The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1922-04-27
MINERS WIN POINT
In TREASON TRIAL
Court Rules Defense Need Not
Produce Union Officials
of Every Local.
ASKS MEN BE DISARMED
Defense Says Many Witnesses
for Prosecution Carry Weap-
Ons Under Permits.

Special Dispatch TO TIE New YORK HERALD
CHARLES TowN. w. Va. April 26.--
The defense in the trial of William Biz
zard. selected as the first of the twenty
three miners and union officials charged
with treason as a result of their particl-
patton In the march of armed miners
from Mar,nef into Logan county last
summer. scored again to-day when the
court sustained a motion to compel the
State to modify its bill of particulars
and TO specify more exactly what locals
and what officials Blizzard Influenced
TO aid in the march.
The bill filed by the State charged
Blizzard generally with soliciting union
aid for the enterprise. To answer these
charges the defense attorneys declared
it would be necessary to summon off
Gals OF every local In Districts Nos. IT
and 30 of the United Mine Workers OF
America. AS there are 5000. the court
held that such /,Amand on tho defense
was unreasonable and granted the
prayer of the defense attorneys for more
specific particulars.
Following the ruling court sessions
were adjourned for the day to permit
the States attorneys to revise their bill
of particulars.
Revelation Halted.
A threa tened revelation of alleged in
timidati0u tactics used against wit
nesses OF each side by the opposition
was halted when Judge Woods ruled
that remarks unsupported by affidavits,
charging threatening of witnesses. were
out Of place,
The State was justifying # failure to
file a list of its witnesse declaring
they had been tn tened ana II wanted
to avoid furthr roubie. The defense
objected and clarad es also
had been til armed
men of the or ne court
room at the " tia .le purpose
of intimidation. The lJ thereupon
reminded counsel that such exchanges
of charges were improper and must be
discontinued.
The State filed its required bill of par
ticuars this morning in which it char
acterized Blizzard with being one of the
leaders in proposing. counseling, ad-
vising and leading the march of miners
last autumn and also alleging that he
actually participated in the fighting
around Blair. in Logan county.
John l.. Lewis. president of the United
Mine Workers of America. arrived here
this morning and passed the day I'm con-
ference with counsel for the miners.
FOresees AcquittaI.
Mr.. Lewis asserted he could not con-
ceive how the defendants could receive
an adverse verdict He was emphatic
In his declaration that the strike ex-
listing in the union fields was stifl 100
per cent. efficient. More than so 900
miners Of the non-unon fields have
joined the United Mine Workers OF
America since the strike i'm the union
fields was declared, he said
e.. n
day that they would ask the court to
direct the States witnesses while i'm the
court room TO be disarmed. II was said
by the defense that most of the wit
nesses for the State were carrying one
or more guns under State permits and
that this fact amounts virtually to un-
due influence over the defendant min
ers who are not allowed to carry weap-
ons. Col. Jackson Arnold and q few
of his State police are here and are
making it point. IL was learned Of
ficially. to move especially among the
miners in order to give them sense
of security.
Blizzard. the first to be tried, received
what limited Of n hero's reception as he
appeared in court. The defendants
generally congratulated him and wished
him success.