Evening star., 1937-04-16

Continued From First Page)
scribed by United Automobile Work
ers' witness as the worst article" ever
to hold the Harlan post.
Following Middleton briefly was
County Judge Morris Saylor, whose
approval was given to the sheriff S
appointments. Admitting he had no
legal training. Saylor declared he had
been advised by counsel that he had
no privilege Of refusing confirmation
Of Middleton's appointments.
Imposition Of a yellow dog" con-
tract on all employees was admitted by
Pearl Bassham, vice president of the
Harlan -Wallins Coal Co., as he fol-
lowed Judge Saylor to the stand. The
contract prohibited any affiliation
with unions
Declaring he had never become &C.
quainted with provisions of the ma
tional labor relations act, Bassham
said his lawyer had mentioned the
law for the first time this week.
You've been ignoring 1t since 1885,
them" La Toilette asked.
Yes, I'm not very familiar with
Federal statutes"
You consider yourself a citizen of
the United States, don't you?"
yes" Bassham agreed.
170 Per Cent Profit Barred.
1t was disclosed by questioning OF
Basshan that the Verda post office is
located on Harlan Wallins property,
with facilities easily at hand to bar
any undesirable" persons.
During Saylor's appearance, it de-
veloped that quarter ownership in the
Verda Supply Co. had been obtained
for only 81 500, with the yearly return
of $2,400, amounting to ITO per cent
profit on the investment Saylor,
Middleton and Basshan each acquired
interests in the property at the low
figure.
you don't make ITO per cent on
your coal operations, do you?" La
Toilette asked Basshan
NO"
There's no law against making as
much profit as possible" Middleton
observed, as he arose to admit paying
only 81 500 for his stock Yesterday
he said he thought he paid $4,000 for
the interest.
Court Condemnation Read.
Middleton testified he had no rule
for selection of deputies and no stand
ard of qualifications. He added, how
ever that the character of most of his
deputies is fairly good" though some
may not be so good"
When the sheriff identified one
Slemp Middleton as brother, Senator
La Toilette read court order for re-
moval Of Slemp, in which the court
described him as of violent and law
less habits" and regarded as one OF
the most dangerous men"
La Toilette next read a long record
OF indictments and arrests for Slemp
and two cousins, Bill and John
Middleton.
Judge Scores Family.
An order Of removal resulting from
Indictment Of John Middleton for
"willful murder" contained the follow
ing statement:
TT is personally known to the Judge
OF this judicial district that for sew
eral years past there has been more
crime in Harlan County than any
county in the State Of Kentucky, that
there has been almost total disregard
OF the law, more than 800 common
wealth cases on the dockets of the
Harlan Circuit Court, many Of the
charges being against the Middleton
family, which is one Of the largest
families in Harlan County. A great
deal of intimidation of witnesses, and
even killing of witnesses, have taken
place in this county. Local jurymen
are afraid to do their duty.
"For the foregoing reasons, the
court does not believe that q trial can
be had in this case in Harlan County. "
From q grand jury report Of the
Harlan County Circuit Court. dated
May, 1884, five months after Theodore
Middleton became sheriff, La Toilette
read:
I'VE recommend to this court -
that the following persons be dis
charged from their positions as deputy
sherids Of Harlan County: Henry c.
etepp, Milt Middleton, Charlie Md