Arizona republican., 1922-04-30
Leader of Miners Army
In West Virginia Feud
Describes Mingo Battle

CHARLESTON, w. Va, April 29--
A treason trial and an amateur base
ball game shared here today in in
terest with the same man as the CEN
tral figur- in both, but although the
game had the larger attendance, even
the longest home run could not pro-
duce the thrills Of the story in court.
Details of marching through sec
tions of three counties, the COM
Wandering cf a railroad train, a bat
tie in which a machine gun and un-
numbered rifles spat from West Vir-
ginia hills into a. valley where the
enemy was in position, all flowed to
the ears of jury, court and spectat-
ors in the tones OF Ed Reynolds, coal
miner and self lf-implicated leader OF
band that had these experiences.
William Blizzard, sub district presi-
dent of the United Mine Workers,
charged with treason and now on
trial, led similar band, the witness
declared which accompanied them
until the two groups took up sepa-
rate positions on the battle line
The baseball game which in the
afternoon drew the attention the
court had held in the day was be-
tween TIE team of the United Mine
Workers. every man OF which is here
in connection with the armed march
trials, and picked players OF the town.
The miners won, to 8, with Biz
zard in right field, scoring one run
and making three hits out Of five
times at bcs
''We were going to kill Don Chafin
and thar bunch and march on through
Logan 10 Milgo and release the men
in Jail there" Reynolds testified. Don
ChafIn, further questioning brought
out, was sheriff of Logan county,
and "that funch," the deputy sher-
ifs with whose aid the defendant be-
lieved Chaf.n had prevented union
men from pervading the Logan coal
fields.
Even wher his direct testimony had
finished and Harold w. Houston had
opened the cross examination for the
defense by asking about his arrest on
charge of collecting money under
false pretenseS, the witness did not
make any display of emotion, but
calmly gave his story of collecting
$500 from half dozen mine union
locals for benevolent relief" pay
ment OF part of it for two grocery
bills that Lad been incurred in JEFF
frey, which he had previously des-
ignated as a base of supplies for the
fighting men on the miners side and
delivery OF tke rest to NJ +. Hapton-
stall, actins president of Dictrict IL
of the union. who, he said, had given
him authority to make the collections.
His first testimony was of meet
ing in Charleston. Aug. z, 1921, at
which he said he heard President
keeney speak about conditions in
Mingo county.
After the meeting he said he and
Blizzard set out afoot for Racine,
each in command Of about 500 men.
Arriving there that night, Reynolds
sent a detacT ment to get a railroad
train on the branch Of the Chesapeake
and Ohio, which he said, they took"
On this they went the next day to
Sproul and after holding the oper-
ator up to get the right of way the
train continued on to Madison Biz
zard was on the train, Reynolds tes-
titled. but in cross examination he
said he had not talked with the lead
er of the other contingent or heard
the latter give any commands.
At Madison his band and that of
Blizzard con .inued to Jeffrey on foot
the witness declared, and there sep
arated. A march up the mountain at
night put them in position and 1--WE
met our enemies" the next day, he
testified.
The witness told of the dropping of
seven bombs on or near their posi-
tions from airplanes. Five of the
seven exploited, but the men had
chance to examine the others, he said,
and found t. ey were made Of iron
pipe with caps threaded on the ends
and a shotgun cap and pIunger to
explode 1t, inserted at one end.