The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1922-06-24
COAL OPERATORS
WILL BRING SUITS
IN TWO COURTS
Seek to Recover for Damages
to Life and Property
WILL SUE NINE WORKERS
Will Be First Action under Re-
cent Decision of U. S.
Supreme Court
WILL SUE NINE WORKERS

Chicago, June 24.--Legal action for
the recovery OF damages sustained
by the Southern Illinois Coal COM
pany as the result OF the mine riots
at Herrin and the destruction of the
companys strip mine there, Will be
started Immediately against the
United Mine Workers of America
and the county Of Williamson, in be-
half OF the company and the families
of its dead employees, Follet w. Bull,
attorney for the coal company, an
nounced last night.
The suit against the United Mine
Workers, the attorney pointed oE<,
will be the first suit under the re-
cent Coronado decision by the Unit
ed States supreme court, holding la
Dor organizations liable for dam
ages. The suit against the United
Nine Workers will probably be filed
in the federal court at indianapolis
and that against Williamson county
at Marion, H., the county seat.
Herrin, H., June 24-Oficial in
vestigation OF the mine war, which
killed from 27 to As near here, began
yesterday in response to ins!stent de
mands from Guy Len Small for ac
ton by local authorities.
Investigations were conducted by
several state representatives from
Springfield and the coroner started
his inquest by swearing in the jury
II then adjourned until Sunday
States Attorney Duty said he proba
bly, wou d recommend a grand jury
investigation, but that this would
depend primarily on what the in
quest uncovered. All officials were
OF the opinion that no evidence would
be obtainable. The casualty list was
still indefinite tonight.
twenty-five bodies were II
morgues. Several others were re
ported still In the woods or in ponds
Estimates ran as high as 40 but hat
no confirmation. Nineteen wer'
known to be wounded. Two bodies
were taken from pond.
Sheriff Melvin Thaxton at Marion
the county seat, sent kilograms Il
Gov. Small saying that the situation
was well in hand and there was NJ
danger OF future outbreaks and n
need Of troops.
Duty, in a statement to the AssC
ciated Press, said that Gov. Small
seemed to have jumped little to
quickly" in his demands for imme
diate action.
81 have received insistent demand
from the governor asking why n
arrests have been made aud wha
steps have been taken to apprehen
the guilty persons" said Duty. "Go'
Small does not seem to realize tina
the first step must be the coroner
inquest. cannot move ofiiciall
until that Is over. Evidence will b
very hard to obtain The wounde
strikebreakers tell me they cannC
identify any Of their assailants an
that they do not know their name
No one knows anything about it., s
far as | can learn"
Duty said that the disaster coul
be blamed directly on the coal oper
tors, who imported no-union worI
men when they knew that such a
tion would lead to war.
This massacre was due entireI
, to these efforts to so against Il
known feelings OF the county, /
? said There have been many di
, orders here in the past. There ha,
/ been many mine troubles. All hay
i resulted in bloodshed. 1t is We
! known that strike cannot be broke
: in Williamson county. Yet. n
r union strikebreakers were sent
; here"
! Herrin was absolutely quiet toda
q Someone found a coupe OF st. Lou
q newspapers and crowd immediat
ly gathered to read about the mass
:. ere. Few out.of.town papers a
n available, most of those seen bell
q brought in by travelling salesme
:. Local newsstands were told not
: sell them.
GOMPERS AGAIN HEADS