The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1921-01-27
Matewan Defendant In
Murder Trial Totes Gun
Sensational Expose Marks
Opening Day In Trial of 3
Men for the Staying Of Coal
Detectives Daily Search
for Firearms Ordered By
Judge

Williamson. W. Va. Jan. 26.-The
presence Of an armed man. one OF the
"A defendants IL the Matswan battle
cases which came To trial here today,
caused Circuit Judge Bailey to issue an
order directing that all persons enter
Ing the court room hereafter shall be
searched for arms.
fhc oppose by states counsel dropped
ike = bombshell into the crowded court
ROOM shortly hcfor" adjournment this
afternoon. Spectators and jurymEn
were leaving the court when a state at
;oyney declared that u defendant within
TWO feet Of him possessed a pistol An
,rs,ant hush fell upon the confusion.
Sheriff A. {. Pinson was present and
ths court directed him immediately t.
search all persons entering IN" court
room tomorrow and thereafter. Empha-
SIS was laid upon the Statemen; also.
directed 20 the defendants who occupied
Nr Jury box. thas any on" OF them
found with a Weapua in his possession
s.-"s,f;cr would ," placed In jail during
II" term of the trials.
OF the twenty-four defendants, tweE-
cy-th-ee were present today, L. T. PAGE.
he single negro OF the number f"rteclt-
!ns his bond upon appearance.
Attempt to QuAsh Fails.
Pans - qYIsh the indictments
against the defendants charged with
killing on seven counts each featured
preliminary proceedings in the trials.
one was entered this morning and an
other this afternoon. both h!nginG on
the eligibility ot Eert Shuu,;Ite. mem
Der ct the grand jury which returned
tEl. indictments against the men 3n
trial. The counsel for the defense he'd
tE:,t Shurnate WAS not eligible IN that
ne was not resident OF West Virgin: a
and that ne had gone to Natcwan 10
collect evidence for the Williamson
Coal Operators association after the
tight took place.
STATS counso' answered with IN"
citation OF i statute in which Il was
stated thai 30 indictment may be QufSn-
d u9ou alleged !ncompetency t. dis
qualification Qf grand juror after I -
ce;I-nsd.
judge Bailey. after hearing arguments
for both sides. declared the matter Un-
de- sdviscmeUt and that he would make
:, decision upon the motion 70 TGaSh III"
indictments tomorrow morning. MeaT-
while tho court directed the state to pro
ceed with is case.
relts Case First.
q. the several Indictments under
which the defendants hav" beet called
;u trial. the state announced L was
ready to proceed with the case OF thoSs
rharged with the killing o. Albert G.
F'eltS, ono OF the seven private detcc-
Htves Killed IN che Matewan fight. Tic
defense objected on the grounds that Il
VAS misunderstood which or the !r-
dictmeutS was 70 he selected first. Taa
court took the indictments under con-
siderGtion and was ready - adjourn
Uh%n COURSE, FOR the state arose ~ pr"-
test The presence ot an armed man
among the defendants. Considering ad-
journmenc An actualiry. iurymeu ana
spectators started 20 leave tn" couc;
room. leaving IL At the disposal OF Wit
nesSes who had been ordered 20 remain.
Tho charge OF the STATE that n pistol
had Been in eVidefcc IN possession Of
one ct the defendants stopped the exc
dus and those who had already passcL
the doors pushed back
Judge Bailey previously had an
n0unCcd his intention ot permitting
persons 70 er,er the room at will and
the charge apparently startled him
Without hesitation, however. after the
assertion had been verified. he gave nr-
ders that will permit no man 70 enter
Ne court room armed.
,"v!l and military authorities confer
red this afternoon and I was under
stood that extraordinary precautions
Will be taken 70 prevent any untowal q
incidents.