Martinsburg journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1920-1977, 1921-05-25
SENATOR JOHNSON ASKS TO PROBE MING0
DISORDERS; SID HATFIELD ARRESTED;
MINGO co. CITIZENS FORM ORGANIZATION
JohnSons Resolution Is Sent To Committee Hatfield Is
Charged With AssauIting Man And Voluntarily Sur
renders, Giving Bond For Appearance.

Washington, May 25.-A resolu-
ton for a Senate investigation OF
the disorders in the Mingo CIV. Va.)
mining region, was introduced Tues
day by Senator Hiram Johnson. Of
California.
The resolution. which was refer
red to the committee which would
have jurisdiction over the investi-
cation. if ordered, recites that con
ditions OF violence exist along the
border between West Virginia and
Kentucky. and that for a long period
in the past in the coal fields of West
Virginia there have been disturb
ed conditions which have led to
turbulence and bloodshed."
Would Learn Cause Of Trouble.
1t is declared such conditions are
a menace TO orderly government and
the safety Of the residents OF the
vicinitr and it is proposed:
That the Senate Committee on
Education and Labor, or any sub
committee thereof to be appointed
by it. is hereby authorized and d.
rected to make a thorough and com
plete investigation of the conditions
existing in the coal fields of West
Virginia and in the territory ad.
iacent TO the border of West Vir-
ginia, in Kentucky; that said COM
mittee ascertain the causes of the
recent acts of violence upon said
border and OF the conditions which
have existed and do now exist in the
anII
tigate thoroughly the causes which
have led to conditions which have
obtained in the past and which now
exist in said territory, and report
its findings and conclusions thereon
to the Senate.
Hatfield Gives Bond.
Williamson, W. Va, May 25.-Sid
Hatfield, former chief of police of
Matewan, w. Va, appeared at the
Sheriff's Office here Tuesday and
furnished bail for his appearance in
court to answer to a charge of as.
sault. He is charged with assault
ing p. J. Smith. superintendent OF
the Stone Mountain Coal Corpora
ton of Matewan.
Hatfield, accompanied on the trip
from Matewan by Deputy Sheriff
Medley Crum, came to Williamson
at the instigation OF Sheriff A. c.
Pinson. He said that he had come
voluntarily when he was Informed
that a warrant had been issued for
his arrest.
Hatfield told Sheriff Pinson that
he had furnished bond for his APP
pearance on the same charge be-
fore a magistrate at Matewan, but
said that he was willing to give
bond here if he would be released
from it after the hearing at the
mining village.
1t was the first time since the
county was declared under martial
law by Gov. Z. f. Morgan that Hat
field had been in Williamson. Many
persons were at the railroad station
when the Matewan train arrived,
but Hatfield succeeded in reaching
the courthouse before he was recog-
nized.
Mine Store Is Burned.
Fire, believed by the authorities to
have been the work OF incendiaries,
destroyed the store of the Lynn Coal
and Coke Corporation. at Lynn, w.
Va. Tuesday. The loss was est.
mated at from $4,000 TO $4,000, Of
ficials OF the Williamson Coal OPP
orators Association said. The fire
was the only untoward act reported
from the trouble zone along the
West Virginia-kentUcky border.
The case against Baldwin-Felts de-
tectives who were indicted in con.
nection with the battle at Mate
wan, w. Va, in which 10 persons
met death more than year ago,
was dismissed Tuesday in the Green
hrier county court at Lewisburg, ac-
cording to word received here last
night from Attorney James Dam
ron.
Citizens Organize.
Mingo county people have been at
a loss to properly designate the
volunteers who have been sworn in
to assist in the maintenance of or
der but they have finely decided
that the organization shall be known
as the "Citizens State Police" This
is to distinguish them from deputy
sheriffs Of whom there is a consid-
cradle M A-.aa euty in the coun-
ty,