Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-11-07
KENTUCK|ANS PLAN
TO TRADE PROBES
Women to Study Killings in
Gotham as Dresser Works
at Harlan.
BY the Associated Press.

/
HARLAN, KY, November THE
aftermath Of the battle Of Evarts, In
which four men were killed, last May
/ was felt in three Kentucky counties to-
day and threatened to reach to New
York City in the form Of an investiga-
ton Of Sayings there.
In Harlan County Theodore Dresser
and his committee Of writers repre-
senting the Committee for the Defense
Of Political Prisoners continued its in
vestigation of reports of terrorism and
blackjack rule" inflicted on striking
miners.
In Bell County, adjoining, a group Of
Pineville residents, styling themselves
1.-The Society TOR the Protection Of De-
fenselesS Children" set November 20 as
the date they will go to New York to
investigate reports that children are be-
ing slain on the streets by gangsters.
In Montgomery County, $50 miles
away in the peaceful blue grass region,
hearing was set for today on prelim-
mary motions in murder cases arising
from Harlan County's coal field disor-
ders. Trials Of eight defendants had
been venued from Harlan to Mount
Sterling.
Dresser and Editor Clash.
The Dresser Committee yesterday
heard miners wives say their families
are living on beans and bread. Sheriff
j. H. Blair told the committee he was
not prejudiced in favor Of coal operators
nor against unions, but was determined
to enforce the law. One miner testi-
| fed he was chained to a radiator in
cell while in the Harlan County Jail
Dresser was transformed from prose-
cutor to witness by Herndon Evans, pub
Usher Of the Pinesville Sun. The au-
| thor of AN American Tragedy re-
vealed his annual income was approx
imately $4,000 and that he gave none
of 1t to charity, but supported financial
| ly the Civil Liberties Union.
Dresser had questioned the Kentucky
editor previously about his religion, In
come and other personal matters and
| asked Evans If he thought it fair to
earn between $50 and SITS a week while
miners of the district worked for $50
and $40 month.
| The Pineville Society wired the presi-
dents of two railroads asking trans
| portation to New York and a New
York hotel asking that the society be
entertained" there while in the city.
Indictments Attacked.
Demurrers filed in Montgomery Cir
cult Court attack the sufficiency of the
indictments and the right to, transfer
the trials from Harlan County. The
defendants, all labor leaders and
| miners, contend the venue change
| places them at disadvantage because
they have no money to pay for the
transportation of witnesses.
In Harlan County Sheriff Blair has
sued member Of the Dresser Commit
tee, Bruce Crawford of Norton, Va, for
$50000 charging libel.
The Dresser Committees program for
today was an investigation and mass
similar activities at Straight Creek. in
Bell County, in the afternoon. Sunday
the committee will conduct a mass
meeting at Wallins Greek, in Harlan
County.
Mrs. Flora Shackelford, wife Of a
miner, told the committee "the gun is
the law Of this county. not the Judge
and the jury" She said gun thugs"
| had thrown tear bombs into a mas
meeting Of the National Miners Union
while she was reading the Bible.
She said she was her >family'S means
Of support because her husband had
been 'blacklisted by mine owners be-
cause he is member of the National
| Miners Union"
Mrs. Debs Moreland told Dresser Ter
husband was abducted, beaten and CT
, dered from Harlan County by gun
| thugs" who, she said, raided Nation
al Miners Union soup kitchen in
search Of radical literature. She said
he was arrested after copies of the
Daily Worker, Communist paper, had
been found and held in jail 81 days.