The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1915-04-30


Trinidad. Colo. Aprll so.--John A.
Lawson. labor leader. on trial for hia
life ON a charge Of numbering John
Nlmmo, testified to-day that he had
counAeied the striking coal miners 10
obey the laws ana refrain from vle-
lence. Ec said he had imported arms
into the Ludlow tent colony for de-
Tense. after being advised by aitor-
neys that such action was legal
Lawson was put on the stand with
the announcement that HIS testimony
would cioae the case for the defcnne,
lie was questioned by Horace n. Flaw
kins. In detallinK mia HE ns q coal
miner aud his experiences - y leoor
leader. he stated that his salary as q
member Of the executive board Of tho
United Mine Workers was at present
tiss a month.
Lawson told Of the beginning OF the
strike and the formation OF tent col
onics at Ludlow and other points. on
October Z, 1919. he went 10 Ludlow
In his automobile. accompanied by
Mother" Mary Jones. Miss Margaret
Hayes. n sister OF Frank ]. Hayea;
and Charles Snyder. with John Baru-
ilch as driver. AZ Ludlow. lawson
and Mother Jones made apeeches 10
the striking coal miners. The Wit
ness declared Mother Jones told
the mlaers not TO violate the law. as
that would give the Baidwin-Fcits
detectives an opportunity 70 attack
them
did Mother Jones say. Fight boys,
damn Il gshti'?'' demanded Attor
ney Hawkins.
Positively not replied Lawson.
Lawson then related what he said
he could remember Of his own
speech Ilc said he advised the min
crs that tho only way they could win
the strike was by getting public SEN
,lmcnt in their favor. and that 20 this
end they must observe the laws and
refrain from violence.
"Did you say. We viii XIII every
damned Baldwin-Felts detective IN
this country as testifed by witness
for the state?" said Hawkins.
Lawson smiled broadly. = mover
made those statements anywhere IL
my nfe," he replied. The conrt ru
ed that the answer should DO stricken
out except as Il applied 10 the speecf
OF October 7.
| After making the speech, Lawson
tostlnod. he went 90 Aguilar. While
there ne got telephone message tha
Ludlow colony was being attacked ei
guards. He returned hastily 20 Lud
low. After reaching there he said h
made every effort 10 keep the striker
quiet
"On the night of October z. he said
he went 60 Denver, where he remain
ed uatA the night OF October 10
states witnesses had testified tina
Lawson was az Ludlow on october
when there was another isht.
when he returned 20 LUDLOW
reaching there on the morning of Oe
tober n. the witness said, Il was wit
the Intention OF taking charge OF IN
tent colony. to preserve order an
look after the interests Of the striker
lie said he brought three rifles wit
hlm from ponyar
After some arguments between al
torneys. Lawson was permitted 10 tel
thar he armed the strikers because h
had been told that Ludlow and othe
colonies had been attacked by min
guards and ne believed arms wer
necessary az a defensive measure. II
had been informed by counsel tina
the strikers had the right TO buy gun
to defend their lives and property.
Just before luncheon recess. Law
son had begun TO tell his story OF th
, events o. october 25. 1918. tho da
upon which Nimmo was killed II
said that when the fsht started h
vas in hia tent Huperintcndlng "a
: weekly payment OF union benefits
! the strikers on that day, he pni'
the coioney numbered from 500 60 90
, men. about 900 women and 400 chlls
ren.