The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-12-21
Member of United Mine Work.
ers' Board Again Named.
Was Present Just Before MUIR
der, Witnesses Charge.
EVIDENCE HAS BEEN SURPRISE
Prosecution Has Made Stronger
Case Than Expected.
Defense Is Now Preparing to
Make a Mighty Attack.

Marion, Ill. Dec. 21.-Hugh Willis.
member of the state board of the
United Mine Workers. today was again
declared to have joined the murder
mob at the Herrin power house woods,
the morning of June %, few minutes
before the fourteen captiyes from the
Lester strip mine were shot down.
A. w. Steele, foreman of the power
house, testified in the trial of five
miners for murder as to the arrival of
Willis in an automobile just before
the men were taken into the woods
Willis was sitting with counsel for the
defense only few feet from Steele
but Steele was unable TO identify him
as being in the court room at first
Later. he pointed him out. Several
witnesses have testified to Willis ar
rival and his joining the mob at the
power house. willis connection is
being shown part of the states
charge of conspiracy to murder in con-
nection with the present case
Ward TraviIlion, a rural mail car
rier, told of seeing Otis Clark at his
garage. He declared Clark showed
empty shells and said these are the
shells they used Clark. he declared,
said he got them out of Mes pocket
meaning C h Mcdowell. supertnten-
dent OF the mine. it is assumed.
TravilliOn admitted on cross eXamin
alton that he and Otis Clark had
had a disagreement over a garage bill
Clark claimed was too hign.
Crowd Wanted Guns.
c p. Shaffner. a salesman for the
Ellis Supply company, hardware de-
partment. told of crowd coming into /
his store and his refusal to let them I
have the guns and charge them TO
1.-The Herrin Local" Hugh Willis, |
Shaffner said. came in a little later.
This was at 1915 o'clock, the morning 1
of June q, he said.
They didn't ask me this time" he
said. "I headed them off, saying you I
ant have them without an order from I
Hugh WILLS
"A little later some one called me
up and said this is Hugh Willis l
recognized his voice. He said Some
of the boys want to get some ammunl-
tion to shoot some birds Put it down
to me-
Shaffaer. on cross examination. said
he couldn't be sure it>was Willis talk
ing over the telephone and that the
man who said he was Willis. told him
"I'u try to talk them out of it."
No bill has ever been presented TO
Willis for the supplies, the witness ad-
otis Clark has been identified as
leading c. X. Mcdowell down the lane
at Moake's Crossing. where his body
was discovered short time after he
was led away
shot Into Six Men.
Joe Carneghi. DR.. Q. +. Shipman
testified, shot Howard Hoffman. for
whose murder the five are being tried.
shooting into the six men tied by the
neck in the roadway at the Herrin
cemetery
peter KILLER shot one of the men in |.
the power house woods, according to I,
the testimony of william Cairns. one
Of the guards who was wounded but
escaped from his pursuers.
Bert Grace has twice been brought
into the evidence as the man who /,
stood. gun in hand, by the bodies of
the six at the cemetery and drove
away a man who wanted to give them
Drove Aid Away.
DR.. John W. Balance of Marion.
testified he had heard Grace boast of
this act which Donald NJ. Ewing.
reporter, testified to as an eye
Grace drove him away when he
brought water to the wounded
The state. despite unwilling wit
nesses. has built up a stronger case
than was expected
The defense is now preparing for
mighty attack upon it. They may get
a start today but the attorneys say
they will start with the soft pedal and
their strength gradually.
They expect to prove that it was
physically impossible for Ewing TO
nave REACHED Marion at S:52 a. m,
aking a taxi to the strip mine and get
o the Herrin cemetery in time to see
he bodies in the road before they (
we're taken to the hospital and !
norgue- The shooting there had been
placed at about 2 O'Clock, eight min /
ties after Ewing's arrival in Marion,
en- miles away. The removal OF the i
,odies has not been timed in the tes- I
imony SO far 5
Attack Doctors Story.
HDr. o. F Shipman. the most damag-
nE of the witnesses 50 far as prov
ng the murder of Hoffman by any of !
he defendants, the defense says il can
completely discredit and will prove q,
hat his testimony is unworthy of !
redence by a number of witnesses
They will also produce alibis for all
4 the defendants except Otis Clark. .
hey say. They Will endeavor TO prove
hat his speec-l at Crenshaw Crossing. ,
Interpreted as Urging the mob 10 muir
er. was in reality a lea for them not
o commit. any acts of violence They
-. :. L. .,f r--rr-.a thai, nnn witnesses |