The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-05-23
|S1O6,,OOOP PADDY
/ OPERATORS FOR
| DEPUTY SHER|FFS
Expenditures by Logan Coun-
ty Mine Owners Disclosed
in Treason Trial.
KEPT FROM EVIDENCE.
Billiards. Activities During
March Reviewed by
Witnesses.

CHARLES TOWN, May 23.-tBy
The Associated Press. .)-Continue
pickering by attorneys over each
question and answer during the
early part Of today's session of the
trial of William Blizzard for trea-
son gave way later in the morning
to testimony covering the defense
contention that Blizzard went to
disturbed sections of Logan Coun-
ty last summer to urge miners to
disperse.
The earlier arguing concerned
testimony as to expenditures by the
Logan coal operators in the inter
ests of the prosecution of this case,
which was told to Judge Woods bu,
not to the jury, and testimony by
A. D. Lavender, stricken from the
record after it was given, that he
was in Jail in Mingo County at the
time of the armed march because OF,
other mine union officials, was in
dicted on the treason charge.
R. P. Toney, secretary of SUBJ
district No. of the union, of which
Blizzard is president, and Hey
wood Edwards, Blair resident,
testified: :aboutspoTtions sof .Bl liezaF1itts 9;
ie$ fif1gat De f8zss tsef1s i9S1star4
ing he urged the men at Blair and
elsewhere to surrender their arms,
and go home.
Thurn,ond on Stand
Trial of William Blizzard on a
treason charge in Circuit Court
was resumed today with w. R.
Thurmond, president of the Logan
Coal Operators Association, as
defense witness, although it is
that association which Blizzard
and others connected with the
miners union blame with their
present troubles. Mr.. Thurmond
was called to testify just before
court adjourned yesterday and
was being questioned as to contri-
buttons by his association for sal5
aries of Logan County deputy
sheriffs.
Sheriff Don Chain and Mr.
Thurmond had both conceded the
operators did contribute to the pay
of deputies, but prosecution coun-
sci objected to asking the associa-
tion president for the amounts
spent in that.way each year. Some
argument followed as to the rele-
vancy of this testimony, and Judge
J. M. Woods reserved his ruling
on the objection until today.
Captured by State Police
Ross Hager, the last witness
before Mr.. Thurmond yesterday
testified that he was one of an
outpost Of six captured by State
Police and Logan County deputies
who We're on their way down the
Ech Creek to serve warrants. Two
men were killed in a clash with
another outpost further down the
creek, and it is the defense con
tention that this fight caused a
renewal Of the armed march that
forms basis for the present case.
Hager also testified that while he
was being held in the Logan Coun
ty Jail, another prisoner was shot
and he saw the man being dragged
out by two deputies who had him
by the feet.
Phillip Murray Arrives.
Phillip Murray, international vice
president Of the United Mine Work
ers, Joined the coterie of union Of
ficia1s today and was expected to
testify for Blizzard before the trial
ended.
By agreement between the coun-
sci on both sides, it was decided
to go to Washington tonight to take
the deposition of Harold Jacobs, a
newspaper man whose testimony
was wanted by the defense. ia
cobs could not be subpoenaed, ho
being outside the state, and he said
It was utterly impossible to come
here to testify"
Deputy Sheriffs Paid.
Judge Wods ruled that Mr.. Thur
mond could testify as to the
amounts submitted by the Logan
operators for pay OF deputy sher-'
IFS, and he said they paid about
$4,000 in the first nine months of
1921 and about s45,000 in 1920. |
Each question asked of the witness
was met by a prompt objection by
the prosecution.
Evidence Barred
An attempt to put into evidence
the contribution of the Logan oper-
ators for the prosecution OF this
case was over-ru1ed by Judge
Woods on the ground that It had no
bearing on the issue before the |
fury, whether Blizzard was guilty
or not guilty of the offense.
The jury was excluded from the
court room, however, while the de
fense offered this evidence in the
court, before the ruling was made |
Continued on Page Ten)