The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-04-12

The trial of Louis Urich, one of the
134 striking coal miners, each OF
whom is indicted for first degree muir
der and other felonies to the number
of 140, was started today in Circuit
court with Judge w. s. Raymond on
the bench.
y During the morning session OF court
: the jury was selected and the states
side of the case outlined by Prosecut-
ing Attorney Tusca Morris in an e:o-
Quent address in which he held the
audience spellbound with a vivid de-
scription of the battle between Sheriff
Z g. %. Conaway and his posse of Off
Gers on one side and the striking coal
miners on the other. Attorney Harry
Shaw is assisting the state in the
prosecution.
Congressman James Francis Burke,
"a prominent attorney of Pittsburgh,
with Attorneys Rollow Conley and
Frank Z. Amos, are representing the
defense. Following the noon recess
attorney Amos opened for the de-
fense and outlined the evidence which
the defense expects to produce. The
jury follows:
y. q. Haney, boarding boss. Farm
Henry Gump. farmer. Warrington
district.
w. M. Gaskill, mine superintendent,
4 Montana.
George NJ. Nuzum, manager tele-
phone company, Winfield district.
o. J. Morrow, carpenter, Fairmont.
& w. ID. Straight, real estate broker,
Fairmont.
Howard ]. Ross, merchant, Fair
mont.
Samuel Leeper, bookkeeper, Fair
mont.
Edward Holbert. real estate broker,
Fafrmont.
NJ: N. Barns, farmer. Fairmont dis
R j. Amos; building contractor.
W: a. Feather, farmer, Fairmont
district.
Jurors Selected.
Following the opening of court
shortly after 9 o'clock the names OF
twenty Jurors were drawn from the
panel of sixty men, who had been or
dered to report for jury duty by Clerk
of the Court w. S. Black. But before
these men were questioned the attor-
neys for the defense requested that
: all witnesses, both for the state and
for the defense. be sworn and sent out
u of the court room until they should be
needed to testify.
After this had been done Judge Hay
mond explained to the twenty jury
men that Louis Urich, the defendant,
was to be tried for first degree MUIR
der, having been indicted as the result
OF the disturbance" at or near Farm
ington, following which William Ross
Riggs, constable OF Fairmont dis
trict, had died. The court asked thS
sjurymen II any of them had any con-
scfentious scrupples against capital
punishment, or IL they were related to
the defendant, or for any other reason
might be so prejudiced so as to be un-
able to give fair decision.
Many Excused.
Talisman Howard Coleman, of Farm
fington, asked to be excused en- the
ground that he was acquainted with
Urich and with many of the men in
dicted with him and that he regarded
it as impossible to single out the men
who struck the actual blows alleged
( TO have caused Riggs death. Cole
man was excused by Judge Raymond.
Albert DeBerry, farmer, of Ices
Run, asked to be excused on the
ground that under the circumstances
he had -scrupples against capital pun
) ishment. His excuse was accepted.
J.IJ. Brennan, mine superintendent
at Pennington, asked to be excused,
alleging that he was prejudiceu
against the men who participated in
the strike because he did not believe
in strikes as means OF settling labor
troubles.
Attorney Amos, for the defense. then
moved that the court ask the jurors
IL any of them were employed by the
Jamisons Coal and Coke company or
z -