The New York herald., 1922-04-29
GOVERNOR IS HEARD
in Miners TRIAL
Morgan Tells of Refusing to
Instruct Operators Whom
They Should Hire.
TREASON ACTS DENIED
Defense to Question States
Right to Go Beyond AL
leging Felony.
WITNESSES TOTAL 1875
Many Fail to Answer to Their
Names When Called at
Charles Town.
WITNESSES TOTAL 1875

Spectnr Dispctch TO THE New Yo1K HmALp.
CHARLES Town, w. Va, April 2S.--
The mine guard system employed by
coal operators was brought into the
treason trial Of William Blizzard here
this afternoon by the defense in ex-
pIanation of an assembly on the
Capitol grounds in Charleston August
z, 1921, at which resolutions We're
passed by the crowd OF 500 or more
mine union members reminding Gov,
Morgan Of his pledge to abolish the
system.
Gov. Morgan was on the witness
stand to-day and It was shown that
the resolutions were adopted and were
presented to the Governor, who re-
Piled tn them, declining to take any
action about directing mine owners as
to whom they should employ, reassert-
ing his approval Of the abolition OF
the mine guard system and declining
to consider special session OF the
Legislature, explaining that the regu-
lar Legislatures failure to act was moi
his doing.
The Governor. answering question o.
the State, had referred to the meeting
in question. On cross-examination the
defense began to expand on the intent
Of the meeting, the State objectng, pu'
the court ruling 1t might come In as q
description Of the meeting.
Five Put ON stand.
The State put on five witnesses to-day
against Blizzard, including the Gov
ernor. who was In Charles Town Just
long enough to take the stand. The
other four-three miners from kanawha
county and the wife of one OF the min
crs--tcstifiad to having attended the
gathering on Lens Creek on August "a
which was addressed by Mother
Jones. who urged the men TO return
home. 1t was testified that she exhib'
tied q telegram purporting to be from
the President with similar advice.
Testimony of two OF the witnesses
said Keeney questioned the authentic
ity of the telegram and advised the mer
not to turn back. One witness testified
that immediately, after the speech mem
bers OF a mine local. part Of whom were
armed. started marching toward Boone
county.
1t was testified that guard lines had
been thrown around the camp and that
those attempting to leave were stopped
and examined. the intention being tc
keep the mon within the assembly which
had been on the creek for several days
One Of the witnesses testified that hs
saw Blizzard. the defendant. there dur.
ing the speaking. Some of the witnesses
said they did not know Blizzard.
j. II. Stewart OF Kanawha county
first witness called for the State. sale
Ne did not see Blizzard do anything
wrong while in the asseublage on Len.
Creek. Blizzard was In the crowd. h.
said, and could not have helped heal
Frank Keeney. president of District No
II. brand as fake the telegram which
Mother" Jones. labor leader. read a.
from the President. Kceney told TIL,
miners, Stewart said, not to leave. Stew
srt said the miners were ready to turr
back from the assemblage after an ap
peal from Mother" Jones. Guards wer,
posted. he said, to keep the men there.
Governors Testimony.
Gov. Moryan's testimony was confined
largely to q recital, of his actions. Il
Issuing the martial law proclamation