Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-04-27
Union Leader Said to Have
Been Seen Coming Out of
Cut Near Where Deputy
NimmOn Was Slain.
ADMITTED FIRING MANY
SHOTS AT OFFICERS
Arms and Ammunition Pur-
chased at Order Of Defend
ant for Use of Labor Men
in Colorado,
lsv MORNING JOURNAL SPECIAL l,Astp wipsi

lhN hoHHlho JOURNAL SPECIAL LSAsEp wiPE1
Trinidad April 26.-John. Law
son, late in the afternoon of Oc-
tober 20, 1913, armed with a rifle and
pistol, came from the Colorado &
southern railroad cut near which
John Nimmo, ON that same day, was
shot to death, according to the testi-
mony late today of Charles Snyder.
Lawson said, My Cod is anybody
hurt here? We fired over $50 shots
at you Snyder swore, after he had
related how he as an agent of the
United Mine Workers OF America. had
gone in an automobile loaded with
ammunition TO the scene of the bat
tie between strikers and deputy sher-
ifs in which Nimmo was killed. Law
son, district No. Is member Of the
executive board of the United Mine
Workers of America, is on trial
charged with the murder of Nimmo,
one of the deputies.
Former witnesses for the state had
testified that Nimmo was shot by men
in the railroad cut shortly before dark
while he was advancing upon the po-
sition said to have been held by the
strikers
Served ms Secret Agent
Snyder described himself as for
mer member of the United Mine
Workers He said that about the
time the recent strike Of Colorado
coal miners was called he had been
employed by Lawson, T.. l.. Doyle, sec
retary-treasurer of district 5. Frank
j. Hayes, International vice president,
and other union officers 10 serve as
a secret agent ana also as body
e.. I j.
After a time he testified, he discon-
tinued his alleged services as secret
agent but continued as bodyguard
and purchaser of arms and ammuni-
ton for the strikers. Snyder was
called to the stand late in the day by
the prosecution. His examination
was begun by Norton Montgomery,
assistant district attorney The wit
ness. after relating his alleged MEM
bership in the union and his acquaint-
ance with Lawson and other officials
was asked to detail a conversation he
had with T.. l.. Doyle on September
20, 1913. There was immediate OBJ
lection from Horace H. Hawkins for
the defense Hawkins contended that
as the alleged conversation did not
take place in the presence of the de-
PENDANT it was inadmissable
Admits Conversation.
Counsel for both sides gathered at
the desk of Judge CRANKY Hillyer and
engaged in animated argument out of
earshot Of the jury. They then ad-
journed to the judges chambers
where the discussion was continued.
Finally the judge and lawyers re-
turned to the courtroom and the court
. To-
would be admitted.
Doyle told me in the union head
quarters at Denver that strike had
been called in southern Colorado,
related Snyder He said Lawson,
Hayes, John McLennan and himself
soon would go to Trinidad and that
they might be in danger He asked
me If | would act as bodyguard and
if | could get another man to do the
same kind of work
The witness accepted the PROPOSE
ton, he said, and got John Petty to
assist him. He assumed the name of
Tom Marshall and Petty that of Pat
Murphy"
Before the alleged deal was closed,
he said he had another talk with
Doyle. At this conference on the af-
ternoon of September 90 he swore
that Lawson and Hayes were present.
He got instructions to go to Trinidad
and begin his duties.
Notified of Ludlow Fight.
Snyder said that on October z, tho
date of the socalled first battle Of
Ludlow-he went with Lawson to the
tent colony at Aguilar. While there,
he said, Lawson got a telephone call
from the Ludlow tent colony notifying
him that fight was In progress and
they went to Ludlow.
on october 9, he said, he went to
Ludlow from Trinidad when word
was received that there was another
battle. He took ammunition to Lud-
low in an automobile. At Ludlow he
saw Lawson.
Lawson instructed the men who
received the shells to issue them to
the men of the colony" the witness
said. He had rifle and a side gun"
The witness was then led into re-
cltal of his alleged activities in pur-
chasing guns and ammunition. On
the night of October T, he took rifles
to the Ludlow colony, he said. He
declared that between the time of his
arrival at Trinidad and october %
he secured about 200 guns and large
quantity of ammunition. one large
consignment he said was purchased