The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1921-02-18
ADegedM Murderers
Hold Reception In Bastle
Halliday Respite In William
son Trial When Judge At
tends Funeral - Women
Witnesses Tell of the Battle
at Matewan

Williamson. W. Va. Feb. l7.--The
Mingo county jail here was the scene
OF many happy reunions this afternoon,
when the nineteen defendants IN tn"
Matewan battle trials received their
friends and relatives. Judge Bailey
adjourned court at noon until tomorrow
morning at 9 o'clock in order that ne
and other lawyers might attend tr-
neral in Mcdowell county. anG the
breathing space was utilized by the
prisoners in the happiest manner the
circumstances would permit
For more than three weeks the men
have sat in the little court house
listening while jury was being Sc
lected and later giving closest attcn-
tion to the many witnesses who tcsti-
fed concerning the battle. None OF
them showed any particular evidence
OF strain. but all were tired, and ad-
mitted when court recessed that they
were ylad lor "an afternoon Cn."
Women Witnesses
The principal witnesses today were
women. One OF them was Mrs. I. F..
Smith. wife OF the superintendent OF
the Stone Mountain Coal company.
from whose houses miners were evtcted
by the Baldwin-Felt detectives the day
NJ the tight.
Mrs. Smith said she was in the COM
pany store while the battle was III
progress and recalled having seen
James and Claire Overstreet. Rcece
Chambers. y. II. Atwood and Halle
Chambers during the ftghting OF snort
~ afterwards. Some OF them were
armed. she said and 10 ner Atwood
and Halle Chambers appeared to be
"hysterical." Atwood accused her hus-
band OF being RESPONSIBLE for the
fight, she testified, while Halle Cham
bers was crying and cursing the Bald
win Teltz men" Mrs. Smith Also tes-
Reecc Chambers, who was carrying Il
rifle, say Il have started with this
thing and I intend TO sec it through.
Htd In Closet.
Mrs Martha Hoskins. school
teacher, testified that wnilc she was
watching the battle through window
the glass was shattered by a bullet.
and running TO closet she remained
there until the firing was over. Then
she saw four men lying in the street.
Every one of the defendants showed
unusual interest when Mrs. hOSklhs
testified that after telling her story TO
the grand jury. which returned the in
dictments, Reece Chambers had told
her she had sworn TO lie, and added
that IF wasn't a woman he would
give ,-ms ONO goed beating. and tnat
He'd get, ME yet"
Mrs. G. W. Smith, the wife of
Matewan physician, confirmed the tes-
timcny Of other witnesses. who said
they had seen armed men in Matewan
the day of the fight.
DR.. Edward Simpkins. dentist. re-
called that he remained in his Office,
near the scene OF the battle. while the
lighting was in progress, and half an
hour or SO after the firing began he
saw Reece Chambers go by with rifle
in his hand. DIR. Simpklns attracted
unusua. attention because he was
wounded by the same bullet that killed
Anse Hatfield last August as they sat
on the porch Of Hattield's hotel. Hat
field, II was generally understood. was
an important witness for the state, and
three Of the defendants in this trial are
under indictment charged with the
shooting.