The Union daily times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1918-current, 1922-05-02
CLASH
AT CHARLESTON

charleston, w. Va, (By the Asso-
ciated Press) s).-Testimon of the kill
ing of Deputy Sheriff John Gore on
Blair mountain and of compelling
men to join in the march on Logan
and Mingo counties last year was
enlivened today by clash between
excited lawyers, in which Harold W..
Houston marked as ga lie" an impli-
cation in remarks by A. M. Belcher
that he had prior knowledge of the
shooting of Sheriff Don Chain at
union headquarters in Charleston.
Although the trial was on treason
charge against William Blizzard, he
was mentioned in the testimony Of
only one of the witnesses.
The clash between attorneys came
on Mr.. Belcher's objection to ques-
tions by the chief defense attorney,
who was asking a Logan county dep
uty sheriff about Sheriff Chafn's in
terests in coal mines. From there
the lawyers arguments turned to Mr..
Houston's declaration that coal oper-
ators paid large sums of money to
Chafin for the purpose of making
war on the United Mine Workers, to
which Mr.. Belcher countered that the
vice president of District II of that
reorganization shot Chain after he had
conferred with Mr.. Houston.
The defense counsel pulled off his
glasses as he rose and waving his
forefinger up and down before Belch-
er's face, shouted: eff you imply that
| knew anything about that, it's a
lie"
81 can prove that you did and I'll
meet you anywhere you say for that
purpose" Mr.. Belcher added, while
the court admonished against any
further Outbreaks"
Mr.. Houston apologized to the
court for his statement, but added he
did believe Belcher had gone too far.
The Rev. John Wilburn, Baptist
preacher of Jeffery, led the party
which killed Gore, according to the
testimony of Jack Brinkham, musi-
clan with carnivals and touring mu-
steal comedy companies. Bringham:
said he was compelled to join the
marchers at Danville, provided the
bulk of the testimony of seven wit
pesses heard today. He was in the
large group from when s0kie half
dozen detached themselves when they
met Gore and others on Blair noun
tain. 1t was Wilburn, the counter
sign, after each had asked the other,
"Who are you?" When the deputy
answered "Amen," the shooting be-
gan, which resulted in the death of
Gore, James Munsey and another
man.
"Where to-" as challenge, and
"To Mingo" as an answer were the
first pass words of the miners forces,
Brinkham testified, but after the first
clash between miners and Logan
county deputy sheriffs this was
changed The later forms, he said
were: "Who comes? ?" for the chal-
lenge and 81 come creeping" for the
answer.
Munsey and Carfargo fell at the
first volley of the six men who were
in advance of the column in which the
witness was, but Gore raised his rifle
and lowered it again when bullet
struck his hand. He fired two shots
from the shelter of a treet. Brink
hon, tbouoht hefora he was killed
Munsey said: Boys, you've shot the
wrong man." when they came up to
where he was lying and asked them
not to shoot again, according to the
testimony, but one of the men pre-
sented high powered rifle about
eight inches from his head and fired
another shot that struck him just
above the left eye.