The daily times. [volume] (Wilson, N.C.) 1902-1936, 1919-09-27
FIVE aSyDANTS
FAIL ID APPEAR
And Forfeit Their Bands. A,
Effort to Prove the Mill
Owners Had
FORMED A CONSPIRACY

Albemarle, Sept. 26-Five of the
twenty-seven textile mill operatives
charged with rioting and conspiracy
to resist the law, were absent and
forfeited their bonds when the cases
of the twenty-seven were called for
haring before Justice of the Peace
Littleton here today. D. E. Porter,
another defendant, who, was wound
ed in the disorder at the Wiscassett
mill on September Is, was said to
be still unable to attend trial. The
day was consumed in hearing States
evidence against the 81.
Albemarle, Sept. 26.-Evidence
to prove that the manufacturing in
terests in Albemarle with their
friends are guilty of conspiracy to
break the laws of the State of
North Carolina almost got into the
record of the court today and the
battle to keep it out was f1ercely
waged all day, wordy arguments be-
tween the prosecution taking up
much time.
The first meeting of the textile
operatives in Albemar1e for the pur-
pose of hearing a speaker and or
ganiz1ng union was broken up by
q party led by an unknown man who
announced himself as the high sher-
, if Of Stanly county, and ordered
speaker, M. G. Ledford, to leave the
county at once. Backed into cor
ner by an enraged audience, he pull
ed a gun on them, which was taken
from him. Report at the time had
it tina: he escaped ducking in the
nearby creek by giving the Masonic
signal of distress. Ledford, being
a Mason also, intervened and the man
was allowed to leave. This occur
red some three months ago.
| Today Frank Dunn, witnes for
the State, admitted on cross-exam-
ination that he was present on this
| occasion and that he saw there
Messrs. Joe Cannon, Jap Ef1rd, Titus
Efird, Alma Smith, M. L. Rogers, all
associated with the mills, and Tom
Maness and C. P. McSwain, deputy
sheriffs. E. C. Hendricks, an over
seer in the Wiscassett mills, was
also a reluctant witness to the pres
ence of these people.
Solicitor Brock objected to the
introduction of this evidence at this
time as not bearing on the case and
made the statement that at the
proper time he expects to investi-
gate this other fight. Asked when,
he replied, That's my business,
Immediately following with the as
surance that he intended no abrupt
ness, only that the State was direct
ing the case. Judge Thomas A
Jones held the belief that since the
prosecution is introducing various
matters pertaining to the member
ship and meetings Of the labor union:
lit might also be held that evidence
showing that effort was made or
| IAO pd1t VI IhO A1iAh OWhOAo " PAO
went the organization of the unioI
by the unlawful breaking up of theil
first meeting could be considered
Judge Littleton ruled with the pros
ecution.
A number OF witnesses told the
story of the deputizing of number
of men on the day of the shooting
| by the simple process of the mayor
or policeman or Mr.. Jim Lowder
former alderman but present statu
} ,lnf1xed in the record, going through
ne ceremony of creating special po
| lice by saying: ST deputize yol
: special officer Of the town of Albe
marle," presenting card bearing
: Special officer appointed Sept. Is
. 1919, J. A. Groves, Mayor" and be
: slowing as a kind of indentifyinl
: accolade a bit of blue ribbon 70
4 the buttonhole.
: Evidence was much the same a
in the Ritch1 1Graham cases. Man
: of the same witnesses were intro
J, duced and their testimony was tn
:, same of the things heard in thes
). meetings. When it came to tn
CONTINUED on Page Eight.)