The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-02-26
MI. Conway With Band
adged Head Able to Leave
Bed Today.
,yN!0N IS mot Involved
INDICTMENTS ARE EXPECTED
SOON AS PRoRERs' WORK IS
NEAR COMPLETION.


probe into the strike riot which re.
suited in the sheriif's injury. the death
ofsC Constable w. R. Riggs and the Sc.
rious injury Of other officers.
Information has leaked from behind
the locked doors OF the grand jury
rom. indicating that testimony has
been offered tending to show that the
United Mine Workers OF America did
not organize the strike and that they
are not in any way responsible for
" This evidence supports the posi-.
tive statements made by Thomas
HSairns, Of Charlestown, president OF
istrict No. II. and r. +. Gatens, or
ne mine workers, who investigated
conditions here.
Careful preparations are being made
by county officials to serve the writs
OF caplas which the Circuit Court is
expected to issue as result of the
probable wholesale indictments by the
grand Jury. with such force and in
such o manner as to uphold the ma jes-
" OF the law without bloodshed IL
possible.
These three statements. contain a
summary of the, developments in the
strike situation today aside from the
fact that the grand jury is expected to
complete Its work at any moment and
return from 20 to so indictments
against men responsible for the mur.
derons attack upon Sheriff Conaway
and his posse last Saturday.
Although confined to his bed with
painful wounds received at the hands
OF angry strikers. Sheriff Conway
from his bedside has directed the
work Of procuring evidence for pre-.
sentahons before the grand Jury and
the examination Of prisoners and 9th.
er witnesses arrested on John Doe
warrants issued from the office OF Jus.
tice $of the Peace R.. Leigh Fleming.
Notwithstanding the painful injuries
from which he is suffering, Sheriff
Conway Is showing spirit Of just
ness and forbearance in the handling
OF prisoners arrested for completely
in the riot. which is winning the con.
fdence mot only of the citizens of
Marion county not directly affected
by the strike, but also the hundreds
of miners in the Pennington district
who, say they were forced against their
will into the mob which attacked the
sheriff and his posse.
Many men arrested on suspicion
have been turned loose after showing
that they were not with the mob or
that they were there only through
compulsion. Arrests In large numbers
are fstill being made, however. The
men arrested during the last "a hours
include the following:
JOHN BAKER, negro. fireman at
No. 8 mine, who was driven from
work by strikers. He was arrested in
Montana and Is being held as wit.
ness. Sse
IHoMAs EEcIr,cH, Pennington
district, rioting.
1850 LiMNNovlcH, Pennington
district, rioting.
GEORGE BEsTiscH, Pennington
district. rioting.
JosEPHtTIRcHo, No. 9 mine; riot.
STEPHEN TlRcHo. Farr ton
district, rioting, ar.
MICHAEL scRYMlcH, Tarmington
district; suspected OF completely in
theSriot.
FRANK MoRAvAcE, Pennington
district: suspected of completely in
the strike riOt.
JOHN BoLAsH, Pennington dis.
trfct; suspected Of completely in the
strike riot.
Each day the various county offi-
cta1s have met at Sheriff Conaway's
bedside and the situation has been
fully discussed; the evidence by the
various witnesses discussed. and plans
laid for bringing to justice the men
directly responsible for the death OF
Constable Riggs and the serious in
Jury Of other officers.
One OF 1.-THE most striking develop
mentst of the last day is that Mr.. Riggs
the only officer who has died as re-.
suit Of the riot and Deputy Sherit1
T. v. Buckley, who was SO seriously
Injured that he may die, are both
closely identified with union labor.
Mr. Riggs was a member Of the order
Of Railroad Conductors, and carried
d union card. having worked for the
Baltimore g Ohio Railroad for many
years before he was elected constable.
Deputy Sheriff Buckley was union
stogie maker, and before he became
m officer he worked in union shop
and carried a union card.
Yesterday afternoon meeting Of
strikers attended by about so men was
held In a field at the junction Of Dun
kard,s MIL Run and Buffalo creek in
the Pennington district. It Is report
ed that the men out at No. z and No.
D mines are willing to &c. back to work
but the leaders at No. 8 mine are still
holding out.
The miners Of Russian and Polish
nationality are said to be inclined to
settle the strike amicably, but that
he italians. especially a number Of
cnlabrians ct No. 5 mine, are holding
back