Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-01-17
Mystery Surrounding Secret
Indictments Is Cleared
By Arrest of Four
CARRIED CONCEALED
WEAPONS, is CHARGE
Heads Of Copper Miners Are
Beyond Jurisdiction of
Special Grand Jury

Houghton, Mich, Jan. 16.-The mys-
terry of the secret indictments returned
yesterday by the special grand jury
which has been Investigating disorders
! growing out Of the copper miners
strike was cleared up today with the
arrest of four strikers charged with
carrying concealed weapons. Although
the jury carried on its deliberations
today only one other true bill had
been found and those who had eXpec-
ted return Of indictments on the de-
portation of Charles H. Meyer presi-
dent of the Western Federation of
Miners, admitted today that there was
nothing on which to base prediction
as to probable action.
Only one secret indictment remained
sealed according to information at the
county clerks Office. The four men
taken into custody on the concealed
weapons charge are accused of having
taken an undue part in the disorders
at South Range on December II. They
are Olli Tikkanen, Eli and Elmo Lux
koner and John Lamki. These men
were arrested at the time Of the battle
of the South Range and 1t Is alleged
they were armed with revolvers and
sawed off shotguns.
The sheriff's office learned today that
w. P. Davidson the British committee
member Of the executive board of the
Western Federation of Miners, and
Dan Sullivan, president of the district
council spent the night in the Laurium
village JAIL The fact that their ar
rests nnaa ar the eonspif aey indictment
returned yesterday, had not been re-
ported to headquarters was responsible
for a report that they could not be
found A dozen deputy sheriffs search
ed Hancock for them nearly all last
night The Larium deputies also took
R. R. Mackenzie Of Denver into GUS
tody but released him when the found
that he had not been named In the
true bill.
The only federation leader OF prom
inence who had not been served with
warrant during the night was Charles
e. Heittala, secretary of the district
courcil. 1t was intimated at union
headquarters that he would surrender
as soon as satisfactory arrangements
could be made for his release on bonds
Meanwhile bonds were being sought
for Davidson and Sullivan and two 9TH
er union men arrested at Calumet last
night. Fourteen of the men taken into
custody on the conspiracy charge were
released before midnight on bail OF
$1,000 each.
So far as could be learned there is
no intention of attempting to obtain
the arrest and extradition Of Charles
Fl. Meyer G. f. Mahoney and other
national officers of the union, who are
beyond the jurisdiction of the court on
the misdemeanor charge of conspiracy.
1t is probable that the warrants for
these men will be held and served only
in case they return to Houghton coun-
ty.
Union Men Not Amazed.
Union men did not seem surprised
today that indictments had been re-
turned yesterday against Charles Fl.
Meyer. president Of the Western Fed
Grafton of Miners and thirty-seven 9TH
er union men on charges of conspiracy
in connection with the strike of the
copper miners.
This charge is no surprise to u.s.
saiG Charles z. Heittala, secretary Of
the Hancock local and one of the men
indicted. ut has been openly acknow-
ledged that at least nine of the jury
men owe allegiance to the Citizens
Alliance and that body is frankly the
enemy of organized labor. Every thing
we have done in connection with this
strike has been open and above board"
DISCUSS HEALTH PROBLEMS.
Concord, N. H., Jan. 16.--Mee tings
to consider public health problems
were held in various parts of New
Hampshire today in accordance with
a recent proclamation of Gov. Felker,
naming this as Health day" aEaSF