The Detroit times., 1912-01-08
ELECTED TO TWO JOBS,
ONE IN PUBLIC OFFICE
AND ANOTHER IN JAIL
Sheriff Shields, of Westmoreland
County, Pa, Convicted
of Embezzlement.
TAKES OATH OF OFFICE.
Supreme Court Will Soon Say
Whether He Shall Serve
Prison Sentence.
TAKES OATH OF OFFICE.

GREENSBURG, Pa, Jan. S.-Sheriff
John K. Shields or Westmoreland
county, stands elected to two jobs
one at hard labor In the penitentiary,
the other a place as county commits
sioner on a fat public salary.
The penitentiary sentence is for
two years and four months. Two
juries decided he deserved 1t.
The county job is for four years.
An overwhelming majority of the vot-
ers thought he deserved II.
Union miners hate Shields because
he turned loose upon them, their
wives and children, a gang OF armed
thugs as deputy sheriffs. This was
turing the great Westmoreland coal
strike which lasted more than a
year.
The coal companies hate Shields be-
sause they declare he "double-crossed'
hem. His friends say the coal inter
ssts hate him because he would not
20 the extreme limit OF cruelty and
harshness to crush the strikers.
Here are the reasons why Shields
was sentenced to the penitentiary.
First-When the coal strike started
Shields deputized men TO keep order.
These men, 1t appears, did not pro-
coed In a manner TO please the coal
companies, and they employed depu-
tized constables 20 guard their prop
erty.
Later they decided they could get
better results with the sheriff's depu-
ties and they appealed to him again.
Then Shields mulcted them, they say.
lie employed deputies for the COM
panies at 81 a day, making q payroll
OF about $4,000 every two weeks,
which the companies had TO provide.
Il was charged that Shields appro-
priated $l85,000. In connection with
this case and one Of minor import
ance, involving the use OF county
funds In serving subpoenas, for
neighboring county sheriff, Shields
was convicted OF embezzlement per
jury and misdemeanor, and SEN
fenced TO serve a year and tnree
months.
Second Shields allowed men, duly
committed to Jail by q legally en-
powered magistrate, to walk away
from the prison. He admits II, but
maintains that he was right morally
The men released were Shields own
deputies.
During the time the coal companies
were doing their own property guard
ing, ave OF Shields deputies went 10
the property of the Penn Gas q Coal
Co., ostensibly to arrest three men
for dischargtng firearms. The depu-
ties were promptly arrested by com
pany guards for trespassing. THESE
-eeHseafy- guards were depntiZed- con-
stables and were called coal and iron
police.
The sheriffs' deputies were SEN
fenced. In q justice court TO 10 days
in jail each. When they were taken
70 the jail, Shields said: Men, go
back to your Jobs" They went and
Sheriff Shields was sentenced TO serve
one year and one month because OF
il. He says his deputies were needed
20 maintain order.
Following his conviction, Shields
secured supefsedeas insuring his
freedom until the cases are decided
by the supreme court. and In nine
DAYS campaign for "vindication" won
the nomination and eventually the
election as county commissioner on
the Republican ticket by a large ma
'jority.
He has taken the oath OF office as
commissioner and the decision of the
supreme court Is expected soon.
Will Shields preside at mahogany
desk for four years or make brooms
behind iron bars for more than hair
that period?