Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1921-08-05
STATE POLICE III
SENATE INQUIRY
WASHINGTON INVESTIGATION
OiSClOSCS SPLENDID RECORD
OF SERVICE IN COAL REGION.
SLaNDER0US STORIES REFUyED


During the investigation r"cc"tll
conducted by the Educational anJ
Labor committee of the United
States. in Washington. into the MirGS
county industrial troubles which :nI
lowed tn" declaration Of Il str.k, By
the conduct OF the West NlrSiri"
STATE Police in maintaining law an f.
order came up for searching eN2mi
nation. Senators. including Chair
man Kenyon. went into the facts in
Il very effective way. Their inquiries
showed tha; the service Of III" state
police has been very valuable
one
Testimony of many witnesses show
ed that the state police haG adopted
an impartial attitude and had dc.
voted themselves solely to the pro.
lection of life and property. Three
members OF the force had been killed
while on duty and another so severe
ly wounded that his life was for a
time dcspaired of.
The investigation also gave oppor-
tunity to disprove some statements
which had been given circulation re
garding the state police. For in
stance. il had been said that Private
r. l.. Ripley killed November 2,
1920. had been drinking with the
men who killed him. Capt. Brockus
OF til. state police showed that Rip
lev Was Il Witness against man ac-
cused of numbering one Of the wit
n-sscs in the Matewan killing cases
and that 'hc charge that Ripley had
bee: drinking was made only by the
man who killed him and was dis
proved by the medical examination
oc EIhcy'S body.
Charges Disproved.
Other charges made were in con.
ne"'ion with the roundup of men at
III" Lick Creek tent colony June IA,
following firing from the vicinity of
the colony on persons passing on the
public highway. Capt BrOckus testi-
fed and was supported by other testi-
mony. that no indignities had been
killed while firing his shot at police
officer. and that no destruction of
property had been ordered and none
had taken place while the state po-
ice were in charge.
Members of the Senate committee
4, -
Capt. BrockuS' recital of shootings,
dynamitings and other crimes which
had taken place since the withdraw al
of federal troops from the county. lie
stated that il had been impossible
10 enforce the laws as long as every
man had the privilege Of going about
with a rife and ammunition but that
the proclamation Of martial law and
the formation Of volunteer force to
serve under orders Of the state police
had given means to stamp uut law
lcsSncss.
Outlaws Are Arrested.
In very large proportion of the
cases of crime, tie senators were in.
Aoi iiSu liiL al ISSlS lIiu DCeH maze
and that in some instances partici-
pants had confessed their part in the
crimes and are now awaiting trial and
sentence. These crimes included mur.
ders. burning of building and footing
of stores and also the robbery of a
pOStOfiice.
circumstances leading up to the
two raids on the Lick Creek tent col.
ony were related each such raid be.
ing caused by attacks on persons
passing along the public highway
which runs through the camp. The
raids were for the purpose Of appre,
h"ndinG persons found with firearms
and of "HicavUring to secure eyi.
dcnr" win regard to the wanton at
taoks on pCa,C"hl" citizens. OF -
mon examined III one morning. Cant.
BrockuS testified. II admitted they
had Meier worked in any mine in
West Virginia.
II may IL" expected that the report
OF the ScnHt" committee Will cOntui,
mention Of the impartial attitude OF
III" stat" police during the Mirgo ont