Tombstone epitaph., 1920-04-04

organization, embracing all the Amer jeans in the district. Asked who com posed the Citizens Protective League he said he didn't know. but he had reorganized the League Miles Mer- Till, he said was head of the Loyalty | League and Basset Watkins of the Protectice League. which had beeu ! formed when trouble with Mexico was imminent He had attended several meetings of the Loyalty League and al one time swore in 500 or GOO de- puties. he said. Three meetings were held. he said. one when he swore in the deputies. another in between and the third on the night of July l1th, when final action was taken for the deportation. On rigid cross-ques ton ! ing as to whether or not Gerald Sher- man general superintendent of the Copper Queen mines. had not made the suggestion for deportation. and gave orders for furnishing guns and ammunition 10 the deputies, Mir. Wheeler replied that he did not re member Of any such action. but did not think so because he himself hal given the orders. He reiterated his answer on several occasions. when the same questions was asked him [ with reference to Capt J c. Green way. Basset Watkins. Dr. Bledsoe NJ J. Cunningham and others. when the County Attorney charged him with such facts. He replied that they were false statements.
 Wheeler stated that only roo or
 500 Of his deputies were armed and
 that many had pickhanales, but did not know where they had gotten
 them. Tha, was just detail. he said.
 About 50 to 70 captains Of squads
 ot deputies were Dresen; at the Ja!r
 II meeting. he said 10 receive final
 orders as .o their actions. and when questioned with regard for the al
 legged suppression of news over the
 telephone and telegraph wires, the witness replied that he knew only Of
 the local telephone service, which h.
 had ordered suppressed in order to
 avoid any trouble. As 10 the suppress
 sion Of the telegraph wires. he did
 not learn that Capt. Stout had done such 9 thing until the next day
 In reply to the question: Isn't i:
 a fact that Dowel! suggested the de-
 portation" the witness replied No I gave the order and l suggested it. He also stated he called the meeting
 and arrived after it had started be.
 cause he had gone 10 Warren after
 Mr. Greenway.
 Asked whether or not Dowell had
 said in the meeting that he consid
 cred :he Warren District afflicted
 with . cencerous growth and i'
 should be removed" and that DI' Bledsoe, chief surgeon for the C. X A. had not said that those presep. were the surgeons who should re
 move it." Mir Wheeler said he did , not remember such statements. As t
 whether Mike Cunningham had not made a fiery" speech for the depor taton of the men. Mir. Wheeler said
 ne did not remember Cunningham be
 ing there but if there were any fiery speeches made, he guessed he made il.
 Asked if Greenway had not suggest , ed the train idea 10 get the men tc a Columbus and tha; il should be lef , up to Dowell to attend 10, Wheeler :, said that was not the fact because , he, himself had entertained that idea and had given orders for the trair s to the citizens. meaning those pres !. ent, having given the orders severa hours before the meeting; in fact a !, the same time that he had called tn, - meeting.
 At this point the county attorne, ] said: T am not trying to depriy,
 you of any laurels. NIT. Wheeler" {, f which the witness heatedly replied Mfr French I want no laurels.' Tn; |. court intercepted with strong ad ! monishment of both and the tria . proceeded.
 i He replied to a question as to how l long he had entertained the idea O + the deportation, that he had though - Of it several days before July 12