was removed by statement
made In the evening by Frank Buck.
II have every assurance that my sal
ary will continue while L am in jail, so
] have nothing to fear he said.
My wife will be provided for. no mat
ter what they do to me-
Just who informed members of the COM
mission of last nights conference is not
known. Late In the afternoon session,
however. the younger Buck was sum
noned peremptoriy to the inouistorial
n, ,bar Tpg af a ri
ally the father appeared. From the first
the elder Bucks attitude was one of de-
fiance s
Refuses to Answer.
"t7aye you received communications In
any form from the missing Rosenjaek
within the last few days. asked Chair
man Traer.
Il refuse to answer was the reply
lis it not a fact that this man was in
The city of Cherry last night?" was the
next question.
THAT depends on where the town linn
It's are-''
well, was he in the vicinity of
Cherry7"
Il refuse to answer" again said
Buck
After several more questions Attorney
Stedman told the witness that he was
placing himself in a perlious position by
defying the coroner and the commission.
well, what can you do IL | don't an
swer?" demanded Buck.
We can put you In Jail and the sheriff
is here right now ready to take you over
10 Princeton" said Stedman.
However, 1t was agreed to delay defin-
ite action until Monday.
The Son Questioned.
The younger Buck was questioned i'm.
Yes, saw Rosenjack," he admitted, In
reply to question. but I did not con-
slider 1t my duty to tell the officers about
it,
rs 1t not a fact that you have author
ized the State bank of Cherry to advance
salary to Rosenjack during the period
that he is In hiding?' was asked.
Il have authorized the bank to advance
him money" said Buck.
Meanwhile the search for Rosenjack
continues.
Every member of the joint investigation
commission tonight said that unless the
missing man is found within the next "a
hours the prospects are that either or
both Of the Bucks may go to Jail for aid
ing and abetting the escape of an impor-
tant witness.
Complete responsibility for the fire that
cost the lives of $40 men in the st. Paul
by his own admission, had been employed
by the mine In violation Of the child labor
law.
Boy Started Fire.
The boy told members of the joint in
vestigAting commission that he never had
been warned of the danger Of the open
torches used in the mine, and that he
had never been instructed by anybody
connected with the mine just what his
duties were.
Tho 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 Dean. another
trapper, whcse ago has been brought into
question, and who mysteriously disap-
peared shortly after the IRE. unwittingly
pushed the hay-laden car against a torch
that was dripping burning oil. thus bring
ing about the IRE that destroyed the
mine.
4 Folle wing close upon the testimony Of
Fra ncssco came q frank admission from
state Nine Inspector Thomas Hudson, In
whose district the g. Paul mine is To-
Gated. that he had not visited the mine
since last July. and that he was in utter
Ignorance Of the fact that such torches
were being used instead Of the electric
lighting system that he knew was part Of
the equipment Of the mine.