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Show 1 UNION COMES I TO DEFENSE OF I HERRINRAIDERS Mine Massacre Grand Jury Indicts One For Murder MARION, Ills.. Aug. 31 (By The Aswoetatcd Press) Otis Clark, a union un-ion coal miner, the first man Indicted , ' by the special grand jury Investigat ing the llerrln massacre. In which 22 ' persons were killed. surrendered shortly before noon. He is charged with the murder of C. K. McDowell. superintendent of the Lester strip mine where the massacre occurred. : MARION. Ills.. Aog. II. I By the Associated Press.) The investigation of the grand Jury of the Herrin mlno wnr of Tune 21 and 22. last on the third day of its progress, developed i - two outstanding features: The Is suance of the fust Indictment, nnd the 1 appearance hero of state officials of the Illinois mine workers. Including lYank Knrrlngton president who issued is-sued a statement charging "forces have I' combined to convict our members " Immediately upon their arrival here the officials of the Illinois mine work err. went Into conference with A. W. I Kerr, chief counsel of tin- miners, which lasted several hours After the meeting Mr. Partington Issued the following fol-lowing statement. PIEDGE FOR DEFENSE "The Illinois miners' union already mand to the defense of any and all of number that m.'ij he indicted in connection with the trouble at tin strip mine of the Southern Illinois Coal company. "The Illinois minors' union will spare no expense in defending its members and in order to j;. i Lhe v.ei results for them, we feel that it is necessary to keep posted in very detail de-tail with matters that are of necessity cbnnected with their defense1 "Wo have a proper appreciation of the magnitude of the forces that have combined to convict our members uu we shall leave nothing undone tliat will enable us to combat these forces The very magnitude o ftho agitation which is nation-wide, for conviction i in connection with this trouble Jeopardizes Jeop-ardizes the lives an l freedom of In-1 nocent men and makes It necessary i that the state organization furnish every possible means of defense for our members, and that we shall do.-' FIRST DEGREE MURDER "While the name of th first defendant de-fendant was withheld pending the arrest, ar-rest, it was sail the indictment was issued for murder in the firs? degree in connection with, the slaying of C, K. IMcuowen. superini nrirnr or tne i. ester es-ter strip mine, v here the masj re took place. The Inquiry tool; on somewhat of an international aspect when it was learned that an effort was being made by the grand jury to determine whether wheth-er Mexicans were among the victims of the mine war, but it was said by officials in touch with the inquiry that , thus far nothing tangible had been revealed showing that Mexicans were killed. The fact that some w I tn esses are said to have refused to answer questions ques-tions during the Inqulrj v ji i : r others seem to hae suffered a lapse of memory' as to certain details, bus Led court officials to believe that fear of j incriminating themselves has caused the witnesses to withhold information. ; EXPECTS STATERS I Hl M E Attorney General Edward J. Hrun- I dage. who is conducting the Invest!- 1 gatlon. dec lared h was confident that! some of these witnesses would offei j state's evidence as soon as thu rc-l turnlng of Indictments showed the gi-and Jury had knowledge of the wit-, nossca" partii pation In the crl d is Commenting in a gen", ii way onj the progress thus far made, Mr Brun-fjage Brun-fjage declared he was CO :r. ej that: the Investigation "as bringing to lig'U j evidence, upon which conviction" could be obtained later when the dv-i fendants wero brought to trial, "There has been a reaction in the feeling in Williamson county," said; Mr. Brundage, "and I believe the people of tins oiinly wish LO ind!-1 catc it. i believe a number of persons per-sons will turn state s evidence as s ion as Indictments are returned and they know their part in the unfortunate oc-i currence Is known." ANSW ERS I SH in BOSS After reading tlie statement of Mr.! Farrington. Mr Brundage made the following statement: "I am rather surprised at Mr. Far- i rmgton's statement that the union proposes pro-poses to defend every one indicted j think he has a misapprehension of the purpose of this prosecution. The' prosecution, representing the people. I is not assailing the miners' union, nor( is the prosecution a partisan to the, dispute between the operators and the miners. "The prosecution is solely concern-1 ed with the murder of a large number' of men under circumstances which! hae aroused the entire nation. I am; satisfied thru I he great mass of organ-, ized labOr do s not appmove of the kll. !ng of defenseless men and all the brutality In connection therewith In Williamson county.'! oo |
