Norwich bulletin., 1915-05-04
Lawson Guilty of
 Ist tDegree Murder
FOR KILLING DEPUTY DURING
 COLORADO STRIKE
IMPRISONMENT FOR LIFE
Convicted Man HopefuI-Says His Attorneys Will Not Give Up Until Everything Possible Has Been Done to Save Him.

Trinidad, Colo, May 3.-The jury at 1.5 p. m today returned a verdict pronouncing John R, Lawson guilty of murder in the first degree, fixing the penalty at life Imprisonment for the killing of John Nimmo, a deputy tober 15. 1913.
 Convicted Man Hopeful.
 Commenting on the verdict Lawson
 They may get me, but they can't defeat the cause of labor. I'm not worrying about myself-it's the fight have been making for the working men that am interested in-and that will go ahead. Even for me, it's a long way to the penitentiary. My at torneys will not give up until every thing possible has been done to save me-"
 Lawson Prominent Leader.
 John R. Lawson was charged with the murder of John Nimmo a deputy of Las Animas county who was killed in a battle between deputies and strik- ing coal miners near Ludlow on Octo- Der 25, 1913. Lawson is the member of the international executive board of the United Mine Workers of Amer ica for district 15. He was one of the prominent leaders in the recent coal miners strike in Colorado, which was one of the most notable labor conflicts in the history of the United States
 Miners Laid Down Their Tools.
 The strike was called for September 23, 1913. On that date thousands of miners laid down their tools. Those living upon the property of the coal companies loaded up their household goods and moved out, most of them settling in tent colonies established by the union. The largest of these was at Ludlow, few miles north of Trin- idad and in. close proximity to the Hastings, Delagua, Tabasco, Berwind and Forbes mines.
 A Series of Clashes.
 Violence began early in the strike. There was a series of clashes in the Ludlow and Forbes neighborhood and on October 29 the national guard of Colorado, on orders from Gov. E. NJ. Ammons, took possession of the coal mining districts.
 Deputy BIed to Death.
 It was in one of the Ludlow fights before the arrival of the state militia that John Nimmo was killed. Nimmo was one of a force of deputies sta- toned at the Ludlow section house under command of K. E. Linderfelt. Linderfelt, a witness for the prosecu- ton, said the deputies were ordered by the then sheriff James s. Grisham, to preserve order and prevent trouble between strikers and the mine guards. Early in the afternoon of October p, 1913, a fight started between these deputies and a large body of strik- CTS. Firing ragged in the arroyos and railroad cuts until evening. Some time during the battle Nimmo was shot through the leg, bleeding to death.
 In Command During Battle.
 Lawson was charged with the homi- eide on the theory of the prosecution that he was in charge of the tent colony and in command of the strikers during the battle. Less than two days were occupied in the selection of a jury, which was made up as follows: J. O. Rosebrough, farmer; E NJ. Forbes, farmer: Grover Hall, omnibus driver; T. P. Brown. hveryman; Lloyd Bloom. ranch empToye; B. F. Patter- son, garage owner: Homer Canterbury, farmer; William Orth, garage owner; John Richards, broncho buster; w. w. Wilson, travelling salesman; c. Spur geon Herring, garage employe, and Minor Dygan, farmer.