New-York tribune., 1922-04-28
State. in Opening Treason
Trial at Charle,town. Al
le&es the Killing of Those
Who Wouldn't Join Army
Jury Chosen in 10 Minis.
| 100 Witnesses Are Sum-
moned for the Prosecu-
ton. 275 to Md Defense


son the alleged leaders OF the min
ers who took part in the "march on
Logan and Mingo"
Prosecutor Belcher declared that the
marching miners had levied war on the
state for the purpose Of overthroWing
martial law in MinPo County and lib
Grating union miners imprisoned there
that the Invaders" had disobeycd even
proclamation Of the President in re-
'uS'ng 20 disband and 90 home, and
that William Blizzard, tho first Of tho
tWentY-three treason defendants placed
on trial. had been one Of the chief fac
tors in raising funds for the miners
army and had directed the work Of sup
PLYING II with arms and ammunition.
Charges Murders by Army
Mr.. Belcher charged that "a great
number of persons who refused 10 JOIN
The march were murdered by the mem
bers that were assembling" He named
t"o persons who. he said. had been
slain for this reason "a young man by
the name Of Petry." who, he said. had
been shot because Of his inability to
obte1u guns from a coal company su-
perntendent, and "an aged negro" who
/ he asserted, had been killed after
protesting that he didn't wan. TO 90
and knew it was wrong
In describing the killing Of Pet1y
Mr. Belcher said:
"They threw his jfeless body at the
tlont door Of an uudertaker's. and said
Here Che BODY Of scab; take
care OF him."
Deputy sheriff John Gore. slain dur
ing the Blair Mountain lighting. wa,
killed by the miners. Mr.. Belche,
charged, after he had given them "thc
password Of the defenders of Logan
County This, the prosecutor said
was Amen"
Standing by his side" Mr. Belcher
went on, was man by the name OF
Munsey, who was acting with the mil
lt"ry forces Of West Virginia. He was
shot and wounded. The evidence will
sho" you that while he was Oh the
/ ground, on his knees, begging for
mercy, begging them 10 shoot him no
more, number of these men assem-
I pied there stepped up within q foot of
hiW and blew his brains out.
Charges War Against State
We have got to show that the pur-
, pose Of ievying this war on the mart
! of the defendant snd his co-conspira-
tors W2s TO destroy the sovereignty Of
west Virginia IN the counties of Logan
Judge Ohm Mitchell Woods announced
that the defense had decided to re.
sfrve the giving of is opening state.
ment until the state has completed the
putting in Of its case. After conclusion
of court Harold ". Houston. chie1
counsel for the defense, issued a state.
ment, saying. in part:
THE prosecution adviscdly avoided
any reference to the notorious guarc
7ystem Of Logan, Mcdowell and otho,
counties of southern West Virginia
"h'ch maintains conditions referred tc
by Senator Kenyon as an industrial
autocracy.
"Thc individual turmoil which has &c
ong dlsgraced this section is Il direct
result Of this system. 1t is q tribute
20 the sterling Americanism Of tho
hardy mountaincers that they do not
'amely submit to a forcihle deprivation
or their civil rights by an army Of con-
pany guards. Governor Morgan was
elected on platform pledging the abo
htion Of this system.''
Lewis Calls State Opening Weak
John L. Lewis. president os tic
United Mine Workers. who was present
at to-day. S sessions, termed the state
opening "weak'
"lf the reference to the President,
proclamation is all the state has jr
that connection it has laid itself vide
opcn,' he said The marchers hsr
| agreed to obey the proclamation. an(
were ready to return home. when NJ.
killing Of two Of their number a,
Sharples threw the fat back in the fire
A conversation between Prcsidcn,
'iH' u!ue ana rn!Se!f over the telephone
Soloct}or of 10 ;,,u,. h;.l
eide the fato ~ pi;1tHo-J J''IOn a - ~ ue
tLrouoL +ho o,,.o'.'.-- ''-"@i ~ ""u' IaFge'S
tato or Ero.L Tn'.., LV',,V ol ms caSe' 'hf
and tho o+bors NeIJ e. Iea Moone!
comn;etod ~ fortI1t;>- .'t ..eaSo"' 95t: Ta:
members Of the nanoI u.ora ra. AZ
ined indiyiduallv Twont, oo,,es ,r~e man, 80,
Submitted to ro,,nsol for hn+i' .;Ina
the statn ovorciSinc ric.s+ g .',.,
pcromntorv rba)Ienceo o9A e. e'a' dof.ns nt w,
Six Tho rs,nair;n +,,.a1,a ,rn ,'s ;ms ue4rns
sworn, "''
judge WOODS rr;or +o tho eola..;n
asked the members Of The nonoI. ''o''
Are the or;nione of a,,i, p',,+s, nf ,.o,, ,o,,
tlomen such tba+ roi ' ,,o,,ld 80 80 sei
tho defondan+ ,,,,;1+,. of w, n.y. @ n,n'
ishab)o hv deasb o., "'' ''N'''e p"''
u.arc thera ra,,l;i,' ,'a'n" ~ a. w
,,,.,,.. IL ''' W N'o h0