The Washington herald., 1922-05-02
AUDIENCE FEARS
Gun PLAY IN row
AT MINERS TRIAL
Defense Attorney Calls
Prosecutor a Liar and
Shakes Fist.
FIGHT is AVERTED
Snowman Says Half a Dozen
Shot Deputy Sheriff
Gore.

CHARLES TOWN, w. Va. May 1.
The trial of West Virginia
miners for alleged treason in con-
nection with the crusade into
Mingo County last year grew so
tense at one time today that the
spectators. fearing gun play, made
move for the doors almost en-
masse.
This incident came when Attor-
ney Harold w. Houston for the de-
fense, passed the lie to Prosecuting
Attorney A. NJ Belcher. The
half-submerged bitterness between
union and operator factions threat
ened to blaze. and the crowd re-
membered Houston's warning that
gunmen were present at the trial.
Charges War ON Miners
Houston. pleading to be allowed
to continue a line of questioHine
he had adopted in cross-examina-
tion of Deputy Sheriff Holly. of
Logan County. declared:
I'VE will show that the gentle
men who are backing the prosecu-
tion in this case have known that
! enormous sums are being paid to
! hire men to make war on the
miners. These sums of money ran
to $4,000 and $4,000 a year. and
during the first nine months Of last
year they paid ont over $4,000 to
! employ these deputy sheriffs-"
Here Belcher interrupted:
Now / want to say that the
miners have never wanted to deal
/
| iff. Don Chain. was shot in the
headquarters Of the United Mine
Workers at Charles Town by WILL
lam Petry, district vice president
after a conference with you, Mr.
Houston"
sYou Lie,- shouts Houston.
IF you say know anythinn
about this. you lie!" shouted Hous-
ton, shaking his fist and moving
toward Belcher.
81 can prove that you did. II
meet you anywhere you say" re.
turned Belcher with equal heat.
Court attaches leaped to inter,
vene. rs il looked as IL a fight wa'
inevitable. Judge Wood. however
was able TO smooth the matter
over. and after both attorneys had
cooled down they apologized to tn,
court and the frightened spectators
resumed their seats.
John Gore. deputy sheriff. killed
in the battle of Blair Mountain dur,
ing the Logan County mine wal
last summer. was shot by half 8
dozen miners, according to testi
nony introduced today.
Give sDetaiIs of Rattle.
Complete details of mob scene,
leading up to the battle and details
of the conflict itself were Offered
by John Brinkman, Snowman, wht
said he was with the mine army.
Brinkman testified he was forcet
to accompany the miners at thu
point of a revolver when the army
marched through Danville. wher
the army boarded and comnan,
deered a train. Brinkman made .
futile effort to escape, he said.
At Blair, w. Va, Blizzard appeared
! and made a speech to the army
while Jim Morrison, a local labor
leader, passed around the ammuni.
tion. the witness testified.
when Blizzard concluded hi.
speech. he said. Now IL anytrouble
comes out of this everybody forget
everybody else's name" Brinkma r
said.
Minister In Party.
While on the march the army
looted stores.
Brinkman also said he saw Gore
killed. but he could not tell who
fired the shot. Among those in the
party who fired on Gore, the witness
testified, were Pryor Sharp. Frank
wilburn. John wilburn. Rev WI.
burn, Frank and Henry Kitchen and
John Hensen. Rev wilburn was
chief of this party. Brinkmar