Denver labor bulletin., 1916-01-08
Charged With Killing Of
Major Lester, C.N. 6.
Change Of Venue Granted to Doug
lass County and Judge Denison
Of Denver Is Presiding in the
Place Of Deposed Hillyer

Attorney General Fred Farrar and
Governor George Z. carlson resumed
their prosecution, or more tritely ''perse-
cution,- of union officials and miners
upon charges growing out OF the recent
Colorado coal strike. at Castle Rock last
Monday. -Four men are being tried in
bunch, under the charge of being i'm
plicated in the killing Of Major Lester
of the Colorado National Guard In the
battle of the hogback" at the Walsen
mine. near walsenburg. April 81, 1914.
The four miners who are being tried
now are Enoch Mair, Fred Garcia, Arthur
Quinn and Michael Savage a motion
for continuance OF the trial was made
because of the absence, necessitated by
illness. Of the fifth accused miner.
Charles O'Neill. The request was de-
MED O'Neill will bc tried separately
when his health permits his presence in
court. Several other ummportant mo
tious were argued. but the decision OF
the court in each instance was the same.
Judge penison Presiding.
Douglas county. Of which Castle Rock
"a the county seat, was chosen as the
srene OF the trial and Judge John II
, Dcnison of Denver was selected 10 pre-
'S,ide in IL after writ Of prohibition had
been granted by the Supreme Court pre-
venting Judge CRANKY Hillyer from sit
ting. Attorneys T. =. Costigan and
Charles Mahoney Of Denver, John East Of
AwAi-enburg and former Judge Cunning
ham Of Douglas county represent the de-
PENDANTS. John II. Chiles, special assist
ant attorney general, and Frank c. West,
assistant attorney general, arc represent
ing the state, by order OF Attorney Gen
crsi Farrar and Governor Carlson.
veniremcn Closely Questioned
The examination OF prospective jurors
began 1T 2 o'clock Monday afternoon
80 venircman is being closely ques-
Iionrd As 10 his knowledge OF strike mat
tiers, whether he participated in any way
in the strike troubles; whether a. n re-
suit of his knowledge Of whn, took place
he had formed or expressed opinions
which will prevent him from fairly and
impartially trying the case, He Is also
extensively questioned a. 10 his &C
auaintancc with the leaders on both sides
of the controversy and. OF course, Is
asked II he can give the defendants the
presumption of Innocence at the outset
of the trial; that il, whether he viii pre-
sumo the defendants TO be innocent until
otherwise shown. One prospective jury
declared he had never read Colorado
Newspaper.
Judge Dcnison granted the defense per
mission to take photographs OF the in
terror of the Hucrfano county jail for
exhibit purposes during the trial Sheriff
jeff Farr heretofore had refused this per
mission on the ground that the photo
graphs would be used TO no good effect
and would probably be used to malign
him.
Lawson Present at Trial.
John X. Lawson. executive board mem
bcr of the United Mine Workers for
Colorado, who is under life sentence
imposed at Trinidad by Judge CRANKY
G. Hillycr after farcical trial and is
out under 5000 bond signed by for
mer United States Senator Thomas NJ
Patterson and Werner Y. Reed, the capi-
tali-t. was in Castle Rock attending the
tral this week. John McI.ennan. prcsi-
dcnt of District 20, U. NJ. W., was also
present at the opening session.
Up to the time this issue of The Bulle-
tin goes to press the jury box was not
half filled, and II will probably bc the
middle of next week bcyorc n jury OF
twelve men is chosen and taking of evil
dencc begun.
IL is the general belief that IL the
state authorities and mine operators lose
this case the other 400 or more indict-
mcnts and informations against former
strikers and union officials pending in
various counties Of the state will be
qunshed. After fighting the union men
in the courts for nearly year, not
single victim has been executed or placed
in the pcnitentiary at Canon City