South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-08-31
Union To Aid
Members; Grand
Jury Probe On

p The Invest cation or the era nd
jury OF the Herrin mine war OF June
y and % last. on the third day Of
is progress. developed two outstand-
| ing features:
The issuance OF the first indict-
ment and the appearance here OF
state officials or the Illinois Mine
! Workers. including Frank Earring
ton. president. who issued a state
ment tonight charging forces have
! combined 10 convict our members"
Immediately upon their arrival
/ here the officials Of the Illinois min
ers went into conference with a w.
Kerr. chief counsel of the miners.
which lasted several hours At the
| conclusion Of the meeting Mr Far
rington issued the following state
ment:
To Aid Indicted.
The Illinois miners union already
has pledged every means at It's COM
mand 10 the defense of any and all
OF its number that may be indicted
/ in connection with the trouble at
the strip mine OF the Southern Hi
nois Coal company Our legal force
has been on the ground for some
time and I am here today IN COM
pany with Vice Pres't Harry Fish
( wick and Sec'y Treas. Walter Nesbit
so that we may inform ourselves as
| 10 exactly what has been done in
the interest of our members.
2 I'VE intend 10 keep in close touch
with the trials OF such Of our men
as may be indicted. The Illinois
miners union will spare no expense
in defending its members.
I'VE have a proper appreciation
Of the magnitude of the forces that
have combined to convict our mem
bers and we shall leave nothing IN
done that Will enable us 70 combat
! these forces. The very magnitude
OF the agitation. which is nation
wide. for conviction in connection
with this trouble. jeopardizes the
lives and freedom of innOceDt men
and makes II necessary that the
state orga nization furnish every pos
sible means Of defense for our mem
bers and that we shall do"
Charges Murder.
While the name of the first de-
PENDANT was withheld PENDING the
arrest. it was said the indictment
was issued for murder in the first
degree in connection with the STAY
ing of c. X Mcdowell superintend-
7 ent of the Lester strip mine where
the massacre took place.
;, Today's inquiry took on some
/ thing Of an international aspect
when 1t was learned that an effort
was being made by the grand jury
TO determine whether MeUcans
were among the victims OF the mine
war. but il was said by officials in
touch with the inquiry that thus
far nothing tangible had been re-
vealed showing that MeXlcans were
! killed.
The fact that some witnesses are
said 10 have refused 10 answer ques-
\ tons during the inquiry, while 9TH
ers seem 10 have suffered a lapse Of
memory as to certain details has led
court officials 10 believe that fear
Of discriminating themselves has
caused the Witnesses to withhold in
formation.
Expect State Witnesses.
Atty Gen Edward j Brundage
who is conducting the Investigation
declared that be was confident that
some OF these witnesses would offer
states evidence as soon as the re-
turning Of indictments showed the
> grand jury had knowledge OF the
witnesses participation IN the
/ crimes.
Commenting on the progress
!, made thus far, Mr.. Brundage de-
clared he was convinced that the in
vestigation was bringing 10 light
evidence upon which convictions
could be obtained later when the
defendants were brought 10 trial.
There has been a reaction in tbs
feeling IN williamson county" said
Mr.. Brundage. and 1 believe ths
people Of this country wish TO vim
dictate IL. I believe number Of per
? sons viii turn states evidence a.
soon "a indictments are returned
and they know their part in the un-
fortunate incident is known
; BTundage Talks.
After reading the statement OF Mr.
Harrington, Mr. Brundage made the
following statement
Il am rather surprised at Mr.. Far
rington's statement that the UnioT
proposes TO defend every one in.
dicted for the trouble. ] think he
has a misapprehensiOn OF the pur-
pose Of this prosecution. The pros
ecution. representing the people. i
not assailing the miners union nor
is the prosecution partisan 20 the
dispute between the operators and
miners.
The prosecution is solely concern
ed with the murder OF a large num-
I
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