The Topeka state journal., 1919-11-13
Are Threatening Trouble in
West Virginia.
Justice Department Reports
Violence Among Miners.
MORE TROUBLE At CENTRALIA
Ex-SoIdier, on Guard Duty, Is
Fired Upon.
Us. To Prosecute SO 1. w. w.
in Washington Outrage.

Washington. Nov. 13.-Activities of
radicals threaten serious trouble in the
bituminous coal mine fields of West
Virginia, according to reports received
today by the department of justice.
The situation in Monongahela and
Taylor counties was described by de-
partment of justice officials as par
ticularly nasty Meetings. directed
and attended largely by Russians, have
precipitated some violence among the
coal miners, the reports said.
Charleston, w Va, Nov 13.-Gov-
ernor Cornwell in a telegram to At
torney General Palmer at Washington
this afternoon declared that "alien
radicals were active in the northern
counties of West Virginia, and the L
". w. had established locals at Grant
town, Marion county, and Wendell,
Taylor county.
Centralia Guard Fired Upon.
Cen;ralia, Nov 13.-George Paxton,
Centralia, former soldier, was fired
upon before daybreak today as he was
patroling a road between Centralia and
Chehalis near the bridge where the
alleged I. w. w. was lynched Tuesday
right. Police, national guardsmen and
former soldiers searched vainly for
several hours for the man who fired
The body of the man lynched Tues
day night after the Armistiee Day par
ade had been ambushed, was dragged
thru the streets Of Centralia At the
city Jail the body was held up to the
gaze of the imprisoned men.
No attempt was made to storm the
Jail
More than thirty alleged Industrial
Workers of the World are in jail here
or at Chehalis awaiting today the fill
r,ff info 81 n them with
participation in or having KNOWLEDGE
of the killing here Tuesday of four
members of the American Legion dur
ing an Armistice day celebration.
To Hold Public Funeral.
Under the auspices of the American
Legion a public funeral will be held
OF the the four former soldiers. The
body of Ernest z yeretts, alleged mem
Der of the Industrial Workers who
was lynched, remained unclaimed to-
day.
Police said that in Eugene Barnette.
who was arrested at Mendoza, near
here, by former service men, that they
had one of the ring leaders of the
shooting.
Jack" Curtis, Centralia barber, and
his son, Cecil Curtis, arrested here to-
day, have confessed, officials said
that they were on Seminary Hill while
riflemen posted on the hill poured
bullets into the parade. The two sald
no shooting. Both carried l. w. w.
cards. officials said.
Robert Saunders, United States dis
trict attorney, telephoned to CountS
Attorney Herman Allen stating he
wanted murder charges placed against
all the prisoners against whom Allen
has evidence. Conspiracy charges
should be filed against the others,
Saunders instructed.
United States Has Investigated.
Several state and federal officials
have investigated the situation here
since the shooting Tuesday and have
conferred with Allen. Further 1ndlca-
ton that federal prosecution awaited
those accused of completely in the
shooting was contained in the state
ment made last night by Robert L.
Saunders, United States attorney, ac-
cording to advices received here.
'sIn my Judgment the 1. w. w. have
gone far enough with their acts to en-
phas;ze the truth that their principle
is the overturning of the government I.
including the federal government
Saunders was quoted as saying.
II shall place charges against every
one of the men arrested. The com
plaint will be placed before the United
States commissioner at Tacoma, and
believe that my evidence will be con-
the next term of the federal grand
jury here.
Il shall charge that each and every
one Of them 'wickedly and feloniously
confe1erated, conspir I'd and agreed to
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