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Show 4 Military Authorities Usurped Civil Law in Idaho. - Washington, Feb. 21.. The investigation investiga-tion of the mining troubles and the conduct of the United States forces in Idaho last summer continued today before be-fore the house committee on military affairs. Frederick C. Robertson resumed re-sumed his narrative begun yesterday, beginning with the legal proceedings he made in behalf of the imprisoned miners and the difficulties he claims to have encountered from the military authorities, state officials and the court. He said he was refused permission to be present at the inquest of those killed during the outbreak and was unable to communicate with the accused ac-cused miners as to their rights, although al-though representatives of the mining company were present. He protested to the attorney general that the miners min-ers were being denied the right of counsel. Throughout these proceedings, the witness said, the military authorities were in control of affairs, United States soldiers guarded the Imprisoned men, bringing them to and from the court. The witness said General Merrlam was in charge of the "bull pen," whidi consisted con-sisted of old buildings and box cars, surrounded by a wire fence. Robertson expressed the opinion that the United States forces should have been used to preserve order and uphold the civil authorities, but in fact, he declared, they superseded the civil authorities au-thorities and in some Instances which were not detailed, arrested men in no way connected with the outbreak. He said there were no warrants and none of the usual forms of law, but when a man was wanted he was stopped stop-ped on the street and sent to the "bull pen." This wax done by deputies who acted under the state officials and the military authorities. The witness will I proceed with his statement tomorrow. Messrs. Morrow and Fursueth of the American Federation of Labor were present during the hearing today and (President Gompers is expected to at- J tend when he arrives. |