Evening star., 1937-11-23
BY JOHN G. HENRY.


While black-hatted deputy sherifs
of bloody Harlan County" lounged
in the District Court Building corri-
dors, defense counsel for Ted Creech,
mine superintendent on trial for per-
jury, today tore relentlessly at the
character and integrity of the princi-
pal prosecution witness, Richard c.
Tackett.
Meanwhile deputy United States
marshals maintained their vigilance
against possible violence in the court
room. continuing to search all persons
entering. They were placed at stra-
tegic points within the room.
The defense attack on the character
OF Tackett came during cross-exami-
nation of Robert Wohlforth, secretary
of the Senate Civil Liberties Commit
tee, before which Creech's alleged per-
jury occurred.
Placed on the stand by the prose-
cution to describe events leading to the
appearance of both Tackett and
Creech before the committee, Mr..
Wohlforth disclosed that Tackett had
been brought here on March %, but
had not been required to testify until
April IA. The committee was not
ready, he explained to receive testi-
mony from him on the first date
What were you doing on March
%? Defense Counsel William E.
Leahy asked in cross-examination.
I'VE were taking testimony mainly
about the activities of the Harlan
County Coal Operators Association
and employment Of gun thugs" Mr..
Wohlforth answered.
Objects to Term.
As Mr.. Leahy objected to the term
"gun thugs" he asked:
You were willing to accept the
testimony of gun thugs, weren't you?
You had murderers among your own
witnesses, didn't you? You knew Mr..
Tackett was gun thug. didn't you?"
AS Mr.. Wohlforth answered in the
affirmative, Mr.. Leahy continued:
Did you know he had been charged
with perjury?"
AT one time, I believe so," Mr..
Wohlforth replied.
Emphasizing the point that TacketJ
had been brought here nearly month
before his appearance, Mr.. Leahy
pressed Mr.. Wohlforth for an explana-
tion. AS the latter testified that
Tackett had been apprehensive for
his own safety in Kentucky and had
been held in Jail here after arriving
on March %, Mr.. Leahy asked:
DO you know whether he was ever
in Room 352 at the Ambassador Hotel
during that period? Do you know
whether he was ever down there
drinking?"
II don't know about that" Mr..
Wohlforth answered.
Tackett, little gray man, was
scheduled to take the witness stand
later today.
A former deputy sheriff in the pay
of the operators, admitting to partici-
patton in various acts of employe
intimidation, and described in court
by Assistant District Attorney David
Pine as "neer do WE'LL" the slightly
built Tackett was scheduled to tell
the jury how Creech had threat
ened him outside the Senate Commit
tee room one April day last spring.
Corroborating Tackett's story was
United States Deputy Marshal Robert
L. Bonhan, also scheduled to take
the stand today.
And in the records of the committee
were the words of alleged perjury by
the defendant, given under oath before
the Senate investigators.
Asks Creech for Version.
AS Tackett completed his story
of the threatening, Senator LaFollette,
chairman of the committee, asked
Creech for his version of the incident.
Mr.. Creech: He (Tackett) came
up and told me that he came up here
and got drunk and make a statement
here and did not know just what he
was talking about when he made that
statement"
Senator La Toilette: els that the
only comment you have to make on the
testimony (of Tackett) ?"
MIR. Creech: Eyes, sir"
Nearly three hours was consumed
yesterday in the selection of jury,
both sides making numerous challenges
before agreeing on a panel of eight
men and four women.
Present to testify for one side or the
other were several organizers of the
United Mine Workers, officers of the
Harlan County Coal Operators Asso-
citation, friends and relatives Of Mr..
Creech and former deputy sheriffs of
Harlan County.