The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-03-19
VERBAL GUNS OF
 COUNSEL TRAIN
 UPON EACH OTHER
Defendants In Matewan Case Laugh and Weep as Attor- neyS Vary Their
 Arguments
By Associated Press


 By Associated Press
 Williamson, w Va. March 1S.-In sum. ming up the Matewan. battle trials today verbal battles of counsel were trained on each. others Qualifications fashioned out of the testimony adduccd from ap- proximately 150 witnesses. Sid Hatfield the town chief of police, and his l5 com connection with the death last May o! Albert c. Felts, a private detective, sh5; during pistol fight in the villages prn- cipal streets, laughed and waI't as the attorneys varied their arguments. one moment the broadsides were mirthful; the next found them bordering on the pathetic. So great was the interest III the happenings of the final hours ot what is said to be the moss important criminal trial ever held in Wese Virginia that townfolk during the monday recess took possession of the chairs set aside for the defendants and it was with dif- ticulty that court attaches persuaded them to seek comfort elsewhere when the afternoon session began.
 TO REACH JURY TODAY
 When adjournment was taken late this afternoon until tomorrow morning at $ o'clock it was the geenraI opinion of all participants that the jury would receive the case not later than o'clock Satur- day afternoon Counsel for both sides were agreed that arguments would be al ha
 As the spectators filed from the court, room after the recess had been an- nounced, the wife of Ed Chambers. one of the defendants, became hysterical and directed a remark at Isaac Brewer, an original defendant who appeared as had been dismissed. Brewer stepped aside, according to witnesses of the in cident, and a deputy sheriff escorted Mrs. Chambers from the scene.
 Harold W. Houston of counsel for the defense was the first lawyer to address the jury. He opened his argument by declaring that not one of the attorneys conducting the prosecution "can say he represents the commonwealth of West Virginia, and charged that the Baldwin Felts agency, seven of whose operatives
 
 feeds the lawyers"
 Eventually, however" he said the money comes from the pocket of Mingo county miners"
 THEIR CRIME
 He asked what crime had been com mitted that armed nonresidents should be sent into Matewan, and answered the question by saying:
 Because the crime they committed was joining the miners union"
 After stating that labor controversy caused the shooting, Houston remarked: Tt is time that Mingo county should be governed by taxpayers, and not by a priNate detective agency"
 MT. Houston next took up letter of fered as evidence and purpoting to have reen found on Felts' body. It referred to an attempt that was to be made to get Sid Hatfield to join the Baldwin telts organization.
 They wanted to make Hatfield tra,tor,' he shouted, but he could not be bought. and now stands trial for his life They tried not only to buy Hat field, but offered to pay $1.000 to permit them to brIng a machine gun into Mate wan. And what for? To shoot down that little band of union men,
 Speaking of the eviction of striking miners families from the dwellings they occupied, Houston said: There would have been no trouble if eviction processes had been obtained in a lawful way"
 The street fight followed evictions by Baldwin-Felts operatives May l9. last.
 Houston's closing statement was a word picture of little children who fled to the hills when the fight occurred, now kneeling beside their beds at night praying for the return of their daddes." John s. Marcum. states counsel. faced the jury as soon as Houston took his seat and commenced verbal attack on Sid Hatfield, whom he said had been placed as a hero"
 STAINED WITH BLOOD
 T really don't think he appreciates the enormity of his crime. for he sat smiling through the trial and he is smil- ing now he said. MT. Marcum declared ti,ere is not a street nor corner in Matewan that is not stained with the blood of men.
 One hundred yards from the scene where Albert Felts was murdered" he thundered, there was born a feud in lsSz that brought much undeserved noto- riety to that section. It was known as the Hatfield- Mccoy feud. Later three men were killed on an election day an still later the mayor and his chief of rolce were killed. Ah they don't XII 'em singly there; they kill them halt dozens, by pairs and triplets. Peaceful Matewan-quiet little town of Matewan,' was the attorneys next utteranees. and were in reply. he Said, to Houston's argument that "Matewan was disturbed over the appearance of private detectives. Defense counsel objected time and again to Marcum's line of argument, and the lawyer was admonished by Judge Bailey, presiding.
 Taking up the industrial situation. Mar cum attacked union organizers, and in contrast, pointed out what he said were l benefits derived from the coal opera tors management in operating the fields of Mineo.
 In conclusion the speaker said he hal mo doubt there were women and chil- | dren waiting and longing for their hus-