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Show SUIT AGAINST COALMINERS Most Important Criminal Procedure Pro-cedure in Labor Dispute Since Trial of Iron Workers. TWENTY MEN INVOLVED Fight Over Open Shop Policy in Arkansas Ends in Federal Court. Port Smith, Ark., Jan 19 Prob-abh Prob-abh the most Important criminal procedure pro-cedure in a labor dispute to find its way into the federal courts since the trial of the Ironworkers at Indianapolis, In-dianapolis, will begin in the United States district court here tomorrow when twenty men will bo placed on trial (harged with being implicated In the disturbances that have marked the disagreement between union coal miners and the Bachc-Oenman Coal company at Prairie Creek, since last April The defendants are: Peter R Stewart. McAlester, Okla.. former president of the United Mine Workers of America, District No 21, Arkansas. Oklahoma and Texas. Fred W Holt. McAlester. former secretary of the district union, and late Socialist candidate for governor of Oklahoma Janu s It McNamara, former member mem-ber of the city council of Hartford, Arkansas James Slankard. former constable of Hartford township John Edwards, a merchant of Hart-lord Hart-lord W W. Roberts, former manager of a telephone company at Mansfield, Arkansas. Charles Robinson, Clint Burris, Jno. Manlck, Sandy Robinson. Valentine Piiirillo. Marvin Staqfield. Charles M Blaekhurn. Jr. Bruce Jordnn, Ernest Nein, Frank Z Crossley, Marvin Ray, Mike Ryan. Foster Bean and Bee Trout, miners. AH of the men, except Roberts ar charged with conspiracy against the government Roberts Is harged in three counts with intimidation and corruption of a witness. All of the men are at liberty on bond. Judge James D Elliott of the southern district of South Dakota " will preside at the trial. The trouble between the mine workers and the coal company, which is in the hands of a receiver, together with nine of its subsidiary companies, originated when the corporation decided deci-ded to substitute the open shop system sys-tem for union labor. The company operated Its No. 4 mine at Prairie Creek on the open shop plan for u few days. Op( rations were suspended suspend-ed on April 6 last when several workmen work-men were assaulted A temporary Injunction, which later was made permanent, per-manent, was issued against the union nlmers and the charges against the defendants grow out of alleged viola-lions viola-lions of this injunction. On July 17 last, three of the company's com-pany's surface plants at Prairie Creek were destroyed. On the night following fol-lowing a mine near Hartford was partially wrecked and on the follow ,' Ing Monday a coal mining plant at Arkoal, was destroyed by fire. battle of several hours was fought at Mine No. 4. Prairie Creek, on July 17. and it is alleged Clarence Syllesberry and John Baskins. mine guards, ware killed. Slankard and Trout were acquitted last week in the state court at Greenwood on a charge of having slain the men. |