Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-06-11
DESCRIBES ACTIONS
Of MILITARY COURT
ADJuTANT GENERAL ELLIOTT OF
WEST VIRGINIA TEsrlFlEs De.
FORE SENATE COMMITTEE.
FiFTY.oNE MEN SENTENCED
BY MILITIA CONDUCTED COURT
Severity Of Punishment Shown in List
Of Cases Submitted BY Witness -
Soldier Tried BY Court Acquitted Of
Murdsr-yarieus ,offsnsss Charged
Against Defendants.

Against Defendants.
Charleston, w. Va, June 11.-Adjt.
Gen. Charles D. Elliott. OF West Vir-
ginia, who was in supreme command
Of the military in the strike zone. was
] today asked the dates when the vari-
GUS periods of martial law began. Cen
eral Elliott presented copies Of the re-
quests OF the sheriffs Of kanawha.
Raleigh and Fayette counties for mill
tary aid. and the various orders OF
I former Governor Glasscock establish
; ing martial law and placing the mill
tary in full charge OF the strike zone.
Questioned by Senator Borah. Cen
eral Elliott described the trial OF Of
tenders by the military court after the
civil courts had been superseded.
/! The documents shows fifty-one men
sentenced by the military court. Pri-
vate William +. Long, tried ior the
murder of Ida Ridd, was acquitted by
the court Robert Hartigan, mine
guard, charged with doing police duty
as nonresident Of the state. was
4 SeUlCllCtu lWlSe eaSSoi NAhe W SAAS AASS'
each time to pay fine of $500 and to
serve six months in prison. In another
similar case a guard was fined 500
and sentenced to sixty days. Other
sentences shown by the list were:
List Of Military Court Penalties.
For intimidation of workmen.
thirty-two prisoners. six months each.
Carrying concealed weapons. two
f1,.a
months; one prisoner. $1,000 fine and
one year; one prisoner. one year.
Carrying steel knuckles, one pris-
oner, fined $50.
Unlawful stabbing, two prisoners.
one year.
4 False statements to officers. one
prisoner. thirty days.
4 Disorderly conduct, one prisoner.
three months.
Larceny, one prisoner $40 fine and
ten days. -
All together the list accounted for all
but two cases under the martial law
last fall, the first martial law period.
These two cases were marked miss
ing from the files"
Governor Hatfield Modifies Orders.
General Elliott detailed the orders
restoring martial law to the strike zone
last February, which he said. were
modified by Governor Hatfield on May
20. annulling that portion Of the proc
lamation which placed the military
authorities above the civil courts.
The militia. the witness said, were
now working under the civil courts, as
sisting In the enforcement of the pro-
cesses Of the courts. Only about a
he
civil authorities.
while you were in charge in the
martial law zone you made arrests on
your own responsibility without writ
or warrant from any civil court ~
asked Senator Borah
"Yes, that rs right" said General Ell
lott
General Elliott said he had no record
Of the proceedings Of the military
courts established under the second and
third declarations Of martial law which
he believed were in possession of the
governor.
Strikers Better Armed.
He said that at one time he had 1,00C
men In the field, practically the entire
military organization Of the state. He
could not say definitely how many
, armed men he had to contend with but
he felt there We're more arms among
the strikers than among the militia
Under cross examination by Attorney
Belcher for the miners, General Elliott
said that the controversy prior to the
declaration Of martial law was solely
between the miners and operators
was there any state of insurrection
. in the strike zone prior to the declara
At I,.,
THE governor evidently thought
there was said the witness. who said
he had information to the effect that
miners and their friends had armed
themselves to resist the militia.
Courts Failed to Restore Order.
General Elliott said that he knew
that Representative 8. B. Davis. former
county prosecutor, had told Governor
, Glasscock that he could not secure
action In the courts to subdue the
riotous conditions. This. he said. was
one OF the reasons for which the gov
, ernor declared martial law.
The witness said that his troops had
captured Ave or six machine guns in
the affected districts.
After the first martial law period
, ended. General Elliott said that mem
Ibers Of the state militia, officers and
men. were employed by the coal opera
, tors to act as watchmen or as mine
guards They remained as guards,
, he said. even after martial law was
| again declared. and the troops again
took charge OF the field
Operations Of "DuII Moose Special"
General Elliott told OF the operation
Of an armored train on which a ma
, chine gun was mounted. which made
four trips up Paint and Cabin creeks
He could not say who manned this
train. which among the miners was
known as the bull moose special"
Attorney Belcher tried to ascertain
what rifles were carried on special
train that invaded the Paint creek
section on the night of Feb. I, and
from which battle was fought n,
sss..,.i.,a Hsavn General Elliott did moi
know where the oegs came from.