Arizona republican., 1920-04-01
WHEELER TELLS
 ]. OF THREATENING !. TALK IN STRIKE
Declares He Heard Slurs on Flag and Threats Against Government and Men and Women of Bisbee Before the Deportations
Republican A. p. Leased wireI

TOMBSTONE, Ariz., March 3l.- Slurs against the American flag. threats against the government of the United States. warnings to men who were willing to work that it was their last day. and boasts that the women relatives of these workers would be at tackled shortly, were alleged to have been heard during the strike in the Warren mining district, beginning June 26 1917 by miners who testified today for the defense at the trial of Harry F. Wootton. charged with Kidnapping in connection with the Bisbee deportations of July F, 1917. Many of the threats. as recounted by the witnesses. were couched in unprintable language.
 Edward B. White, of Bisbee. one Of the defendants in the Kidnapping cases now pending as a result of the depor- tations, testified that he had heard threats against the women of the com munity. that he himself had been men aced with sand -bagging because he persisted in working during the strike, and that he gave his wife a shotgun for her protection during his absence.
 Regarding the experiences of fel- low worker J. c. BendiXon. who later corroborated part of Whites testimony White said: rBendiXon, who was wear ing an American flag on the lapel Of his coat, was hailed by one of the pick cts of the strikers. who said: You think that you can hide behind that flag Well, we are going to show you how much that - - rag amounts to-
 Cursed the Flag
 BendiXon's testimony omitted the profanity. but corroborated that part of Whites account that referred to hid ing behind the flag.
 White said many of the strangers congre gating in Bisbee at the time of necks,' "hard-boiled guys" and "bo- hunks" This last term he defined meaning ''dogeaters."
 William G. Jeffries, another Bisbee miner who said he was a deputy sheriff at the time of the deportations, testi- fled that during the two days immedi ately prior to the deportations, the sit uation began to appear threatening and that the fAces of the strikers looked 'black, as if they had the devil him self in them" ''I had no family and I was not afraid for myself" Jeffries said, but feared that the town would be blown m and that my friends might need help. So I remained in Bisbee in spite of the advice given me by rela- tives to leave the district"
 Jeffries testified he heard two pick cts ask a workman on his way to a mine in Bisbee to go out with the strik- CTS. When the man refused, the pick cts shouted to him to go his way. but that that shift would be his last" the witness said.
 Oscar Kein. Of Bisbee, testified at the time of the deportations things looked pretty bad' and that there were hard feelings among the men,"
 Situation Was Threatening
 O. T. Smith. miner of Courtland. Ariz- testified that eight Mexicans working for him in the Huachuca mountains left his employ following a visit by two well dressed men of the same nationality. The defense was not permitted to show why the men left. w. G Gilmore, one of Wootton's at torneys, announced that Smith later would be called for further examina- tion.
 The morning session and part of the afternoon session were taken up with the cross examination of Captain Harry c. Wheeler, former sheriff of Cochise county, who has repeatedly taken full responsibility for the depor- tations. Captain Wheeler testified that he gave his deputies general instruc- tions to deport dangerous or disloyal men" but that he left the individual selections to the initiative" of the men who aided him.
 Sheriff Wheeler criticized the report of President Wilson's mediation com mission regarding the Bisbee deporta- tions as being incorrect and mislead- ing"