The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-01-26
Roosevelt, N. j. sheriffs
Were New York Gunner
It's Claimed.
WERE illegal OFFICERS
WERE PROVIDED WITH GUNS BY
THE COMPANY FOR WHOM
THEY WORKED.

NEW YORK CITY. Jan. 2s:-ln-
yestigation OF tho records Of the lie
gal deputy sheriffs who shot down
strikers 1.-THE Williams and Clark Fer.
Hlizer8 plant at Roosevelt, N. j. re-
gealst the following amazing facts:
That the men who acted as deputies
and who did the shooting were gunner
and gangsters OF New York; some be-
longed TO the Paul and Jimmy Kelly
gang, of Seventh avenue and Thirty
ffthlstreet, and Jack DOnoYan's gang,
Seventh avenue and 'rhlrty-seyenth
street, the Post Office gang.
Gangsters and gunner were import.
ed from New York by o'Brien's Detec.
tive Agency of Newark.
Theyfwere sworn In illegally as dep.
FutiesS by Sheriff Houghton of Middle
sex County.
That practically every deputy in.
yolyed in the shooting can be prose-
ecuted for murder, and no protection
can be given on the ground that the
murderer was a deputy sheriff.
That officials of the company knew
o tsthet prevailing conditions and pro-
yided the gunner from New York with
gums, clubs and ammunition.
That either by %connivance with
county officials or by criminal care.
1essness on the part of county officials
many of the actual murderers were
permitted to escape from the State in
boats furnished by the company and
that many of the murdercrs are now
at large in New York.
Real SIayers Got Away.
The real facts of how the New York
gunner were recruited, how the guns
were put into their hands and how they
wereatold to shoot the strikers was
brought to. light yesterday.
The real murderers were hustled In
to a boat and carried across the bay to
Perth Amboy, from where they were
shipped to New York. The launch
was supplied by the company, and as
It was three hours after the shooting
that an official investigation was made
the men had ample time 10 make their
escape.
inquiry Set on Foot.
An exhaustive inquiry to learn
whether or not any OF the twenty.eight
adeputyt sherirfs" lodged in the county
jaillo New Brunswick. charged with
first degree murder for causing the
death Of the two strikers at Roose.
welt, are New York gunner, is being
Conducted by the county authorities.
Onsthe eve OF the investigation by
the Grand; Jury into the shooting, Sher.
.fs Hpughton, who employed the dep
utiess yesterday declared he would
furnish the means to defend the men.
1.-THE men were working for me and
i will defend them from the murder
charge" declared the Sheriff. go.
seph. Stricken, my attorney, is their at
torney.1
eNho will pay the money for the at.
torney the county or yourself?" was
asked.
Twill foot the bill" answered Shcr.
if5 Houghton. 81 do not wish the pub
lie to think. though, that l am defend
ing the men II they are proved muir.
lderers, orHthat I do not feel sorry over
the deaths of the two strikers. The
regret.o of their death Is stronger in me
than any n else outside their fami.
les
Sheriff Houghton admits he did not
Lave a notary present to administer
an oath to the deputies" brought to
the American Agricultural Chemical
Company. plants by Jerry o'Brien.
The sheriff disclaims the initial re-
sponsibility for bringing the guards to
the Roosevelt plants. He puts 1t
squarely up, to the borough officials Of
Roosevelt, Mayor Joseph Hermann and
Chief Harry Harrington.