Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-02-03
LOOK TO UNREAD
JURORS IN M|NGO
Natives Who Can't Read Only
Ones Left Who Are Eligible
for Jury Service
ONE HADN'T HEARD OF CASE

specidI Dispatch TO EOenin1 Public Led1or
Williamson, w. Va, Feb. 3.-Hopes
OF securing a jury 70 try Sid Hatfield
and his associates now rest with the
mountaineers from the remote sections
OF the county. the deDizens of the cabins
and huts Of the mountain slopes, who
are now on their way TO court. They
reside In sections far back from the
railroads and could not be reached by
the deputy sheriffs until late yesterday
When court convened this morning
with sixteen men In the jury box. it
was found that there were no talesmen
on hand for examination and court
promptly adjourned until 1 o'clock.
The talesmen are coming IN from dis
tant points and they could not he here
In time for the opening Of court. 4
week has now elapsed since the trial
started
Il has become apparent that II is
almost useless to summon the residents
OF the towns of the county as these
persons who are eligible for jury serv-
ice cannot qualify by reason of their
kinship. their scruples against capital
punishment. and also the fact that the
sensational battle at Matewan has been
talked over So often that people have
formed their opinions already.
Back in the mountains the case has
not been discussed so much. Many of
these mountaineers do not read or
write.
Yesterday afternoon n talesman,
Nose Workman, who had been sum
nioned last week. reached court having
been delayed in getting here on account
of the circuitous route he had to take.
Both the court and the counsel were
astounded when they learned that he
had never before heard of the gun bat e
tie at Matewan during which ten men
we're killed. He explained that he did
not get any newspapers because he did
not read. His neighbors live SO lis
tant that he seldom comes in contact
with them, afording little opportunity
for gossip.
His information concerning labor
unions was vague. Workman did not
have any scruples against the death
penalty and he was promptly accepted
by both sides. It is from this class VI
talesmen that the court is hopeful II
securing n sufficient number of men Ia
fill the box which will make it possible
TO start taking evidence within tie
next few days.
The bitterness here between the Goa
operators and the miners union has
been intensified by the sensationa
charges which were made in statements
issued from their headquarters yestcr
day. The coal operators first issued {
statement in which they accused thu
representative of the United Min
Workers Union of conducting cam
paign of intimidation, committing act
of brutality, causing twenty murders
arson and dynamiting. The law Off
GERS of Mingo county, it was alleged
not only acQuiesced. but aided in the
unlawful methods OF the miners organ.
ization.
This drew forth an answer in whicl
the responsib ibility Of the strife was pu
at the door of the coal operators and
was charged that Judge James Dam
ron, who formerly was on the Circui
Court bench here, made n statemen
during the last campaign that he wa
offered $4,000 by the operators to al
them while he was on the bench an
also that they offered Sheriff G. T
Blankenship a $40 900 bride if he woul
permit them to place machine gun
within the corporate limits of Ming
county. Judge DamrOn has since re
signed from the bench and is now aid
fng in the prosecution.