Denver labor bulletin., 1915-04-17
VERDICT OF GUILTY
IN SECOND TRIAL
Louis ZanCannelli May Serve
Remainder Of Life in Pen
Trinidad Jury, Chosen From an Open
Venire, Fulfills Expectations; Opens
Way for Railroadine Union Men

A jury selected from an open panel for
the express purpose of railroading a un-
ion man to the gallows or penitentiary
returned verdict of guilty in the second
trial OF Louis Zancannelli at Trinidad
last Friday night at o o'clock after be-
ing out twenty-four hours. In the first
trial the jury, selected under the regular
venire system stood nine to three for ac
quittal. 1t was imperative, however, for
Zancannelli to be convicted, or else the
indictments against some l20 other un-
ion men in Las Animas county would
fall. The c. +. & /. state legislature
had created a new judgeship to try these
cases and Governor Carlson had appoint
ed CRANKY Hillyer, former attorney for
the c. Il. & !. TO the position of judge
Former Judge Jesse Northcutt was lead
ing prosecutor for the coal operators.
In returning verdict OF murder in the
first degree, the jury recommended that
the penalty be life imprisonment in the
penitentiary. Zancannelli was indicted
under a charge of having shot and killed
George W. Belcher, a Baldwin Felts de-
tective employed by the coal operators,
on Main street in Trinidad, on the even
ing of November 20, 1918. Three months
previous Belcher and Walter Belk, an
other detective, had shot and killed Ger
aid Lippiatt, an organizer for the United
Mine Workers, on the street not far from
the point where Belcher was shot dead.
Motion for New Trial.
Not a single eyewitness positively
identified Zancannelli as the man who
did the killing, yet the street was full
of people at the time. Attorney Horace
y. Hawkins. chief counsel for the de-
fense, gave notice that he would file a
motion for 4 new trial.
The trial Of Walter BelS, charged with
killing Gerald Lippiatt, was scheduled to
follow the Ianacauelli case, but Judge
Hillyer ordered postponement until the
May term OF court Informations also
were filed which charge Belk with muir
derihg Luka Valhernalik and with as
saulting Marco Zamboni with rifle and
a rapid-fire gun The happenings oc-
CURED October l3 at Forbes. a confer
enoe was held between District Attorney
Jack J. Hendricks and Attorney Hawkins
to determine on the trials of other union
men under arrest. They are to select
the most important cases and arrange
/ for series of individual trials. Judge
/ Hillyer has declined to grant any change
of venue to other courts.
The case of Robert Uhlich, president OF
/ the Trinidad local of the United Mine
Workers of America, charged with muir.
der and other crimes growing out OF
strike troubles, set for Tuesday in the
district court. was continued to the May
term on presentation of medical proof
that Uhlich was suffering from nervou.
prostitution, LESSONS of the lungs ana a
/ general breakdown.
Lawson's Trial Next Monday.
/ Chlich was arrested soon after the
state militia went into the southern dis.
/ trict and was held in the Trinidad jail
for ten months incommunicado. He is
now out under $4,000 bail bond.
The trial of John r Lawson, member
of the international executive board, was
set for next Monday.
Judge Cranky Hillyer has denied II. y
Hawkins motion for a bill of particulars
in the cases against Uhlich, Lawson
William Snyder and Pat Anaya- Deputy
| Attorney General Frank West filed a
replication TO Hawkins motion to quash
the jury venine on the ground that pref
udieed men Were brought in by open ven.
/ ire. He asks that the names of venire.
men be drawn from the box.