Las Vegas optic. (East Las Vegas, N.M.) 1908-1921, 1914-02-19
TALKATIVE SOLDIER
MEMBER OF MILITIA SAYS HE
LIED ABOUT A NUMBER OF
BATTLES FOUGHT
OFFICERS ARE DISARMED
THEY ARE BARRED FROM HEAR
ING IN TRINIDAD WHILE
WEARING PISTOLS

Trinidad, Colo, Feb. 19-The inves-
tigation of the strike in the Colorado
coal fields was still being conducted
late this afternoon.
Joseph Smith, the militia private
who stopped Representative Evans in
Berwind canyon on Tuesday when
the latter made his incognito tour of
the coal mining district, was produced
by the military authorities at the re-
quest Of Mr.. Evans. Private Smith
on Tuesday gave Mr.. Evans a hair
raising description Of bloody conflicts
in which he said he took part. This
morning the ex-mine guard, question
ed BY Evans, denied that he had seen
anybody killed.
Didn't you tell me about seeing q
lot Of men killed." demanded Evans.
Eyes, but you seemed so inquisitive
that / thought I'd humor you," re-
piled the soldier
Don't you make II a practice to
tell the truth?"
Some times tell the truth and
some times | don't"
Didn't you say four Of your men
we're killed by strikers in one Of the
battles you told me about?"
20, sure l did"
"How many strikers did you say
you killed in the same fight?'
IF / remember right, told you
we killed So"
Didn't say 69?"
Il don't think so.
The witness was questioned further
by Representative Sutherland.
II just was in a talkative mood that
day." he explained when pressed for
his reason for lying 70 Mr.. Evans.
Didn't he ask you these questions
in a gentlemanly manner?9 asked
Sutherland.
mo, sir"
"How did he ask them?"
In a kind Of rough manner"
Walter L. Predovich, the official in
terpreter for the committee, was cali
ed to the stand by the miners. He
was questioned about the contract,
purporting to be printed in Slavish,
which some of the strikebreakers
signed before they were brought to
Colorado. He said the contract was
printed in some of the languages ap-
proximating the sIavonian dialect, and
could not have been read by the ma
jority Of the Slavs who come to Am
erica.
Rodas Mendencis, a miner, next was
put on the stand by the strikers. He
testified to the alleged activity or the
mine companies in breaking up secret
orders among the miners.
Frank e. Cove, attorney for the
operators, tried to bring out that
SIavish societies forbid their members
to work during strikes. The com
mittee finally instructed the witness
to produce the legislation Of his gov
ernment.
Don McGregor. a newspaper man
who spent some time in the strike
zone last fall, told of various disorders
which he said he had witnessed
Just before the luncheon recess
Judge J. G. NOrthcutt for the opera
tors, told the committee he had an
important witness to put on the stand
at 2. o'clock. The witness, he said
was in the custody Of the sergeant-at-
arms. Shortly before subpoena had
been issued for v Tisl1a, who testi-
fled on Tuesday for the strikers
Tiska said in his testimony that he
had been brought to Colorado from
Pittsburgh as a strikebreaker.
Tiska was produced at the opening
Of the afternoon session. Mr. Costi-
gan demanded information as to why
the witness had been summoned.
4 am advised that he has made the
H..