Perth Amboy evening news., 1922-06-24
INVESTIGATE FAILURE
TO GUARD AGAINST
Mine MASSACRE
Suits Against Unions Started
by South Illinois Coal Co.
and Others
PROBE is UNDER WAY
Officials Must Explain Failure
to Take Action to Pre-.
vent Killings

HERRIN. ILL.,, June "a (By The
Associated Press)-A state military
investigation of the Lester mine
massacre which took between twen-
ty-five and forty lives was begun
today by board headed by Major
General Milton Foreman of the
state militia. acting under orders
from Governor Len Small, which
were issued when the chief execu-
tive became aroused over failure. OF
local officials to take any steps
against the miners who captured and
killed the majority of strikebreak-
ers working in the strip mines.
General Foreman and his commits
sion reached here this morning.
They were met by Colonel Samuel
Hunter of the adjutant generals s
efice and continued to Marion, the
county seat, where conferences with
the state attorney and sherif were
planned.
A tour of the area OF the fight was
made and i. was expected numerous
persons believed to know something
OF the disorders would be called
before the board.
General Foreman has been In
structed to learn. why the. states
attorney had not taken steps to-
wards convening SPECIAL grand
fury. why the coroner's inquest nao
not been held and why the ometaie
repeatedly refused to authorize Cox
Hunter TO call for troops even A1ssx
an Indignation meeting OF miners
was held the day before the ngnt-
ing started and even before the
miners marched on the mines.
Failure of the local officials to
send out an adequate force o. dep
uties the night before the nghtins
began and the following day, also
was q point to be investigated.
Search for bodies continued To-
day at some points In the county,
although the searching parties were
few. Twenty-Five bodies have been
recovered and 1t was considered GER
tain that many more were killed.
To FIX Amount Of Damage
CHICAGO, June "a '(By The AS
.ociated Press).-Estimates of the
amount Of property damage at the
determination Of the cold figures to
ba fixed as the legal value OF human
lives lost in the mine riot and mas
sacre of "bloody" Williamson county
were being compiled today IN prepa-
ration for the damage suit which the
Southern Illinois Coal Company an
nounced will be filed against the
International Union OF the unasso
Mine Workers and the county. the
ruits will aggregate more than
S1.O0O,0OO, according to Follett W.
Bull. counsel for William j. Les
ter, president Of the company:
with reports of abandonment OF
closed mines by bumpers and other
help left to protect shut down points
during the coal strike. amounts OF
property damage remained uncer-
tain until Ii could be ascertained q
how far Hood damage to abandoned
mines would run.
Suits will be filed not only for
company but on behalf of the shtn
employees. Cases in the federal
court probably will be started at
indianapolis where headquarters OF
the union are established.
Ask for Machine Gums
CHICAGO, June z4.-Counsel for
the Southern Illinois Coal Company.
whose strip mine was destroyed
Monday, today sent a telegram to
Adjutant General Carlos Black at
Springfield requesting that machine
guns be sent to Williamstown county
Counsel stated that the sheriff of the
county refused to do his duty.
Mine Union Is Sued
INDIANAPOLIS, June 24.-(By
The Associated Press)-The United
Mine Workers Of America and all Of
Ulcers and members of the company
were made defendants in an inJunc-
tion filed by Clara Mason. owner
county, Ind.
The court is asked in the suit to
restrain union miners from continu-
sg efforts to close so-called wagon
s,ninaa Iohn i awis as nreaiden