The New York herald., 1922-06-24
COAL FIRM TO ACT
Will Demand Damages
for Destruction Of
Property and
Life Loss.
CITES CORONADO CASE
Lewis May Be Brought In
as Defendant Because
of Telegram.
CALLED RIOT INCITER
Courts Also Will Be Asked to
Make County Pay for
Destruction.
CALLED RIOT INCITER

CHICAGO, June 23 (Associated Press)
Legal action for the recovery of
damages suffered by the Southern
Illinois Coal Company as the result
of the mine riots at Herrin and the
destruction Of the company's strip
mine there will be started imme-
diately against the United Mine
Workers of America and the county
of Williamson In behalf OF the COM
pany and the families Of its dead en-
the coal company. announced tonight.
The suit against the United Mine
Workers. the lawyer added. will be
the first under the recent Coronado
decision by the United States Supreme
Court, holding labor organizations La
BILE for damages.
The suit against the United Mine
Workers will be filed in the Federal
Court at Indianapolis and that against
Williamson county at Marion. ILL.,, the
county seat. f
Mr.. Bull declared Williamson county
liable under the statutes of the full
amount of damages suffered by the
company, damages which, he said
wore yet unestimated because every
effort to reach the mine had failed.
May Also Sue Lewis.
He added that the action against the
miners union may also include suit
against John l.. Lewis, president OF the
miners, whose kilograms stated the COM
pany's imported employees were com
mon strike breakers" Copies Of this
telegram. Mr.. Bull said, had been posted
throughout Herrin and had evidently
melted the men to action.
Unable to make any investigation OF
the company's property. Arthur S. Lyt-
ton, Mr.. Bulls partner. planned to leave
the scene Of the trouble for Chicago,
according to word from Mr.. Lytton at
Herrin. He will bring what first hand
reports are available direct to William
j. Lester of Cleveland. president of the
company, who is in Chicago with his
wife, and Mrs. c. X. Mcdowell. wife OF
the mines murdered superintendent.
Mrs. Lester Is a sister OF John e.
Shoemaker. assistant superintendent OF
the mine, whose body has not been re-
covered. It was believed to be In Her
rim, while McDowells body was reported
to be in a morguc at Marion. Both Mrs.
Lester and Mrs. Mcdowell are under the
care OF a physician.
my greatest concern now Is to get
the bodies of my friends and those OF
the workers" Mr.. Lester said tonight
This Is the most appalling thing that
one can irnagine--men shot down In cold
blood under a flag of surrender. Not
man was injured. I understand. until
after the flag went up.
VIII Get Evidence.
We'll get the evidence on that mob
~ II takes ten years to do 1t and II
should all be made public. There Is
way 10 get these men. When they drink
moonshine-and shoot--if there's moon
shine there. they'll drink It again"
The strip mine was being operated
without any official agreement with the
miners union. according to Attorney
Bull. Mr.. Lester sought an agreement
with Frank harrington. president OF
the Illinois miners. In April, Mr.. Bul
said, but was told that under the ma.
tIonai organizations policy. no Goa
could be mined in the State Following
the strike April l.
After more than a month. Lester
again communicated with Harrington
Mr.. Bull said. asserting that he coulc
not afford 70 pay the high cost OF un
covering unless he was able to ship tho
coal and sell II at present marker
prices. Attorney Bull said harrington
annaren,,v agreed. and that the com.
many then made arrangements to brine
in common iaborers to load the cars.
only this common labor was non
union" explained Mr.. Bull.
"Ail the shovel runners were union
led and they we're the only skilled laooi
mon labor had been union and this un'
ao,,h,edIv was the seat of the trouble