Las Vegas optic. (East Las Vegas, N.M.) 1908-1921, 1914-05-13
in THE LUDLOW ENGAGEMENT
HE IS SAID TO HAVE GIVEN THE
3. ORDER TO THE TROOPS TO
BEGIN FIRING
OTHER OFfENsEs CHARGED
THE OFFICER ENTERS A PLEA
OF NOT GUILTY TO THE
ENTIRE LIST

Denver, May 13.-Charges of arson,
murder, manslaughter and larceny
against Major Patrick j. Hamrock of
the First regiment, Colorado National
Guard, were filed before general
court martial at the state rifle range
today. The charges grew out of the
battle at Ludlow and the fire that
destroyed the coal strikers tent col
ony April 20.
The arson, murder and manslaugh-
ter charges were brought under the
| fifty-eighth article of war and the
larceny charge under the sixty-second
article
The arson article deals with the
burning OF the strikers tent colony
and charges that the tents were fired
"wilfully and maliciously," by the de-
fendant or persons under his author
ity in violation of the laws of Colo
rado
The murder article contains y spe-
cifications and charges Hamrock with
responsibility for the deaths of two
women and II children which result
ed from the burning of the strikers
tent colony
The manslaughter article. with 20
specifications, charges responsibility
for the deaths of five strikers, one ~
year old boy and non-combatant In
cluded in the list is the name of Louis
Tikas, leader of the Greek strikers
and In charge of the tent colony, and
James Fyler and Carlo Costa, union
leaders at Ludlow and Aguilar.
Three specifications under the lar
ceny article charge that $3.50 in
money was taken from the person Of
Louis Tilxas, that the ruins of the
tent colony were looted and pillaged
and that officers and militiamen per
mitted the looting of the ruins.
The court martial was convened
with Colonel w. A. Davis as presi
dent and Captain Edwin A. Smith,
acting as Judge advocate. The mem
hers of the court were sworn ip by
Judge Advocate Smith, who in turn
took the oath administered by Presi-
dent Colonel Davis. All members OF
the court were in attendance except
Captain Ralph Dorm, who was absent
in Routt county on military duty.
Major A. H. Williams was substituted
as a member of the court in place OF
Colonel George M. Lee.
Colonel A. c. Sharpe, United States
army nspector-instructor, attended as
a spectator.
Major Hammock announced that he
did not care for counsel and was rea-
dy to proceed to trial Immediately.
The charges we're read by Judge
Advocate Smith.
| pleads Not Guilty
| Major Hamrock entered plea of
not guilty 10 each of the charges and
specifications.
Captain Smith read into the record
a statement that he had notified John
R. Lawson and John McLennan, dis
trict officers Of the United Mine
! Workers, of the time and place the
: court martial would convene: that
any witnesses they cared to produce
, would be examined, and that they had
} promised to advise of their de-
] cision today.
Lieutenant r. w. Benedict was the
first witness called.
The court martial as IL convened
today consists Of Colonel W. A. Davis,
Colonel Edward yerdeckberg, Colonel
George s1lngenfelter. Major J. B.
Goodman, Major w. A. jolly, Major
A. II. williams and Judge Advocate
Edwin a. smith Captain Ralph Dorm
was absent.
Benedict testified that he was act
! ling as battaiion adjutant under Major
J Hammock. He said Corporal Patton
brought him a letter from a woman