Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-05-04
! lALTY FOR LAWSON
IS life IMPRISONMENT
Found Guilty OF Murder in First
Degree for Killing ofDeputy
ss 81 Sheriff in 1913.
hEsUITs OF CLASH AT LUDLOW
Charge Against Convicted Man Grew
M Out OF Fact That He Directed
Strikers During Battle - Was
Prominent in Labor Circles.

TRINIDAD. COL. May 3-John n.
dawson to-day was found guilty OF
Il murder In the first degree for the kill
Ing of John, Nimmo. n deputy sheriff.
in battle with strikers on October
4 25. 1913. The jury's verdict fixed the
penalty at life Imprisonment.
SIS Under the Colorado statutes, the
& Jury, which had been celebrating since
Saturday night, was empowered to re-
q turn sentence either OF death or life
Thirty days were given
for the defense to file n
: motion for new trial Lawson was
released temporarily in custody of his
8 counsel. He talked quite phlosophi-
sscally Of the verdict. He said
They may get me, but they can't
II defeat labor. I'm not worrying about
8 myself; It's the fight 1 have been MAX
ling for the workingman that am in
n terested inland that will go ahead
Even for me. it's long way TO the
& pen. My attorneys will not give UP
until everything possible has been done
ito save me-"
on the verdict, Horace
IN. Hawkins, chief counsel for defense
& said:
do not believe the verdict ever
VIII be sustained. 1t IS contrary to
Z the evidence. 1 shall fight this case
6as long as there are courts in which
!; to fight"
Lawson was charged with the MUIR
{ der of John Nlmmo. a deputy OF Las
sAnimas County. who was killed in
.sbattle between deputies and striking
coal miners near Ludlow on October
s25. 1913 Lawson is the member of
= the international executive board of the
sJUntted Mine Workers of America for
district Is. He was one Of the promi-
nent leaders in the recent coal miners
astrike in Colorado, which was one OF
1.-THE most notable labor conflicts in the
Nhistory of the United States.
80 The strike was called for September
s23 1913 On that date thousands OF
ssminers laid down their tools. Those
living upon the property of the coal
y companies loaded up their household
q goods and moved out. most of them set
sting In tent colonies established by
.ithe union. The largest Of these was at
& Ludlow. few miles north OF Trinidad,
land in close proximity to the Hast
aings, Delagua. Tabasco, Berwind and
Forbes mines
Violence began carly in the strike.
ludlow and Forbes neighborhood. and
&on October 90 the National Guard OF
Colorado. on orders from Governor e.
{ NJ. Anmons. took possession OF the
coal mining districts.
NIMMO KILLED IN ONE
OF THE LUDLOW FIGHTS
Il was in one of the Ludlow fights
@tforc the arrival of the state militia
that John Nimmo was killed Nimmo
n "a Of Al
toned at the Ludlow section house
'nder command OF X. T. Linderfelt
l.indcrfelt, witness for the prosecu-
ton. said the deputies were ordered
I h. the then sheriff. James s. Grisham.
tn preserve order and prevent trouble
between strikers and mine guards
Early I'm the afternoon of October 25,
1913 fight started between these
deputies and large body OF strikers.
Firing ragged in the arroyos and rail-
road cuts until evening Some time
during the battle Nimmo was shot
through the leg, bleeding to death.
Lawson was charged with Tie homi-
eide on the theory Of the prosecution
that he was in charge OF the tent col
ony and in command of the strikers
!. during the battle. Less than two days
were occupied In the selection of the
.ury, which was made up as follows:
j. O. Rosebrough. farmer: f.. NJ. Forbes
farmer: Grover Hall, omnibus driver;
T. p. Brown llveryman; Lloyd Bloom
ranch employee; B. +. Patterson, garage
owner; Homer Canterbury, farmer;
William Ortiz. garage owner: John
Richards. bronchQs buster; w. W. VIII
son. travelling salesman: c. Spurgeon
Herring, garage employee, and Minor
DyGan, farmer.
The prosecution was under direction
OF Acknowledgement Fred Farrar, OF
the State of Colorado. Frank West
and Norton Montgomery. assistants to
the Attorney General. represented the
state in court Counsel for the de-
Tense consisted OF Horace y. Hawkins.
chief attorney for the United Mine
YWorkers; Edward p Coatigan, Fred
wv. Clark and Q. II. Dasher The case
was tried before Judge CRANKY EIillycr
in the District Court of Las Anmas
County.