The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-05-25
DEFENSE RESTS
CASE TODAY IN
BLIZZARD trial !.
End of First Treason Case
Now Expected Within a
Few Days.
.REBu7TAL S TAR / 1 {: /; 5
Testimony of Porter contrac-
dicted by Witnesses for
Prosecution.
.REBUTTAL S TAR S

CHARLES TOWN. May. 5.-------$s
(By the Associated PressJ - The
defense rested its case this morn
ing in the trial of William B1iz-
zard on a charge of treason after
three witnesses had testified
briefly.
Rebuttal was begun Immediate
ly by the prosecution.
The case looked near its end
today when the defense closedsfts8 n
testimony before the end of the
morning session. sI :s si55
Prosecution attorneys have5an-5i
nounced they expect to occupy
about one day with rebuttaI. but
it is not known whether the de-
tense would have any sur-rebutta1Ss a
to offer. 3s
Just how long it would take to-
complete the trial, which is in its :
fifth week, was still uncertain.
however. the complicated nature
of the legal questions involved In
the unusual charge of treason and
the great extent of evidence es-
sential to proof and Idisproof of 4
such a charge indicated that#prob-S
al days, while considerable time
could be expected for the instruc-N
tions are delivered before the
argument by attorney " zs8s
Blizzard as witness for h hinselfs
yesterday afternoon brought thes
defense case to a virtual compile;
tion. He told in detail of his
movements during the eleven
days covered by the march Of
armed miners and fighting out o 81
which grew the treason charge
and also indictments for murder,6
conspiracy and insurrecion.
several hundred union min ers$ and
officials. !; ~
Blizzard in his testimony, be-
sides denying the part he was all
legged by the state to have taken
in the march, told of going to-
Logan County last September to-
persuade the miners to return to-
their homes. and of helping feder-g1
al troops who entered the district
to restore order. .5#s
Tells of Billiards Work.
First Sergeant Timothy Lynch or
the Tenth Infantry was theagf first
eral forces which went into the
Coal River area and testified that
he was put in charge Of train
and sent with Blizzard to Blair.!
There Blizzard tried to get the
armed men to return on the train.
but of about $50 in the crowd he.
addressed only 20 or 25& took the
train. Sergeant Lynch testified At
Sharples, he said, Blizzard assisted
in getting on to the train enough
men to fill four railroad coaches.
a. c. Porter was recalled to siden
tify a letter given him by Presf
dent c. Frank Keeney OF district
No. II, United Mine Workers he
Porter took the letter with him
when he went up the Coal River
with Adjutant General Charnock I'M!
an attempt to bring about order
around Sharples.
Denies Statements
Porter was. .cross-examined asHIoA
speech made at Sharples AMI N
denied that he referred several
times to the killing OF two men or
Beech Creek in clash with State
Police as a "dastardly assassina-s3
tion" with the intention of inflam
ing the men SO they would not
heed the advice to return:
He and District Vice-President5a
Petrey. who, was recalled for the
purpose, were cross-examined@as to-
a
before the march. They we're
asked II Porter, at this meeting.
did not tell the union men that nc
they ever wanted to carry ont thar
plans they would have togmsrchs on
Logan and wipe it off the map sands
IL Petrey did not follow this by
saying that only the outline Of the
plans had been told but .hat#theyss
would be explained fully later Both#
men denied making such speechss
or hearing each other, make them,
but instead said they weresset ttiiaAss
differences over the dischs&g ofs
two miners there and urged thss
union not to break its contra
Contradict Denial
nesses nas stesttfied ts as to the 7sharpIes
speech by Porter .ss55s Nd 81 III
mine superintendent, and II e ..ss
Guy, general superintendent and
C. w Bias all employed by he
Boone County Coal Co.'S at Sharp
les testified that they heard POT
ter speak of the Beech Greek
clash as .dastrdly assassina-
ton"
Nj. Guy and W.. NJ. WiIeys gem
eraI manager of the Boone Goun-
ty Coal CO., also testlh fed as 70
statement Us SCOIOne11SfHAlSySsl11 -
Phillip Murray, information vice
president Of the mine workers.
when Murray visited SharpIes IN
effort to get the. armed men to
disperse, and 4 also to invesngate
the clash with State Ponca on
Beech Creek. Both said Murray
was told armed men had Shot into
the car of P. S.sEmbry on the
night Of August q Q. that armed
men had been Spatro1ingSth the roads
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