Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-02-15
TROOPS ON GUARD
AS TRIAL PROCEEDS
First Witness in Matewan Ina'
Today is Doctor Who Exam
iped 7 Dead Detectives.

Williamson. w. Va, Feb. le-As-
sured of ample protection through the
presence Of Federal troops during the
progress OF the Matewan trial. Juose
Rally and counsel for the state anu
defense this morning settled DOWN 70
the task Of placing additional fncts sur
rounding the tragedy before the jury
DIR. X. A. Salton. Williamson physician,
u.x tbe first witness called. He said
he had examined tho bodies Oh .he
seven Baldwin Felts detectives killed
- tho ,eht but no was questioned more
closely regarding the bullet wounds In
,ha bodv OF Albert C. Felts leader of the
detectives.
Felts. the witness said. had been shot
four times Either OF two of these
wounds would have been fatal. One
was in the head and powder burns
showed that the bullet had beon fired
from a rifle or pistol not more than
Is inches away A similar wound. al
so I'm the head, would have caused death,
the witness said. There was another
shot I'm the left arm and one In the right
shoulder.
DIR. Salton then detailed the wounds
as he found them on the bodies OF the
other detectives.
Lee Felts. a brother OF Albert Feits.
witness said. had been shot only
once He WAS shot IN the back and tie
wound was fatal.
The other detectives, ]. W. Ferguson
a. ]. Booher. o. E. Powell. c. V. Gun
bingham and c. T. Higgins. the doctor
testified. fell from rifle or pistol fire
Each had suffered one or more wounds
The testimony was most realistic and
was heard with almost breathless
silence by the 10 defendants and
court room crowded to capacity. An at
torncv for the State stood where the
,itry and the defendants could SEQ
him plainly and as DIR. Salton mentioned
gch of the dead men and the wounds
Lt had suffered he illustrated his tesu-
i,tony by touching the person OF the
attorney.
DR.. Salton WAS closely cross-ex-
alnired by Attorney Coniff. for the de-
fcnsc. The attorney insisted on being
told sust how the doctor knew the dr-
ference between the entrance and exit
marks OF a bullet and how he was able
10 tell from burns on a body that the
flash of a weapon had been II inches
away. DR. Salton answered that these
were we'll known facts in medical teach
ing and no did not make the state
fnents from any personal discoveries oi
his own This was accepted by the de-
ns.. and the witness was excused.
DR.. Z. 3. Connolly. another physician.
Who aided in the examination Of the
bodies, testified along the lines followed
ly Or. Salton. As the morning pro-
gressed the defendants listened with
close attention TO every word. There
we're rumors I'm the court room that the
baldwin Felts detectives who had es-
.aped from Matewan after the battle
would be called by the prosecution 70
support the testimony Of the first wit
iess. John Mcdowell. Interested at
.orneys refused to confirm or deny the
-eport. but those in close touch with the
situation professed TO sec some coniir-
nation of it in the appeal Of Judge
bailey and counsel for both sides e
nave the Federal troops kept on guard
n Williamson until after the trials.
Washington. Feb. 15.-Orders were
ssued by the War Department late yes
terday 10 stop preparations for with
sirawal OF Federal troops from the
Western West Virginia coal fields
senator Sutherland. Of that state an
aounced after having presented 10 the
department a request that the troops
be retained there during the present
trial of mine workers and others al
Williamson.
senator Sutherland said he would
eonfer With Secretary Baker and other
War Department officials tomorrow
when a final decision as 10 withdrawal
# the troops would be decided on.