Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-08-29
GRAND JURY IS
PROBING HERR|N
MINE MASSACRE
Judge Points Out That a
Fair and Complete In
vestigation Should Be
Made; Punish Guilty.


Marion, ILL.,, Aug. 2S (by the AS
sociated Press. 1.-The first wit
nesses were called this afternoon,
before the grand jury investigating
! the Herrin mine war, fought
around the Lester strip mine, June
i21 and %, last. Today's witnesses
included employees of an electrical
railway running between here and
Herrin, who were said to have been
eye witnesses of the man-hunting
| battle, and the owner of hard
ware store from which ammunition
was taken during the propagation
for the battle.
The actual investigation began
| this afternoon when Sheriff Mel
win Thaxton, was called before the
investigators. He was followed by
his deputy, Colonel Sam Hunter,
Of the Illinois national guard.
Proceedings Are Secret.
While nothing of the testimony Is
permitted to go outside of the
grand jury room, it is understood
| that these witnesses repeated their
statements made at the coroners
| inquest with detailed accounts
added. Colonel Hunter and Major
William p. Greaney, of the 130th
infantry, Illinois national guard, it
! is understood have been sent here
as the representatives of the state
military department merely as
precautionary measure.
The first civilian called before
the grand jury, after Coroner Will
liam McCown had been examined,
was r. A. Cox, hardware mer-
| chant from whose store a mob
forcibly took a quantity Of ammu'
milton. He had been warned of the
forming of the mob and had re-
moved his rifles and other weapons
from the store, he testified, on
previous occasions, but on the even
ing preceding the battle all ammu-
lnition was taken from the store
after mob had forced him to
open his place of business. His
son, Harry, followed him into the
grand jury room.
In addressing the grand jury, Cir
Icuit Judge Hartwell pointed our
that fair and complete investiga-
ton should be made and that all
guilty should be brought before the
| bar of justice in order that the
guilty may be punished for the
blot stamped on Williamson coun-
ity's record by a lawless element.
| Defends Sheriff.
In defending Sheriff Thayton in
his address to the jury, Judge Hart
well said this county official had
voluntarily stepped aside and loft
% l. inv tn
states attorney
'It is a matter Of common
knowledge the Judge told the
Jurors. "that we have been charged
with being in league with crime
and criminals. that all of the pub
Ilic officials have been cowed and
Iintimidated, that the county board
would select men as grand jurors,
| If we waited for the regular term
lof court and would not indict any
person regardless Of the evidence
THAT might be produced.
1.-THE sheriff has been charged
with gross failure Of duty and
every official of the community in
| general has been branded as one
of a great body of law breakers,
The officials have been pictured as
members Of vicious political ma
| chine. placed in office and kept in
power by the votes of a lawless
Nmob.
"I mention the above in order to
inform you tina the sheriff volun-
| tarily consented to step aside, and
to have nothing to do with the
selection of this special grand jury.