The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-09-09
LYING ABOUT
THE HERRIN
MASSACRE
Attorney Says That Indict-
ment For Perjury May Be
Outcome OF Grand Jury
Probe

tkkCkfG III OlJ0Ay Ahd III
Outcome Of Grand Jury
Probe
Marion. ILL.,, Sept. 5 (By the AS
sociated Press) - Deliberations OF
the special grand jury investigating
the Herrinriet were widened today,
Attorney General Edward G.
Bundagee announced, to include
application of the acid test to tes-
timony offered by witnesses. He
predicted several indictments for
perjury in the near future.
With the appearance Of local
undertaken before the grand Jurors
it became known that the grand
jury was seeking to establish the
IDENTITY of the slain men. Other
undertakers will be called tomor-
row.
Although no Official information
could be obtained. it was under
stood that the grand jurors were
IN possession Of certain clues that
may establish the Identity Of the
Is bodies buried in the potters'
field near Herrin, the graves I'M
marked except by numbers.
At the time the l6 men We're
buried Herrin and Marion under
takers who had charge Of the prep
arations declared no positive iaen-
tification papers were found in the
victims clothes. a description of
each, opposite a number, entered
in book kept by. the coroner,
would be the sole means Of future
Identification, theg said.
According to sinformtion made
public. the work of the grand
jury now includes Investigation Of
the % deaths. responsibility for the
riot, failure OF authorities to call
for troops and the yeracity of tes-
tisneny offered by witnesses.
81 Some of the witnesses who
nave appeared before the grand
jury have not been telling the
truth, Attorney General Bunda-
gee charged.
That a number of the witnesses
who have been before the grand
jury have deliberately perjured
themselves 20 thwart justice and
protect members of the mob was
animated by afr. Bundagee.
Others who declined or who may
decline to give testimony on the
excuse that they might incrimnate
themselves win be cited before
Circuit Judge D. T. Harswell for
eontempt Of court. Mr.. Bundagee
eontinued.
c. q. Burlington, secretary and
treasurer 70 the Creates Marion as
sociation, today made public a let
ter TO a publishing concern in
East st. Louis attacking the pub
licfty and Characterization given
the Herrin riot by the Illinois
chamber of commerce in its cam
paign to raise funds for the pros
ecution Of the members Of the
mob.
s.sThe Illinois chamber OF COM
meree,'' the letter read, used liter
ature and propaganda that would
lead the outside werld to believe
that we in Williamsoncounty were
nothing short of bunch of bar
barians and outlaws and that we
did not stand for the maintenance
of law and order. They maintain
ed that nothing had been done
since the riots in June to. bring
the guilty ones to account for the
crime. This statement must have
been made without investigation
for it was common knowledge that
The Investigation started the day
after the massacre.
The county and state are at
tempting to conduct fair aid i'm
partial investigation of the riots
and it is my opinion that the
propaganda and interference offer
ed by the Illinois chamber of COM
merce is having a tendency TO make
the trial a fight. between capital
and labor"
Within two weeks Williamson
county viii face another angle Of
the riots when claims totaling
nearly s250.0o0 resulting from the
burning of the strip mine and the
attendant disorders are placed be-
fore the board of supervisors for
their consideration.
That the board Will not allow
the claims and thereby force the
claimants into court for collection
Is fore1one conclusion.
Mrs. Mabelle Jacobs, widow of
Raymond c. Jacobs. has asked
for damages of $1,000 for the death
Of her husband. This claim, as
well as all others, was based on
an Illinois rioe statute.
His Words Sneak for Themselves.