Great Falls daily tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1895-1921, 1920-02-28
Vanderveer Endeavored
to Prove Shooting Was
Sequel to Conspiracy
Among Business Men.
Landlady of Hotel From
Which Shots Were Fir
ed Says She Was Warn
ed to Expect Attack.

Montesano, Wash, Feb. 27.-An overt
act on the part of Warren O. Grimm
for whose murder ten alleged ]. w. w;
are on trial here, must first be proved
by the defense or it must be first shown
that Grimm was party to an alleged
conspiracy which resulted in raid on
the T. W. w. hall in Centralia before
evidence Of alleged preparation for an
alleged contemplated assault or OF
alleged threats can be introduced.
This ruling. handed down late Friday
in the trial of the ten men charged with
one of the Centralia Armistice day
murders, was intended definitely TO
suppress endeavors of defense counsel to
introduce evidence which the prosecn-
ton has eontended could not be legally
offered at this time.
In resuming the presentation OF the
defense case today, Attorney Nanderveer
said he would prove that Centralia busi-
ness interests led by /. B. Hubbard.
president of the Eastern Railway and
Mill company planned to drive the
l. w. w. from that city, and that they
instigated a raid to be led by American
Legion men on Armistice day. For
nearly two hours of this afternoons
session Of court, Attorney George Z.
Vanderveer for the defense sought 20
offer testimony which he declared would
show that conspiracy existed N Ten
tralia for the raiding Of the |. W. W
hail. He had declared that the men who
did the shooting acted in self-defense
Every Word of Plot Contested.
There was some argument over the
admission Of October issues OF the
Centralia Chronicle and Centralia Hub,
which contained articles relating to
meetings at the Elks club. where the
commercial interests of the city are
alleged to have discussed ways to re-
move the T. w w. from Centralia. The
papers were admitted over the obJec-
tions Of the state
All day with Britt Smith. one Of the
defendants and secretary of the Centrala
branch of the I. w. w. on the stand,
Vanderveer had sought to prove that
a conspiracy TO raid the hall existed.
Every effort to bring this into the court
record was contested by state counsel,
Judge Wilson's ruling coming at the
End of long court argument at which
the jury was not present. Nanderveer
announced that he would have at least
one witness present tomorrow to prove
his contention that Grimm was shot
while attempting raid on the hall. and
not 100 feet distant. while standing at
the head Of the Centralia contingent Of
the parade, as the state has contended
LandIady Asked Police Protection.
Britt Smith occupied the stand most
of the day, only three other witnesses
being called. and they for only brief
time. !
Mrs. Mary McAllister. proprietor Of
he Rodrick hotel. in which building the
~entralia l. w ". hall is located, took
he stand in the morning and told of her
Efforts to prevent an alleged threatened
-aid on the hall. She said she asked the
chief of police TO prevent it if he could. /
Smith told Of his efforts to avert
trouble. detailing at great length the
many conversations held in the !. W. ". /
hall relative to plans to avert a raid. He
described the shooting as he saw it, /
saying he saw the door kicked in then
heard shots from the hall He did not !
know who shot. Smith started for his
desk for his gun. he testified, but did t
not use it.
Song Book Started 1t.
That raid on the T. W w hall had \
been planned Smith testified became
known when Mrs Mary McAllistcr, I
proprietor Of the building i'll which thn
hall is located. received a warning from /
a man named Radcliffe who. according /
to the testimony had told Mrs. McAllister
that the American Legion men objected /
to the placing Of an ]. w. w. song book /
in the window Of the hall.
Mrs. McAllister told me that she had /
The right to secure some protection" I" /
Smith testified. she said She had called I
on the chief of police and that he had |
assured her the hall would not be /
raided
Says Soldiers Kicked Door in.
On the day Of the parade. Smith said /
Continued on Page Two.)