Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1913-06-12
EXHIBITS COURT RECORDS

Militia, Declares Comman-
der Who Tells Of Trip In
Armored Train.
Charleston, Va, June 12.-Adjutant
trial war in West Virginia was today
described to the Senate mine strike In
vestigation committee by Ad1utant
General Charles d. Elliott, who told IN
graphic fashion OF battles fought be-
Mucklow and Holly Grove in the Paint
creek section. He told of armored
trains, carrying machine guns, that
swept through the strike district, and
related stories of men ambushed and
shot down. At least a score of skir-
mishes We're detailed by him, in near
~ all of which men We're killed or
wounded.
Tells Of Captures.
General Elliott told of the capture by
the state troops of six deadly machine
guns, capable of firing $50 shots a min
ute, and 120 rounds of ammunition He
identified photographs of sheet iron
forts, built by mine guards, at Muck
low. and told of the capture of hun
them hidden out in hollow trees and
mountain caves. after the militia too.
charge of the strike district.
Trains held up. mine tipples burnet
pitched battles between mine guare :
and miners, were all detailed by Ger
eral Elliott, who said that all of the
affairs Were reported to him. He d,
tailed general engagement at Muc!
low, Holly Grove on Paint Creek a.
Ronda Cabin Creek, on February !
when a mine bookkeeper and mir
named Estep We're killed. This resu
ed in second declaration of mart
law and General Elliott said that WI
he went into the fields with troops
the night of February 10 dynami'
bomb was found on the railroad tracl.
ahead of his troop train.
Not First Hand knowledge.
"All of these affairs were betwees
mine guards and strikers" said II
general The militia had nothing Z
do with them and know of tho
only through information brought u
nae by b,,tl sides
Citsiaerai Elliott gave the conlnittc
documents showing the operations .
the military which took charge of tn
strike district during the first mar
tial law period and showing the dis
sition made of prisoners.
Questioned by Senator Borah, Gener-
al Elliott described the trial of ofren-
ders by the military court after the
civil courts had been superseded.
The documents, produced by General
Elliott. showed 81 men sentenced by
the military court. Private F l.. Long
tried foc the murder of Ira Ridd. was
acquitted by the court. Robert !larti-
gan, a mine guard charged with doing
police duty as nonresident "f the
state, was sentenced twice. according
to the list. each time to pay f1he c1
$500 and to serve six months in PRISON
e.iS toS n
fined 800 and sentenced to go days.
Record Of Convictions.
Other sentences shown by the lis,
were: .
For Intimidation of workmen," 3:
prisoners, six months each.
Carving concealed weapons. two
prisoners, one day; five prisoners. si>
months; one prisoner, $1,000 fine ane
one year; one prisoner, one year.
Carrying steel knuckles, one prison
er, fined $50.
unlawful stabbing. two prisoners
one year.
False statement to officers, one pris
oner 30 days.
Disorderly conduct. one prisoner, three
Larceny, one prisoner, $40 fine and II
months.
days.
Altogether, the list accounted for al
but two cases under the martial Law
last fall. the first martial law pro
claimed.
Those two cases were. marked miss
ing from the files
General Elliott detailed the orders
restoring martial law to the strike zon
last February, which. he said, wer'
modified by Governor Hatfield on Ma.
20, annuling that portion of the pro
clanation which placed the milttar,
authorities above the civil courts.
Few Still On Duty.
The militia, the witness said. wer
now working under the civil courts
assisting in the enforcement of tn
processes of the courts. Only abou
a dozen militiamen remained to al
the civil authorities.
while you We're in charge in tn
martial law zone you made arrests o.
your own responsibility. without wri
or warrant from any civil court?
asked Senator Borah.
Yes, that Is right" said General El
lott
General Elliott said that he had n
record of the proceedings of the mill
tary courts established under the sec
ond and third declarations of martia
law, which he believed were in TIN
possession of Governor Hatfield
General Elliott said that at one tim
he had 1000 men in the field, prac
tically. the entire militia organizatio
of the state He could not say defin
itely how many armed men he had t
contend with, but he felt there wer
more arms among the strikers tina
among the militia.
Thought It insurrection.
Under cross s-examination by Attor
ney Belcher for the miners, Genera
Elliott sai1 that the controversy pric
to the declaration of martial law wa
solely between the miners and opera
tors.
was there any state of insurrectio
in the strike zone prior to the declara
ton of martial law?" asked Mr.. Be
cher.
'.The governor evidently though
there was" said the witness, who sal
he had information to the effect ths
miners and their friends had arme
themselves to resist the militia.
General Elliott said that he kne
that Representative S. b. Davis, forme
public prosecutor, had informed Coy
ernor Glasscock that he could not Sc
cure action in the courts to subdu
the riotous condition. This. he sal
was one of the reasons for whfc
<ho srnvarnnr declared martial law