Cortland Evening Standard, Saturday, December 20, 1902.
DYNAMITE AND STONES
Alleged to Have Been Used to Coerce Workers.
TEACHER LOST HIS POSITION.
One Man Was Asked to Resign From a Temperance Society and Another Lost Membership in a Lodge to Which He had Belonged 28 Years. Stoned and Beaten.
Scranton, Dec. 20.—Non-union men, some of their relatives and others to the number of 30 appeared before the anthracite coal strike commission and told their stories of alleged boycotts, intimidations, dynamiting and violence in various forms, during the late strike. Each witness called was a sufferer in one form or another at the hands, they alleged, of union men.
Four witnesses said attempts were made to blow up their houses, one house was badly damaged; many of the witnesses were threatened with bodily harm; several were beaten, one was shot in the leg and every one stoned, boycotted or hung in effigy.
One school teacher testified to having lost his position because his father did not strike. One man was asked to resign from a Catholic temperance society and another witness was expelled from a local lodge of the Ancient Order of Hibernians after a membership of 25 or 28 years, because they were classed as unfair workmen.
Joseph H. Dugan, the man who was requested to give up his membership in the temperance society, remained at work doing repair work and acting as a watchman. He said he had been stoned and otherwise badly treated and added that a good dubbing would not hurt half as much as the action of the society in throwing him out of the organization. The boys he had drilled in the society stoned him on the highway. He said he remained at work so that the pumps could be kept in good repair and thus keep the mines from being destroyed.
Expelled From a Lodge.
James Mitchell, who was expelled from the Hibernian society, said he had worked during the strike as a repair man and did not consider it unfair because he did not mine any coal. He had been a member of the society 25 or 28 years, and at a meeting one night during the strike the question of unfairness came up and the members present unanimously voted to expel him. He had been paying dues during all these years and was in good standing, and further added he was now glad he was out of it.
The first witness of the day was George W. Bowen, formerly a miner but now a coal inspector. His examination lasted three quarters of an hour but nothing new was brought out.
A Polander named Max Laser, who did not quit when the strike was inaugurated, told of how a man threw a quart bottle of giant powder, to which a lighted fuse was attached, into the parlor of his home. He extinguished the fuse. The powder was shown to the commission.
Eugene Detty, who was not a mine worker and in no way connected with the strike, said he was going along a road at night and was mistaken for a non-union man. He was so badly beaten that he was laid up for two months.
Thomas Kennedy, aged 15 years, said he worked in a drugstore in Carbondale. His father was an engineer in the employ of the Delaware and Hudson company and did not quit work when the strike started. The manager of the drugstore, he said, was requested by the union to discharge him and rather than have the store boycotted the druggist told the boy to quit. The father corroborated the story and added he had to keep his children from the public schools as they were being abused.
David E. Lewis, a foreman working for the Delaware and Hudson company, testified to general conditions in Olyphant and said the authorities of the borough made no attempt to keep the peace. Most of them were mine workers or relatives of mine workers.
John Lewandofski, who worked during the strike for the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western company, testified as to an attempt to blow up his house with dynamite. The explosives and fuses were produced before the commission.
House Damaged by Rocks.
Mr. and Mrs. Peter Cultz, who lived at Derringer, testified to the effect that their house was attacked by union men and boys and was badly damaged by rocks, some of them weighing 30 pounds. Photographs were produced, showing the damage done.
Frank Fidati, who was a striker but who was hired by a coal operator to watch the house of a non-union man, was shot in the leg by other strikers because he would not stop protecting the man's house.
The non-union man who lived in the house and subsequently quit work was called and produced a letter written by President T. D. Nicholls of District No. 1, in which he stated that the witness had quit work and was a good union man and that all union men should treat him in a friendly manner "so long as he behaved himself accordingly."
John Conlin, a mine boss and president of the school board of Plains, near Wilkes-Barre, testified that a committee of a local union called on him and asked that school teachers whose relatives were working in the mines be not reappointed as teachers.
Frank McCarthy, a teacher in Miners Mills, was next called and said he was not reappointed and the only reason given was politics. His father was a mine foreman and was working during the strike. He knew of a female teacher whose father did not strike who failed of reappointment.
All the other witnesses testified to having been hung in effigy once or more times, that grocers, butchers, milkmen and icemen refused to serve them because they were afraid their business would be boycotted and they were severely beaten and socially ostracized.
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| USS Albany (CL-23). |
ALBANY AT LA GUAYRA
Cruiser Sent There by Order From Washington.
NO SIGNIFICANCE ATTACHED.
Capture of Schooner Victoria—Hurried Departure of Crew—Revolutionists Said to Be Marching on Caracas—Blockade of Ports to Go Into Effect at Midnight Today.
San Juan, P. R., Dec. 20.—Tbe United States cruiser Albany has been ordered to La Guayra. She will return here immediately from that port. This step is taken in accordance with instructions from Secretary Moody, transmitted through Admiral Dewey.
Washington, Dec. 20.—The explanation of the visit of the cruiser Albany to La Guayra, from which place she is to return immediately to her position with Admiral Dewey's command, which is made here, is that she is to transport a naval officer to assist Minister Bowen in the discharge of the numerous duties that suddenly have devolved on the minister.
It is stated that no significance attaches to the voyage of the Albany and that she will return to her proper station when the duty stated is completed.
PAGE FOUR—EDITORIAL.
Eviction In the Coal Region.
That was a pathetic story told by John Coli, a miner, before the coal strike arbitration commission at Scranton, Pa., the other day, and if it represents a condition prevailing to any extent it is an appalling revelation.
It appears that he had suffered from many accidents while pursuing his calling as a miner. He had lost an eye, his skull had been fractured and one of his legs had been rendered almost useless. His testimony was that he had received no aid from the mine owners until his fellow workmen made up a subscription for him. To this the mine owners added $50, but took the amount of his rent out of the collection. He joined the strike in common with his fellows and was refused work when the strike ended. His rent had gone into arrears during the strike, and because he could not pay on demand he was turned out on the bare mountainside on a cold, rainy day, with his sick wife, his wife's mother, who is blind and a hundred years old, and five children. After his eviction he had to take his family ten miles to a cold, damp, empty house. His wife, already sick, soon succumbed, leaving her little family helpless in the hands of her crippled husband. Her mother is dying and may be dead at this writing.
Perhaps this was an isolated case, but even so it represents a condition that ought not to exist in this country. In view of such revelations as this, it is well that the anthracite controversy should be sifted to the bottom and that there should be no "settlement out of court" until all the facts are brought to light.
THE KIEHL INQUEST.
Important Testimony Brought Out at the Investigation.
DEATH DUE TO ARSENICAL POISONING.
Dr. Dana So Testifies in Response to Hypothetical Question—Mrs. Kiehl's Mother Subjected to Rigid Examination—She Contradicts Evidence Given by Previous Witnesses—More Witnesses Yet to be Called.
Important testimony was given this morning at the Kiehl inquest which is in progress at the courthouse before Coroner E. M. Santee. Dr. H. T. Dana, one of the physicians who made the post mortem examination of the body of William Kiehl, in response to a hypothetical question by the district attorney said that in his opinion, death under the conditions set forth was due to arsenical poisoning. Dr. Dana was upon the stand the greater part of the forenoon, only one other witness being sworn before the noon adjournment.
Members of Maude Kiehl's family were subjected to a rigid examination Friday afternoon. Mrs. Fenner, the mother of Maude Kiehl, was questioned at length and in important particulars contradicted the testimony given by Undertaker Earle at Preble last Tuesday, and of other witnesses who told of what occurred at the Kiehl home following the death of William.
There are still several witnesses to be examined and it will not be possible to finish the inquest today. The fact that William Kiehl came to his death as a result of poisoning seems now to have been established by the evidence brought out. By whom the poison was administered or whether it was taken accidentally are questions which are yet to be determined.
Friday Afternoon.
George Fenner, a brother of Maude Kiehl, 22 years of age, a farmer by occupation, and a resident of Onondaga, was the first witness sworn Friday afternoon. He said: "I was working in Judson's store during the months of January and February, 1902. My mother resides next to Day Brothers' store. The members of our family consisted of one brother, a sister, my mother and myself, at that time. I remember indistinctly the Saturday night that William visited at our house. There was no barn on the place, and William put his horse in Ira Niles' barn. I cannot remember our conversation to any extent, aside from a few words exchanged in regard to the severe weather we were having. I do not remember having heard him cough any during that time.
"My mother did the cooking for us during the months of January and February. We did not keep any chickens, and most of the meat we had was canned goods. I cannot remember whether we had any canned meat that Sunday for dinner, nor anything about what we had for dinner. I remember that only our immediate family was present at dinner upon that Sunday. I remember Dr. Gregg being called to see Maude, but could not say whether it was Sunday or not. I do not remember that Maude and Will had any trouble during that day. I will not say that they did not. I decline to answer whether they had any trouble during her visit at my mother's home, on the ground that it is a privilege I have, and that it will incriminate my sister. I do not remember that Will asked Maude to go home with him and that she refused. I do not remember that at any time during that visit Will complained of being sick. I heard of my brother-in-law's death on Monday morning. I cannot say what day I started for the Kiehl house, nor what day the funeral was held. My mother and I went together. I do not remember how many nights I spent in the Kiehl house during that time. I heard of Will's death by telephone in Judson's store. I think Jack Henderson telephoned me. Upon my arrival at the Kiehl house, I think I went to the kitchen first. I am unable to testify whether my mother went away from home or not during the month of January. I do not know whether my mother went to Syracuse during Maude's visit. I never purchased any arsenic, and never saw any in our house for any purpose.
Arrival of the Undertaker.
"I was at the Kiehl house when Undertaker Earl arrived to take care of the body. I was not present in the of the body. I was not present in the room when he took care of the body; I did not assist him in any way. I think I was in the sitting room. I did step into the doorway of the room while Undertaker Earl was taking care of it. I do not remember the position of the body nor what it rested upon, nor what covering it had. The first thing I remember seeing Undertaker Earl do was to insert a tube into the abdomen. I do not know whether it was a tube or a lance. It looked round and I called it a tube. I stood there long enough to see he was at work on the body and got out.
I did not see Undertaker Earle pour anything into this tube nor do I remember seeing any bottle. I have detailed this story as fully as possible of all that I saw Undertaker Earle do upon this occasion. My mother did not go to the funeral as she stayed at home to take care of the baby. I did not go because I did not want to as it was too cold. My mother and the baby and I stayed at the Kiehl house during the funeral, which was held at Otisco."
Dr. Milton E. Gregg.
Milton E. Gregg, a practicing physician and resident of South Onondaga, was sworn. "I have been a physician in the Fenner family for about a year. T was called on Feb. 2, to visit Maude Kiehl, and treated her for tonsillitis. I saw William Kiehl at the time, and remember that he was in perfect health. I conversed with him, and noticed he was alert and active, and seemed to be in good physical condition. I saw Mrs. Fenner, and she was busy at work. My recollection is that they had just finished dinner. I was surprised to learn a day or two later of William Kiehl's serious illness, and that fact fastened itself upon my mind of his appearance of perfect health when I saw him. Maude was not confined to the bed during her illness, but was lying upon the bed, and was dressed when I called to see her."
Charles Mooney.
Charles Mooney, a resident of South Onondaga, was sworn, and said: "I knew William Kiehl during his life time, being employed on the Chase farm with him at different times. Soon after his marriage we were employed together. I never saw or heard any trouble between Maude and her husband."
Arthur Judson.
Arthur Judson, a merchant of South Onondaga and assistant postmaster, testified: "George Fenner was in my employ during the months of January and February. He received at my store a telephone message on Monday morning. I remember that he went away on Monday morning and did not return until Saturday night. I cannot say that during the months of January, or February that any of the Fenner family went to Syracuse. I have known of their going by way of the stage to Syracuse when they did go, but would not date it at that time nor state any time."
Mrs. Addie E. Fenner.
Mrs. Addie E. Fenner, mother of Maude C. Kiehl, and widow of Charles Fenner, was sworn: "I have lived at South Onondaga the greater part of my life. Maude came to the house on Friday, Jan. 31, and she complained of being sick and I had the doctor for her that afternoon, and also on Saturday and Sunday. William came on Saturday night, between 8 and 9 o'clock. He had one horse and put it in the Niles' barn. Sunday we had dinner between 12 and 1 o'clock. William left for home about 3 o'clock. William told me upon his arrival Saturday night that his horse ran away, and dragged him some distance, and that he had to go back and pick his things up. His feet were wet and he asked me to get him some dry socks.
"Sunday morning he came out in the kitchen and complained of being sore and lame. I asked him if he did not want some liniment, and he said no, he did not have time to use it.
"I was not in Syracuse during the months of December and January. George got a telephone message early in the morning of Feb. 10, and we started for Maude's home right away. I think perhaps we arrived there by 3 o'clock. Undertaker Earle came there after I got there, perhaps near supper time. He had a large black wooden box with him, about 2 feet high. Adam took him into the room where the body lay. When he came out he wanted to wash his hands. I got a clean towel and he said he would use the one hanging upon the wall, and for me to take care of it, and hang up the clean one, as he had had his hands in poison. He left a bottle containing a liquid and told me to use it on William's face, and for none of us to kiss him as it was deadly poison. I did not apply it to his face, but his brother Adam used it, and I went in frequently while he was using it. It was a large bottle, and would hold about 2 quarts. There were two stoves in the house and both were kept running. The doors were all opened most of the time and we were working in the room where the body lay.
"I did not go to Syracuse at any time last winter. Maude told me when I arrived that she found William very sick when she got home. That he was coughing and raising terrible looking stuff, and he scarcely recognized her or baby Roger. She said when Adam met her at the train he told her of William's sickness, and they stopped for Dr. Hunt on their way home.
"I did not find a dirty comfortable upon the bed in the room in which William died. It was in a clean condition. The bed upon which he died was occupied that Monday night, and was used right along. I did not wash any heavy comfortables. I found a bundle containing a woolen sheet, my shawl, small couch quilts, Will's wrapper and shirt, and on the top of it a small piece of ingrain carpet, and took care of it. There was an old quilt hanging upon the line; it was frayed upon the edges. I asked Maude where she got it, and she said his sister sent it to her, but that she never used it upon his bed, as it looked dirty. I took it down and threw it in Maude's closet.
"1 never knew of any disagreement between Maude and William. He was always kind to Maude and they took comfort together. I always liked Will Kiehl. When either of them were sick I took care of them, as Maude knew nothing about caring for who is sick."
Minnie Fenner.
Minnie Fenner, 13 years of age, and a resident of South Onondaga, was sworn. She said she remembered that William Kiehl came to their home last winter, and that Maude was sick, having a sore throat. She did not prepare any of the dinner, but thought perhaps she set the table as it was her custom to do. She was at Sunday school that day and away from home during the day. She could not remember that her mother went to Syracuse that winter at any time.
Saturday Morning.
Henry T. Dana, a physician and resident of Cortland, was sworn and said: "On Nov. 3 last I was called in company with Dr. Higgins to make a post mortem examination. We removed the body of a man from a casket. There was a puncture through the abdominal walls, apparently made by a small round instrument. Upon opening the abdominal cavity, it was seen this instrument did not wound any of the intestines nor any of the internal organs. The liver was removed and a fatty degeneration was found that is never found where death is due to pneumonia. The lungs were examined. There was no evidence of pneumonia in the lungs. I made a careful examination to see if there were any signs of death having taken place from pneumonia and discovered nothing that indicated death having occurred from this cause. Had that man died from pneumonia, there would have been u n mistakable signs, which I would have discovered upon my examination. Prominent ante-mortem symptoms of arsenical poisoning would be pain in abdomen, vomiting, great thirst, restlessness, purging, and later collapse. The preservation of the body was marked. A striking fact was noticeable that this preservation did not extend to the head, hands or feet."
Hypothetical Question.
District Attorney Dowd asked the following hypothetical question:
"Assuming a person on a certain day to be in perfect health, good flesh, strong color, cheerful spirits, vigorous and active, and within two hours after taking a hearty meal is taken with nausea, followed by vomiting and abdominal pains, which symptoms continue and increase in severity for several hours; the following two days this nausea, vomiting and abdominal pains continue, that upon the third day there is temporary remission, followed in twenty-four hours by a recurrence, and the patient vomits as often as every fifteen minutes, especially after drinking, great tenderness of the abdomen, great restlessness, prostration, great thirst, gradual weakening of all the powers, no diarrhea until the eight day after the manifestation of the first symptoms, consciousness continuing up to the moment of death. That after death an autopsy disclosed the various conditions which you have already testified to here, what would you say as to whether death was caused by arsenical poisoning; if in this case the chemist in whom you had confidence found arsenic in all the viscera in large quantities, what would you say as to whether or not arsenic caused death?"
"I should say the cause of death was acute arsenical poisoning. Sometimes in acute arsenical poisoning death does not occur within two weeks. Arsenic is practically odorless and tasteless. If mixed with food it could be taken without detection."
Loron Vinall.
Loron Vinall, a hotel keeper in South Onondaga, said: "I knew William Kiehl in his life time. I remember the occasion of his visit to South Onondaga the Sunday before his death. He visited my hotel in the forenoon. He complained of having a cold and said he wanted something for it. He complained of having pains in his stomach and said he had not been feeling well for several days. I did not see him again at my hotel that day."
At 3:30 this afternoon the inquest was adjourned until Monday Dec. 29, at 10 a. m.
THE PERFECTION BAKERY.
F. A. and H. D. Hollister, Jr., Will Open Monday Morning.
The Perfection bakery opened by Messrs. F. A. Hollister at 116 Main-st. and 3 Tompkins-st. next Monday morning. The store has been fitted up in excellent condition, being newly papered and painted throughout.
The mammoth oven that was purchased of the H. A. Johnson Co. of Bothon, has been set up in the bakeroom, which is on the same floor with the salesroom, at the rear of the York barbering parlors. This massive oven is 12 feet long, 10 feet wide and 6 feet high. It weighs in all 15 tons. The fire brick alone weigh 5,500 pounds. It is modern in every respect, and in the hands of its skilled owners it cannot do otherwise than turn out good products. The bakeroom is in all a model of neatness, and is finely adapted to the uses that it will serve.
BREVITIES.
—The Normal school closed yesterday afternoon for the Holiday vacation of two weeks. It will re-open Monday, Jan. 5.
—The Y. M. C. A. basket ball team was defeated in Auburn last night by the Y. M. C. A. team of that city by a score of 34 and 10.
—A large and enthusiastic audience thoroughly enjoyed the entertainment at Normal hall last evening given by the Edwin R. Weeks company in the Normal lecture course.
—Rev. James Rain will address the boys' meeting at the Y. M. C. A. at 2:30 o'clock tomorrow afternoon. There will be special music for the service which will be in charge of Master George McKean.
—The new display advertisements today are—Pearson Bros., Big fire, smoke and water sale of furniture, page 8; Baker & Angell, Sorosis shoes, page 2; Forrest's Grocery, Christmas presents, page 5; Haight & Freese Co., Stocks, bonds, grain, etc., page 5; M. W. Giles, Christmas toys, etc., page 7; C. F. Brown, Holiday presents, page 5.
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