The Washington herald., 1922-05-28
Crowd Cheers Verdict of
"Not Guilty" on Trea-
son Charge.
UNION MEN ELATED
BY FIRST VICTORY
Prosecution Undecided on
Next Move in Trial
Of 100.

CHARLES TOWN. W. Va, May m.
William Blizzard. youthful West
Virginia miner. was acquitted here
tonight of a charge OF treason. The
jury reported shortly after s:so
O'Clock after being out three and a
half hours.
The verdict was held as a big
victory b. the labor forces. who re-
garded the trial here growing out
Of the Logan County mine war last
summer 'as one of their great bat
ties
Blizzard had the solid backing Of
the United Mine Workers. Coal op-
orators OF West Virginia backed the
prosecution. even TO paying expenses
OF State witnesses and attorneys
lees, according to test lmony
A hush fell over the room whe-
the jury returned to the box. The
foreman, d. Brady Shoemaker. arose.
announced:
Your honor. we have reached
verdict"
A slip Of paper was then handed
TO the judge who read il slowly
and solemnly.
We. the jury. hnd the defendant
not guilty as charged in the indict-
ment"
Crowd Cheer. Verdict.
A wild demonstration in the lit
tie. crowded courtroom followed the
announcement OF the verdict as the
NTH week of the trial closed. IL
was here more than sixty wear,
ago that John Brown was sentenced
TO death after his raid on Harpers
Ferry.
Prior warnings OF the court
against manifestations were dIsre-
Earded by the throng Of spectators
who remained in the courtroom an
the time the jury was out
Half an hour before the verdict
was returned the jury sent for a
map of the mine war area h,t
later decided not to examine il. The
request for the map Indicated to
the courtroom crowd that the Jury
was apparently engaged in pro-
lonEed argument
First of 100 Defendant.
Tonight's verdict ended one Of the
greatest legal battles in the STATE.
Blizzard. a young union presidert
Was accused Of treason d, r,,pr,,,,
tion with the armed miners march
on Logan County last summer giig-
lard was the first of the more than
100 defendants to be pu, on ,risI
Bl:zzard's defense was hased "a,
the claim that he did not 20 in,
Logan County with treasonabI. n
tent but TO induce the mines =,
ahandon their march. Tho Srara
charEed he was one of the leaders
OF the miners army and thsti was
10 MIN that the men looked for
leadership. Witnesses for tho stat.
told now the miners in the army"
mad spoken of Blizzard as the man
from whom tehir orders came
Ellzzards acquittal indicates =
VIII be difficult to convict other de-
tendants. as the State believed y
had particularly strong csss
against him and elected to try MIN
first. '''''
Although Judge Wood, h,s
warned against undue enthuxi-.-,,
ne smiled when the crows rh-ev
straw hats to the re.Irnc.
Accepts Congratulations.
Scores Of friends OF Rlizzar5
leaped over the rail Of the coups..
stand. and shok his hand. II ms
Slad, j knew they could not find rn,.
husband guilty" said Mrs. Bl'sz#-.I
IN tears - sc huEged her lfitla
boy and girl.
It's just as ] expected" smiled
blizzard as he accepted the cnrNrsi-
Astic congratulations % the crow 4.
Bllzzard was hoisted on the
shoulders ot his admirers and car
ried from the courtroom He made
a speech to his fellows in from ~
the old courthouse. thanking them
for sticking by him.
~ mas not yet been decided what
will be taken up Monday morning
Some prosecution ATTORNEYS favor
taking up a murder case after a
weeks recess. while others are i,
favor OF adjournine until Angus,