The Washington herald., 1921-05-21
MINCOCOUNTY
PLACED UNDER
MARTIAL RULE.
Governors Proclamation
Declares "State OF
War" Exists.
UNION LEADERS
CALL NEW STRIKE
Eight Fresh Graves Dis
covered Near 'HotbOx
Of Trouble.
Nv ARTHUR NJ. EVANS.

WILLIAMSON. W. Va, May 10
Martial law was declared in Mingo
County tonight by Gov. E F. Nor
gan. The proclamation was brought
here and posted by Maj. Thomas B.
Davis, acting adjutant general OF
West Virginia, who is commanded
to take charge of the military oc-
cupation of the Tug River coal re-
gion fighting grounds.
The proclamation declares
state of war, insurrection and riot
exists in Mingo County. 1t sets
forth that large bodies of armed
men have assembled in the noun
tains and fired into and shot up pub
lie and other buildings and fired into
passenger trains, whereby many
lives and much property have oeen
DESTROYED" So the county Is put
under martial law until the neces-
sity ceases to exist
Arms Distributed.
The civil courts, however, are not
to be affected-habeas corpus is not
to be set aside as it was in some
other States in similar stress the
news spread quickly from Kermit
to Matewan along the Tug that
martial law is to be enforced By the
State police. West Virginia being
without a national guard. aided by
the ''vigilante" Corps which have
been sworn in and commanded as
part of the state constabulary. To-
night at the court house arms were
Of fhPSa
lantes" and by next week 500 are
expected to be armed and organized.
One of the first steps planned is
roundup of the perpetrators of the
murders and shootings during the
last year. during which. it is esti-
mated, forty victims have been
chaIked up to the guerilla warfare
along the Kentucky border. 1t is
proposed to throw them into jail as
fast as they can be caught and to
keep them there without bond un-
tn trial can be given
Halt on .Gun Toting.,
Gun toting is to be stopped at the
outset The citizens are not asked
to surrender their arms and am
munition. So long as they keep them
at their homes or places of business.
But persons, except the troops. po-
lice, municipal States and Federal
offcials and other oficials Of the
law are not to be permitted to carry
or to have arms or weapons or mu-
nitions Of any kind in their possess
sion at any place, except their
homes and business places. Gun
toters are to be out of luck. they
are 10 be arrested, disarmed and
imprisoned.
Gov. Morgan, of West Virginia,
and Gov. Morrow, of Kentucky,
were asked by civic organizations
tonight to come here for a meeting
in Cinderella Theater Sunday morn
ing to discuss the methods for end
ing "the reign of lawlessness which
for many months has cursed this re-
gion-" The request was made by
the ministerial association, the Elks,
the Kawanis Club, the Y. N. c. A,
bar association, American Legion.
medical association, county and city
officers and other organizations.
Find Eight Newly Made Graves.
One shooting occurred at noon
when L. S. Burton, an employe of
the White Star mine at Merrimac,
repairing a motor. was shot in the
foot by bullet from the Kentucky
hillside. Manor Ike Wilder, of the
Kentucky National Guard, reported
today that he had found eight new
ly made graves at Stringtown, KY,
which is almost opposite Merrimac
and hot box of trouble. Strikers
told the major that the occupants
had died from natural causes, but
there is skepticism over the suddan
jump in the mortality rate of the
hamlet.
Union leaders declared tonight
they would remain on the ground.
Another strike call was issued. call
ing out the mine workers, in an ef-
fort to close down production. The
leaders maintain that so far they
have not been adverse to having the
mines run at reduced output at in
creased cost. for it has loaded down
the producers with high tonnage
costs. Now they call for a cessation
Of all work.