The Washington herald., 1922-04-26
William Blizzard Picked
To Defend Charge
Of Treason.
EXCEPTIONS GIVE
CHANCE OF APPEAL
Defense Wins Demand
For Detailed State
ment of Charges.

25.-United Mine Workers suffered
a defeat in the first skirmish over
the trial of the miners treason
cases. But 1t was a reverse with
compensating features which left
the defense fairly gleeful and tn.
prosecution with only cold cheer.
Demurrers of the defense were
overruled by Judge ]. NJ. Woods.
and exceptions were taken which
will permit the miners, II they are
dissatisfied with the decision, later
to carry 1t up to the State supreme
court on appeal. The miners will
be tried separately as requested by
the defense. and the State elected to
try William Blizzard. president of
sub-district No. 2. as the first of the
big fry listed as traitors to the
State.
We'll. that was to be expected
seeing as how I was the only de-
fendant who was even in the State
when the Logan march occurred =
Blizzard, debonair, natty OF dress
and always smiling, remarked later
But ] think will be able to prove
that instead of being a traitor.
was really trying to head off the
marchers and get them to turn
back. And. anyhow. the Judge
picked all the teeth out of the in
dictments in his decision"
Win Bill of Particulars.
Selection of the jury probably with
occupy all day tomorrow.
Meanwhile the miners won their
demand for a bill OF particulars in
which the State must go into detail
as to the charges in the indictmen Mt,
which the defense claimed were too
vague. The prosecution was none
too pleased with this. but Judge
Woods held the defense was enti-
tied to know the charges and par
ticularly the specific dates of the
alleged offenses.
Judge Woods. however. turned
down the miners-pfea thar tEszfHk-
dictments were faulty in omitting
the word "feloniously." holding this
to be largely a technicality.
Judge Woods gave the defense a
cue when he suggested it might
later be necessary to draw a limo
between felonies. embracing attacks
on the police, and treason. an at
tack distinctly against the State
itself. Tho miners will seek to
prove that the worst crime they
could have committed when they
swept on to Logan and ran afoul
Of the authorities was a felony.
Judge Woods was frank in ad-
that there were few legal
guideposts in trying treason cases.
and won the admiration of both the
defense and the prosecution by
freely admitting the possibility OF
his own errors and leaving a loop
hole for review by the higher courts
II the miners so desire.
The miners announced that in
event of conviction, which they
doubt will ever come, the cases
will be fought through to the
United States Supreme Court if
necessary
The defense. it was learned. will
pursue the tactics employed by
Aaron Burr. who was found not
guilty when he proved he was not
on the scene when any overt act
was committed. These defendants
claim they were not a part of the
march ahd that whether they helped
plan it Or not. they are not guilty
of treason. The State will try to
pIoNt DilLZdiu was khC
march.
The miners are anxiously await
ing the arrival of John L. Lewis,
head of the United Mine Workers,
who is due here tomorrow. They
are heartened by the fact that
Lewis Is coming in their behalf.
All defendants are optimistic as
to the outcome. and such as reckon
with the chance of facing death
only shrug their shoulders and say:
1--WE would be dying in a good
The air of hospitality around the
town grows daily. The local base
ball nine is arranging a game with
the miners for Saturday. Blizzard.
Keeny and Mooney will play on the
team, and Col. Arnold,
State police leader. will umpire.
The church ladies served an old
supper of chicken. Vir-
ginia ham and home made pie. in
the town fire house. Miners rubber
elbows with the towns elite. some
of whom boast of a family tree as