The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1917-03-23
TRIAL
SPEEDS UP AS
10 Tell STORY

" IEk1 VtVuI
The experience OF Ernest
shellafen. engineer Of the steam
er Verona, under fire, furnish
ed thrill. for his hearers Thurs
day afternoon at the trial OF
Thomas n. Tracy. one OF the
Industrial Workers on that boat
on November 8, who 10 accused,
together with 70 others, OF the
murder OF citizen deputy,
jefferson Beard, In the battle
which followed the verona's ar
rival at Everett.
shellgren told. In a quiet and
Impersonal manner. OF being
struck by n bullet which did not
penetra,e his clothing. OF hsv.
ing fled from hls engine TO tho
shelter OF the marble switch.
board, being driven from there
to a place behind tho boilers,
and then into the engine pit.
after which. despalrlna OF find
inu any refuge from the hall OF
bullets, he ordered his fireman
TO turn on the fire, and, without
a signal from the vacant pilot
house. backed the steamer
away from the dock.
Incidentally. he mentioned see.
ing n hand projecting from behind
a barrel In his engine room. hold.
Ing blue gun" which II fired
toward the dock at intervals OF two
or three seconds, driving the
markAman away by threatening to
hit him over tho head with u ham
mer. seeing revolver pointed at
himself TO enforce an inquiry II tho
boat was going hack 10 Seattle. and
getting IAN eyeful" OF red pepper
when he put hls head out Of the
window TO see whore pepper on the
guard rail had como from.
Better progress was made Thurs.
day than on any day during the
more than two weeks OF the trial.
n witnesses being examined The
state is no, nearly thru with It's
case. however.
Admits Charter
The examination OF several OF the
witnesses Was shortened. and the
attorncys for the state were plainly
taken By surprise. when George r.
VRndoryoer. one OF Tracy'H counsel.
announced that the defense would
admit that the Verona was char
tered by the Industrial Workers for
tho purpose OF taking tho members
90 Everett. and paid for out OF a
special fund for that purpose.
We don't admit. however" Van.
deryeer added. that every man on
board vas nm Industrial Worker"
Tho first thiuE knew OF the
shooting said Shcllgrcn. "wbe
when ! heard "A rafting. cracking
noise. after tho boat had stopped
didn't know NJ first VIA, II was.
I looked around 20 see. and bullet
bit me under the arm. IL didn't 30
thru my clothing"
What did you do thcn1- asked
A. l.. vcltch. ono OF tho states at.
tornevs
Went up on deck and hack OF
tho marbl. switchboard"
How long did you stay thsr~-'
Just few seconds. Then l
went down under tho freight deck.
and then In back % the boiler
The shooting continued"
Yea Then thought This II no
place TO be. and went TO the
freight deck and got the fireman
out OF the hold to start the fire. so
Ne could get up steam"
Noticed Pepper
Immediately Afterward. the en-.
ginecr said. man armed with
revolver like that he had just seen
leaned over the failing back OF tho
engine room. and. pointing tho
weapon at him. said. Il want 20 70
back TO Seattle. Are you goluE
back TO Seattle7"
Il told him. You bet your life
we're going back 10 Seattle.
Shellgren said. with n smile that
indicated he thought the expert
cnce a Joke on himself And then
he went away"
During he return trip. Shcllgren
noticed pepper scattered on the
guard timber around the edge Of
the boat
Il looked out the window" he
said. "and then | saw something
move up above and looked mp
and just then I got a whole ryetul."
What lid YOU do them"
Went back In the engine room
and stuck my head In a bucket Of
water and washed II out"
shellgren smiled Mt this recollec-
ton also.
On REORGANIZATION. he testi.
fled that the first shot he identi.
fled as coming from the boat was
after he had taken refuge behind
the Switchboard The bullets that
Grove him there seemed TO come
from the side on which the dock
was.
Asked 20 Stop Shooting
Some OF the |. W. WIS. he said.
called to him: For Gods sake, 20
up and get them to stop shooting. "
Were they referring 10 tho peo-
pie on the dock?" Vandervear
esked him to specify.
Yes"
lie said he did not see Tracy
aboard the boat
+. ". Henry OF Seattle. safety In.
spector for the street railway COM
pany. who went with Santefore
Asbury and his wife TO the dock
November 3. when. as Asbury testi.
fled Thursday morning. they trttd
to go to Everett on the Verona. cor.
roborated Asbury's testimony az to
the orderly behavior of the crowd.
both at the Verona and at the
Callsta. on which a number OF the
y. w. WIS and Asbury and his wife
finally want