Las Vegas optic. (East Las Vegas, N.M.) 1908-1921, 1914-03-10
FIRED INTO BOARDING HOUSE
THIS WAS DONE BY A MAN WHO
WISHED TO BE ASSIGNED
TO EASY BEAT
MITCHELL WILL TESTIFY
LABOR OFFICIAL WILL TELL COM
MlTTEE or CONDITIONS I'M
BUTTE CAMPS

Chicago, March 10.Henry Batters,
testifying today on behalf Of the West
ern Federation Of Miners before the
congressional committee investigating
the Michigan copper strike, said he
was one Of the AS mine guards es-
corted to the strike district In Octo-
ber. He said that while they were on
their way they we're told by Captain
White, in charge Of tae party, that
he hoped these boys will learn the
ropes SO that the mine companies
would need to hire more mine guards.
iBatters said these instructions we're
taken to mean that the boys were
to incite the strikers to acts Of vio-
lence.
What did you do personally to pro
woke violence?" asked Congressman
Powell.
Personally. nothing said the wit
ness
Batters said that many acts calcu-
lated to provoke the strikers were
committed by other men, lie said
that guard Of the name Of Curry
fired into The boarding house 81 Mrs
Benson At M0haw Wit idea tAat
the company would decide that the
house should be guarded and it would
be an easy beat for Curry. Batters
said that Robert Allen, guard, beat
three men who had been arrested by
other private detectives and that on
one occasion strikers parade had |
been stopped by "gunmen."
John Mitchell, the labor leader will |
be given hearing in washington |
some time next week. This permis-
sion was obtained today by strikers
counsel who said Mr.. Mitchell desired
to give information Of conditions in
the Butte copper country.
the defense Of the Michigan Nation
al Guard before the committee was
concluded. Captain r. o. Ragsdale.
United States army, said that at first
the men seemed to look on the situa-
tion as a joke and the discipline was
not Of the best, but later the men set
tied down and he considers their con
7
duct excellent
Evidence which the grand jury Of
Houghton county heard regarding the
deportation from the copper strike
district Of Charles Fl. Meyer may be
put before the congressional investiga-
ton committee. After admitting
list Of WITNESSES before the grand
jury the committee recessed and said
it would decide later whether to heaF
statements by these persons.
The lawyers objected to a question
by o. NJ Hilton, chief Of counsel for
the western Federation Of Miners.
when he asked Ernest ]. Nichols Of
Grand Rapids, Mich, to give the
names @of the persons who participat-
ed in the outrage on Meyer"
Somebody committed high-handed
outrage and II we can find out who
did it think we should said Chair
man Taylor of the committee.
Nichols said that his information
was in the form Of statements gather
ed from witnesses before the grand
jury. He said he obtained those state
ments while working as a detective
for the prosecutors office Of Hough-
ton county. He Acknowledged distant
relationship to George Nichols, the
special prosecutor who conducted the
grand jury hearings
Allan +. Rees, Of counsel for the
companies. said il the committee ad-
mitted the accusations against aIleg
led members Of the rHriv ttaasssst osSlt
to return to Houghtcn county and give
them chance to answer the charg
es
& don't think II likely said HiA
Hen, that the committee win be hull-