The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1919-11-12

I.W. w. SECRETARY
WAS HUNG UP
AND RIDDLED
The Claim Is Made That
the Plan Was Premedi-
tated and That |. w. w.
Had Made the Threat of
Getting" Prominent Le-
giOn Men.

Centralia, Wash, Nov. l2.--Nineteen
alleged Industrial Workers of the World
are in Jail here to-day. The men were
rounded up yesterday, and last night
after the firing on the armistice day
parade, which resulted in the death of
four members of the American legion
and ,the lynching of Bert Smith, an !.
w. w. member. There was no disorder
here this morning
The reason for the attack, which
came as the head of the Legion parade
swung past /. w. W. headquarters, had
not been developed fully, but the au-
thorities said evidence had been OBJ
tanned that it was premeditated
Without warning bursts OF rifle fire
swept the ranks of the marching vet
erans as they paraded past l. W. w,
headquarters. Bullets came from that
building and the roof OF building
across the street. Persons in the crowds
that lined the street also drew weap-
ons and began firing.
Warren Grimm, leading a company
of men, dropped mortally wounded. Ar
thur McElfresh, marching in the ranks,
was killed instantly. Ben Casagranda
died later from his wounds.
John Earl Watt, George Stevens, ia
cob Phitzler and f. Eubanks also fell
wounded. the first named probably ia
tally. Stevens was shot when he at
tempted to disarm an l. w. w. stand
ing on the street.
The fourth death of parader was
added when Dale Hubbard an over
seas veteran, gathered small band
and started after the |. w. W. secre-
tary. Hubbard aud the fugitive crap
pied after chase, in which Smith fred
repeatedly at his pursuers. As they
clinched, Hubbard received four wounds
in the body.
Another pursuer overpowered Smith
and he was taken to Jail Later he
was removed and hanged after citizens
learned that four of the former sol
diers had died An attempt to lynch
Smith had been made before he was
lodged in the jail.
you fellows can't hang me" he
said. Il was sent to do my duty and
did it,"
Short Work of Smith.
Smith was tossed from bridge over
the Gheholis river after rope was
tied about his neck and a volley Of
bullets sent into his body The lynch
ing party worked silently and in dark
ness while taking him from the Jail
At 1880 o'clock all the city's electric
lights were cut off and eight men
easily overcame the one man on guard
inside the jail. Smith was placed in
one of about six darkened automobiles
that stood about the Jail, and rushed
to the bridge.
Little was known of Smith. He came
here a short time ago.
Two undertakers refused to handle
the body, and what disposal would be
made of it was not known.
Citizens to-day planned to drive all
radicals from Centraha, where they
have been increasing for some time and
operating in the logging camps and
other industrial centers American Le-
gion members declared every l. w. w.
must leave the city.
One of twenty men arrested in the
raids following the attack on the pa
rade, was said to have confessed that
plans had been made months ago to get
Warren Grimm and Arthur McElfresh,
Two of those killed, and William
Schales and Captain David Livingstone.
The four had been active'i III suppressing
radical activities in this community.
The Centralia police force consists of
only five paid members and they were
Doweress in the face of the great odds
against them, both in combating the
T. w. w and in defending Smith before
he was hanged. Members of the Le-
zion assisted them in patroling and
in guarding the Jail.
One eyewitness account Of the at.
tack ON the marchers was that it came
lust as the hea dof the line slowed
lown to mark time in front of the
I. w. w. headquarters to permit the
'est of the column to make up distance
From the roof and windows of the J.
". w. headquarters and buildings
across the street and from pedestrians
iolleys of bullets sprayed the halted
anks.
Men came running from different ex-
It's of the l. w. w. hall
Secretary Smith fled from a rear en-.
rance, firing an automatic. His weap.
IN damned" but he restored it 10
working condition and continued to
ire until he was oyertaken and dis.
lrmed.
Not the First Outbreak Of Trouble
Clashes between the l. w. w and
'entraIia citizens have occurred at in
eryals during the past two wears The