New-York tribune., 1922-05-28
jury Returns Verdict Af-
ter Deliberating on Fate
of Mine Leader OnlyFew
Hours; 4 Weeks of Trial
81 Others Named
In Indictment
Prosecution Was Based ON
Defendants Joining in
Armed March i'm w. Va.

CHARLESTOWN, w. Va, May 27 (By
ne Associated Press William Biz
zard. charged with treason in connec-
ton with the armed march of miners on
Logan County last fall, was found not
guilty by jury here Tonight
From the moment court adjourned d
Blizzard was the center of a cheering
crowd that shrcked its rejoicings and
congratulations in the courtroom and
on the streets
The jury had been out for six hours
and ten minutes when it returned the
verdict, just as arrangements we're be-
ing made to adjourn court until Mon
day.
Before the verdict was announced
Judge j. NJ. Woods cautioned against
any demonstration, and his warning
was needed, during the tedious mo-
ments while the form of the verdict
was properly recorded, But Sheriff w.
0. McCaughtry had not finished the
formality of adjourning until Monday
before the cheers broke out.
Blizzard and his wife were complain
ing of sore hands long before the
throngs Of friends and strangers had
finished their congratulations.
ITS year since | have felt so
happy was Mrs. Billiards. comment
and her husband, in the center of an
other handshakng throng, cried out
Good old Jefferson County,"
Blizzard, twenty eight years old
former miner, is president of sub dis
trict two of district seventeen, United
Mine Workers. He was indicted with
flfty-two other men, mainly union off
Gals and members or sympathizers OF
the miners union, on the charge of
treason against West Virginia as a re-
suit OF last summers disturbances in
southern West Virginia, known as "thc
invasion of Logan County"
This indictmenl was one of sixteen
including charges Of murder. insurrec-
ton and conspiracy and involving sew
cral hundred men, 1870 of whom OBJ
tanned a change of venue from Logan
County to Jefferson County. When
hearings Of these cases began. nearly
five weeks ago. the treason charge was
zard as the first defendant Evidence
IN his case was begun just month ago
Ten Attorneys Heard
When court rcconvened to-day the
addresses of three of the ten ATTORNEYS
IN the case remained to be heard A. NJ
Belchcr, of Charlestown, head of the
counsel associated with the Prosecuting
Attorney of Logan County; T.W. Town
Of IN nr,ln 10, WIN =
large part Of the defense burden. and
c. W. Osenton, of Fayetteville, asso-
ciated like Mr.. Bclchcr with the prose
cution, were heard.
Elements entered into the case which
the state presented against Blizzard
we're gathering of miners at Marin ct
last August, their march, once inter
rupted and turned back, but eventually
reaching Blair, Jeffrey and other towns
just over the Logan County border;
battles with the defending forces in the
hills above these towns, and testimony
purporting to show Blizzard partici-
patcd in some Of these activities.
Testimony as to q speech he is al
testimony of one man that Blizzard led
about 300 Of the marchers and of an
other that he brought up ammunition
TO the fighting forces at Blair, togeth er
with that Of several others who saw
him at towns behind the miners lines
and Of army officers who said when the
troops went into restore order Blizzard
seemed to be the man with the greatest
authority, figured in connecting him
with the trouble.
covert Act" Problem
Much discussion by attorneys and
Judge J. NJ. Woods. who presided, con-
cerned the covert act" which under the
constitutional definition must be proved
against the defendant by two witnesses
in order to obtain a conviction.
The court ruled that Billiards. pres
cnce with the armed forces in Logan
County, where alone the court in which
he was indicted could have jurisdiction
cons tituted the only overt act on which
there was evidence sufficient for pre-
sentaton to the jury. The other evi.
dence was admitted, however, as bear
ing on the question of wehther there
was reasonable conspiracy.
With this as a basis, the defense
attended mainly to accounting for
Billiards. whereabouts during the time
between August "a and September 3
covered by the march. He went on
Continued on page thres)