Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-06-14
WAGE DISPUTE, NOT
RIOT, SENT TROOPS
To DURHAM MINE
Sheriff Germany, in Affidavit,
Declares That italians Had
Wage Disagreement-Com-
pany Owed Them Money
Especial Dispatch to The Journal)

Especial Dispatch to The JournalD
LAFAYETTE, Ca, June 10.-In an ami
davit sworn to here yesterday Sheriff r.
S. Germany OF Walker county, one oil
the figures in Governor Browns recent
military expedition to the camps of th9
Lookout Mountain Coal and Coke COM
pany, throws startling light on the send
ing of the troops there, which resulted
in the arrest of % miners at the instiga
ton OF the state, and without cause or
authority.
Sheriff Germany says in this AFFIDAVIT
that the miners were perfectly quiet, and
that their sole grievance was their claim
that the company owed them wages.
Mr.. Germany says there wasn't enough
excitement at the mines even to require
a sheriff. much less company OF armed
militia
He SAYS that the only intimation. tina;
his services were needed came to him
on the night of May %, when the attor-
ney of the company called him up and
said that his services would be needed.
He was at home all that day.
The next morning, Sheriff Garmany
says. the attorney informed him that the
militia would be there.
Arrived at the mines, the sheriff found
no disorder They showed no disorder,
no resistance. There was no necessity,
as far as the sheriff could see, for war
| rants.
Sheriff Germany says that the authori-
ties would have had no trouble reaching
him, if they had wanted to. The at
torney of the mines seemed to be able
to locate him. He would have been
ready at any time to respond to any call,
If he had been asked.
He refused to take charge OF the miners
because there were no warrants for them,
and no cause for arrests.
The sherifrs affidavit follows in full
SHERIFFS AFFIDAVIT.
STATE OF GEORGIA-County of Walker:
Now comes r. S. Germany, sheriff of
Walker county, Ga. and who has been
such sheriff for years, who, after being
duly sworn. deposes and says that he
was in Lafayette. Ga, his home, and
county site of Walker county, all day
the 25th of May. also that night, and
SAYS that he heard of no need or desire
for his services or aid in any matter at
the English camp, Lookout Mountain
Coal and Coke company. in said county.
until Earl Jackson, attorney for Mr..
James English, Jr.. called him up over
the local phone on the night of May %.
about $3.50 o'clock, and only then told
him he wante dhim. said deponent, to
go with him and English up to said
camps.
This was the first intimation, about
$50 or 10 p. m. of the 25th. in the even
ing, that his services were wanted. Said
Jackson said next morning about 8
O'Clock that the militia would be on
the morning train, and he wanted depo-
nent to go with him. Deponent met
the train next morning at s:4S o'clock
and went with the militia to Durham to
the English camp and found nothing on
earth which needed the troops or any
thing that he with his deputy with
warrant could not have attended to had
they been even notified that there was
any complaint at all.
MINERS WERE QUIET.
Deponent found the miners doing moth
ing. Deponent found miners not In
charge of in no boisterous condition.
some here. and some there, in shirt
sleeves and quiet. The miners showed
no resistance or trouble. The Italians
seemed not to want to work and, as de-
ponent was informed, contended that Mr..
English was due them more wages and
would not pay them, or something in
which there was possibly an issue of
fact between them and Mr.. English.
Deponent refused to take charge Of any
of the men because he had no warrants
nor did he see any reason even for war
In a HIIle Wnlie MT. EnSllSn or
! his attorney swore out some warrants
( and deponent arrested all Of the miners
% in number-who offered no resistance
whatever, and who were already in The
train where Mr.. English had directed
them and where the warrants were dis
missed at the instance of Mr. English.
and the men left the mountain which
seemed to be the desire of Mr.. English.
Deponent says that he could and would
have gone any time at any hour, day
or night to the scene had he even known,
that he was wanted. That he had no
notice from any source no phone, wire
any request until after $3.50 o'clock D. m.
May 25 1910, and then the only notice was
as above stated, from the attorney, Jack
son, who told deponent that he wanted
him to go to Durham the next morning
stating that there had been some little
trouble up there. Deponent says that ne
knew of no demand for him, heard of
none by phone or otherwise until called
as above stated; that no demand or re-
quest was made of him only as above.
That he found no condition at Durham
which even needed deponent much less
the troops, Judging from what he saw
home all the day before and could have
been reached any moment lad he been
wantd, sought or needed.
(signed) R. s. GARMANY,
Sheriff Of Walker County, Georgia.
Sworn to and subscribed before me this.
June 9, 1910, r. G. PHILLIPS, ]. P.
III ten ny SWEETHEART