New-York tribune., 1920-03-28
l25 Men Named
In Indictment
In Coal Case
Thomas T. Brewster, Chair
man of Operators Com
mittee, and Phil HI. Penna.
III List; ~ Arrests So Far

lNDIANAP OILS, March 27.-The
names of approximately 125 coal opera
tors, miners or others connected with
/ the coal industry in the states of Ili-
noIs, Indiana, Ohio and western Penn
sylvania indicted recently by special
| Federal grand jury here for alleged
violation of the Lever act and con-
splracy sections of the Federal criminal
code were made public here tonight bv
Federal officials. The miners include
John l.. Lewis, international president;
"liliam Green, secretary-t treasurer
and Percy Tetlow, chief statstician.
The operators include Thomas T.
operators scale committee, Phil H.
Penna. of Terre Haute, Ind, spokesman
Tor the operators in conferences in
washington just preceding the strike
OF miners last fall, and F. S. Peabody.
or Chicago, one of the leaders among
the illinois operators
OF the tifty-five Indiana miners or
operators indicted forty-fours already
have been arrested.
The Indictment contains eighteen
counts, all of which charge conspiracy
OF some kind. One count sets out ten
overt acts constituting violation of the
Federal laws.
The first four counts Of the indict-
ments charge general conspiracy to
limit the facilities for transporting.
producing, supplying. storing and deal
ing IN certain necessary, to wit,
bjtuminous coal by refusing To
mine, sell or deliver coal for storage
purposes, by increasing and maintaining
excessive prices of COAL by calling and
causing strikes among. mine workers,
and by closing down coal Mines"
Counts five to nine of the indictment
contain similar charges, but are based
on the amendment to the Lever act
passed October %, 1919, and cover the
period from the passage OF the amend
ment until March IL, 1920, the date the
Indictment was returned
Other counts take up under separate
heads charges included in the general
allegations IN the early counts and the
eleventh count gives ten overt acts.
These include the strike order of Oc-
tober 16. signed by President Lewis
and Secretary Green, of the United
Mine Workers, conferences between
Lewis and Green concerning the strike.
and a CHARGE that from January to An,
gust, 1919, Indiana operators refused
TO sell coal and held coal for prices
above that quoted on the market.
The last seven of the ten overt acts
specifically charge Indiana operators
with closing down their mines, with
inserting clauses in contracts allowing
excessive charges for coal and with en-
ploying what is known as the CHECK
off system in mines. This system IS
one IN which the operators deduct from
the miners Pay the amount of dues
owed the local unions and in turn paw
the money to the union.
Tlr
indictment include Rice Miller. c. N.
Moderwell. F. S. Peabody, J. E. Rut-
ledge. +. c. Searles, Thomas T. Brew
ster, George B. Harrington. John Con-
nory and Walter S. Bogic The Illinois
miners include Frank harrington,
Harry Flshwick, Charles Grace, Theo-
dore Keller, H. A. Huskey, H. C. Perry
and j. w. Spencer.
Among the Ohio operators are Mi
chael Gallagher. W. H. Haskins, E. G.
Maues. Josenh Pursglove. S. H. Rob-
bins, c. c. Weitzell A. A. Augustus
and George w. Jones' Ohio miners
,aciu4e George Cecil. William Roy; G.
r. Savage, John Sexon, William {.
thompson, Lee Hall. John Moore,
Thomas Price and William Robinette.
Western Pennsylvania operators in
Guided n The list are James NJ. Arm
strong. John A. Donaldson. William
aenderso on and James G. Patterson.
The Pennsylvania miners include
! homas Hughes, Frank Leithold, Philip
Murray, Robert Gibbons, John O'Leary.
William Cavanaugh and John McWee.
One Maryland operator was indicted.
Valentine Martin
Among those not identified as miners
or operators are Jonas Waffle, secretary
OF the Coal Trade Bureau, of Terre
Haute. Ind; r. W. Coulter, representa-
tive Of the National Coal Association.
Chicago, and w. X. Field, president of
the Pittsburgh Coal Company. Pitts
burgh.
John l.. Lewis. international presi-
dent of the United Mine Workers of
America, named amone the 125 coal on
orators and miners indicted for alleged
violation OF the Lever act. declared in
statement here last night that "there
are no proper grounds" for the indict-
ment of himself or his associates. he
added that he does not "fear investira-
ton by any court Of competent juris-
diction."