Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1922-03-16
THOSE MINERS TRIALS.


the miners rebellion last August in
Logan county were brought to trial the
hearings would last / 10 years and cost
the State OF West Virginia S7,OOO,OOO.
II. w. Houston. chief counsel for the
United Mine Workers Of America, made
this statement Saturday in Charleston
in connection with an outline of pre-
liminary parleys between State and de-
Tense for the trials OF miners at
Charles Town, Jefferson county, on
April oath.
obviously, the State will never at
tempt to try all the cases." Mr.. Hous-
ton added. Hundreds of the 400 or
more indictments will be nollied. In
my opinion, not more than six United
Mine Workers will face trial as a re-
suit OF the so-called Instruction"
Isaac Scott, acting secretary Of Dis
trict IL, u. M. W. of A., whose men,
, bers are involved in the trial, de-
clared that the resources Of the inter-
national organization would be back
OF the defendants. He said that Chief
Counsel Houston would be author
lied to employ such additional at
torneys as are necessary.
Mr.. Houston intimated that a post
ponement OF some of the cases might
be asked unless the defense is notified
at once by the State what indictments
Will be first called for trial.
The State has not yet officially
transferred the orders on the miners
cases from the Logan to the Jeffer-
son Circuit Court" Mr.. Houston said.
The Jefferson court has not been ad-
vised which cases will come I'D for
trial. Unless the defense has this in
formation, we cannot get ready for
trial of cases at this term of court.
HE said that the witnesses, several
thousand of whom will be subpoenaed
by the defense, are widely scattered
and it would be difficult to assemble all
OF them in the 400 or more cases on the
same day.
Mr. Houston expressed belief that
the treason indictments against a num-
Der of the United Mine Workers Of
hcials would be dropped by the State.
HE claimed they were not brought in
good faith
Inc treason indictments were based
upon the alleged attempt of those
charged to overthrow the government
OF the State after martial law had been
declared Mr.. Houston explained that
convictions on the treason charges
would be punishable by imprisonme Mt
for number of years, life sentence or
death.
Mr.. Houston declared in cases where
United Mine Workers members or of
hcials are accused OF treason, conspira-
ccy and completely in murders, the de-
iense would show the union had moth
ing to do with the alleged rebellion.
There were many involved who had
nothing to do with the union," he said
In all cases a plea of not guilty will
be made
1t was explained that Frank p
walsh, international labor leader, who
appeared for the railway shopcrafts in
the United States Railroad Board hear-
i.ngS, might be an attorney for the de-
fenSe, but Mr.. Houston said he doubted
whether Mr.. Walsh would be associated
| in the case.
attorneys to assist Mr.. Houston will
include ]. M. Mason, Charles Town: G.
=; townsend and c. J. Van Fleet,
Charleston.
Charles w. Osenton, Fayetteville,
VIII be chief counsel for the State AS
Slstng him will be Prosecuting Attor.
neys, Don Chain, of Logan, and Iobn
Portertield, Jefferson county; Assistant
PROSECUTOR G.. X. Esten, Logan county.
"A. NJ. Belcher, Charleston, and Forrest
Brown, Charles Town.
Prosecuting Attorney Don Chain. of
logan county, in an interview a few
Gays ago said that the trials of the in.
o''ted miners and union officials vii:
70 TO trial on scheduled time.
i am not ready yet to announce what
saScs VIII be taken up" the attorney
Saio' nor Will the State be able to elect
the indictments to be heard until the
cay court opens. This will depend
upon The witnesses present and the
general situation
Mr.. Chain said he understood :ho
aefense would be ready for trial ApriI
"a. He explained the only grounds ror
continuance would be absence of VIII
neSses, illness of parties concernsd
materially with the defense, or the fact
mat the State would propose trial of
cases of which the defense had not been
notified. He added there is no pos-
Slollity of the latter. Mr.. Chain de. |
clared that the defense would be en-
pected to be ready to try 400 or 500
cases III which indictments have been
returned