The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1922-10-21
KEENEY'S TRIAL
IN MINE STRIFE
BEGINS OCT. q
Faces Homicide Charge Crow
ing Out Of AIMED Miners
March.
Fifth TO Be Held Under
Change of Venue In Logan
County.

Charles Town, W. Va, Oct ga
move to lay the responsibility for the
miners march" In August 1921. den.
nitely at the door Of the United Mine
Workers. is involved IN the trial Of T..
Frank Keeney. unoin district presf.
dent on a charge of being accessory
before the fact to the murder Of John
Gore. The trial, which Is set to open
here on October %, is the fifth to b
held here under change OF venu0
which brought all the march" cases
from Logan county In which the m
dictments were returned.
Keeney, as president Of District II.
United Mine Workers Of America, has
been looked on as virtually the head
OF the union forces in West Virgins,
although in fact three other districts
extend their jurisdiction over portions
OF the state.
However, District II has tho largest
membership among West Virginia
miners and because the territory ailot-
ted to 1t includes some OF the non
union fields around which the states
Industrial warfare has centered. the
leader Of this district has come to %
REGARDED as head of the miners In tne
state.
Two Found Guilty.
Two men, the Rev. J. e. W1lburn, a
81 If. and his son. John Wilbur, have
been found guilty Of second degres
murder IN trials here for the killing
of John Gore. He was deputy sher'
lff in Logan county. best known o.
the non-union coal fields In southern
West Virginia, against which tne
march OF several thousand miners ana
their svmpathizers was directed.
In the hills forming the northeast
ern border Of Logan county inc
marchers met and for nearly week
held sporadic battles with hastily or
gsnized forces OF volunteers VINO gain
cred to assist the county peace OIL
GERS.
! Testimony IN the previous trials
! showed that one Of the torays OF the
! Invading" forces came upon core anf.
two Of the volunteers on Blair noun
tain early in the morning OF Ausust
!. Witnesses said that each party cnas
le,g,d the other and demanded tns
countersten and that, wren Gore re-
n,ted "Amen," the Logan defenders
countersgn. the answer Of the party
headed by the prechier Wilburn, was
. risle vol'ey that brought down core
and his companions.
Tried to Halt March.
The charge that President keeneE
was an accessory to the murder OF
c,re Is based on the prosecution
allegation that eKeney - the union
leader was directly concerned IN the
planning OF the march. To this tho
defense Is prepared to lsWer tnas
Keeney and the other union Officials
instead of instigating the march aid
everything in their power to nalt IL
/ They expect to repeat testimon.
siyeu IN the previous trials that tne
! district president. risked his Own hie
/ In Going before the marcners At haoi'
! srn about half way between their tirs1
e.mn At Marmet and the Logan DOT
der. and persua ding most OF tnem 10
turn back to their homes.
The first action when the court con
venes may be disposed OF pending mt
to,ns for new trials for the two WI
hr-ns and for Walter Allen. who was
so,,nd guilty OF treason. Defense coun'
90, would make no announcement a.
n tina possibility of making q SECOND
change Of venue but the prosecution
was prepared to oppose vigorously
anv such request II It were maze.
they also said that after the keeney
c..s thew expected to move the triai
~ tbe ssfe charge OF William Blz'
zard. president Of one OF tne su.u
tricts who was acquitted Oh the .s
sou charge, and Fred Mooney
tary.treasu7e, OF District II.