Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-29
STRIKERS TO SEEK
CHANGE OF VENUE.
indictments Against 20 Held
in Gastonia Staying Are
Given to Grand Jury.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
GASTONIA, N. c., July 29.-The
CASTOR County grand jury this morning
received indictments accusing is men,
bers of the National Textile Workers
Union and affiliated organizations with
murder in connection with fatal shoot
ing of o. F. Aderholt. Gastonia police
chief, at the Loray Mill strikers tent
colony.
Indictments against eight others on
charges of assault to Kill were also
handed the jury by Solicitor John G..
Carpenter.
All motions awaited return Of the in
dictments. Following completion OF its
work by the grand jury. the prisoners
were to be arraigned. The defense Is
then expected to present its motion for
torneys had planned long brief. claim
ing the chances of fair trial in Gas
ton County are nil.
Berlin Unionists Protest Trial.
A cablegram from Berlin, signed
land" protesting the trial, was received
by Solicitor Carpenter as court con-
Vened.
The cablegram, addressed to 1.-The
President of the Court OF Justice,
translated. reads as follows:
I'VE protest in the name OF 500 600
Workmen against the industrial and po-
lice terrorism and class justice OF the
textile workers" tSigned) Central
Committee Of Red Relief OF Germany
When the jury panel was polled. the
court, on motion of Solicitor Carpenter
excused Arthur M. Dixon, president OF
the Cotton Manufacturers Association
of America: W. r. Baltis. council man
and cotton mill owner: George Tucker.
mill machinery manufacturer, and
George B. Cocker, a mill man. The
solicitor told Judge Barnhll he wanted
all persons connected with mills TO be
excused.
Conspiracy Angle Is Stressed.
Judge Barnhill, charging the grand
Jury, outlined its duties. He especially
charged the jury as to conspiracy TO
commit felonies. Most OF the defend
ants in the Loray tent colony shooting
cases accused of murder, are held as
conspirators rather than actual slayers.
In closing. the Judge turned to the
specific business OF the court. There
has been much speculation as TO what
we are TO try at this session of the
court" ne said
This is a criminal court set up by
society to try any cases of violation Of
thelaws OF the State. There Is only
one issue. Are the defendants guilty as
charged? This must be determined in a
quiet and orderly manner. 1t must not
be cIouded by any other issues. All
come into this court on a basis OF
equality"
Three members of the defense counsel,
DIR. John Randolph, Knoxville, Tenn;
Tom p Unison OF Charlotte and Leo
Josephson OF Trenton, N. j., said five
men spproa ched them on the street and
advised them TO leave Gastonia.
Aderholt was wounded fatally the
night OF June 7 when he, with four
other officers, went 10 the tent encamp-
ment of the Ioray Mill strikers TO in
vestigate reports OF fighting there. All
we're wounded, but the others recovered.
The officers said they were fired upon
with no warning other than a brief
challenge.
Those charged with murder include
Fred Erwin Beal, Southern organizer
for the National Textile Workers
Union, and three women. Sophie Mel
vim. field worker for the Communist
Youth League; Amy Schecher, agent
OF the Workers International Relief,
and Era Buch, representative OF the
National Workers Union.