Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1913-11-21
ASSASSINATE 4
DETECTIVE ON
THE Street
GEORGE ". BELCHER IS SHOT DOWN
IN COLD BLOOD AT TRINIDAD BY
A STRIKING MINER .-=TENSE SIT.
UATION HAS FOLLOWED THE
SHOOTING. /
OTHER ARRESTS we're
EXPECTED TO-DAY

Trinidad, Colo, Nov. 21.-The mill
tary authorities are today directing
every effort ip gathering evidence il
connection with the assassination o
George W. Belcher, detective who
was shot down in the business centel
of this city last night Louis Zacanel
H. miner who is being held in the
city Jail under military guard charg
ed with the killing steadfastly main
tains his innocence. A Membership
card in the United Mine Workers Of
America, found in his clothing follow
ing his arrest gives his name as Louis
Zanello. Thirty or more persons, i'll
Guiding eye-witnesses, mine unior
leaders and officers have been eXamin
ed by the military authorities and g
mass of evidence has been secured
The examination of witnesses which
was begun in General Chases down
town quarters Immediately after the
shooting. lasted until 8 O'Clock this
morning and Investigations were re
sumed again at eight.
Public feeling is at fever pitch
over this latest tragedy growing out
of the coal strike in the southern Colo
RADIO coal fields. Belcher, who with
Waiter Belk. chief of the detective
agency. was held under $4,000 bond
charged with the murder OF Gerald
Lippiatt, an organizer for the mine
union, had incurred the enmity OF the
union sympathizers.
The military au,norltles express
concern over the tense situation that
has developed as result of the SHOOT.
ing. Union miners were more con-
spicuous on the streets than at any
time since the militia was called oul
and several arrests have followed IN
cendiary renlarks} made by union SYM
patbizers in discussing the murder
THE arrest of others suspected OF be-
ing implicated in the killing is expect
ed today.
General Chase has not announced
the personnel of the military comms
sion which will pass judgment upon
alleged crimes growing out OF the
strike. The order, issued last night,
does not specify the time the. commis'
sion will sit but no formal sessions
are expected before Monday,
Coroner B. B. Sipe has empaneled
ccroners Jury and an inquiry VIII De
conducted by the civil authoritles 10
morrow afternoon.
Secretary Wilson Arrives.
Denver, Colo, Nov 21.-Secretary
of Labor w. B. Wilson arrived in Den
yer shortly before noon today to use
his influence in an effort to end the
strike of Colorado coal miners. He
was entertained at luncheon by Gov
ernor E. M. Ammons. Definite plans
for federal activity in the strike sit
uation were to be made this after
noon.
Interest in the Colorado coal strike
centered early today in the arrival OF
Secretary of Labor Wilson and the
proposed conference tomorrow be-
tween operators and men actually EN-
ployed in the southern Colorado coal
mines.
Secretary Wilson was to arrive from
the Pacific coast at 1880 this morn
ing and it was planned that soon
thereafter he would confer with Gov
ernor Ammons. From this conference
it was expected that the secretary
would determine his subsequent
course in dealing with the strike sit
uation.
The proposal for tomorrow's con-
ference took definite form late last
night when the United Mine Workers
of America leaders announced it
would be agreeable to them to have
actual mine workers represent the
men: the operators maintained their
attitude of opposition to meeting with
officials of the union organization.
The striking miners today selected
the committee to meet the operators
in the conference set for tomorrow.
The members of the committee are:
Thomas ]. Benyon, former mayor
Of Lafayette, and striking employe
of the Rocky Mountain Fuel COM
pany.
William Gilbert. state representative
from Fremont county, father of the
Colorado mining law, and striking en-
ploye of the Colorado Fuel and Iron
company.
Alex. Thompson, of Trinidad. coal
miner for forty years, and a striking
employe of the victor-American Fuel
company
In connection with the announce
ment of the committee, International
Vice President Frank J. Hayes, issued
the following signed statement:
'We have been careful in the Sc
lection of this committee to name men
of excellent reputation in their various
communities men of high moral stand
ing and above reproach. We believe
we have selected men against whom
the operators can find no just cause
for complaint and we trust that the
conference of these men with the op-
orators will lead to a speedy settle