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William Blizzard Trial Transcript
Ms97-24

Jim King
(transcriber may have made spelling and punctuation changes)


Witness - Jim King

DIRECT EXAMINATION

by Mr. Belcher

Q: What is your name?

A: Jim King

Q: You have been sworn, have you not.

A: Yes, sir.

Q: Where do you live?

A: Charleston, W. Va.

Q: What do you do?

A: Coal miner.

Q: Where were you working during the month of August 1921?

A: At Ward, Kelly's Creek Collieries Co.

Q: That is in what county?

A: Kanawha.

Q: About how many miles from Charleston?

A: About twenty-three miles, I guess.

Q: Did the United Mine Workers have a Local Union at Ward?

A: Yes, sir.

Q: Who were the Officers of that local.

A: I can hardly say at the time, W. S. Cantley was the President of the local.

Q: Do you know anything about the armed assembly of Miners at Marmet?

A: Yes, sir.

Q: When did you first learn that they were going to assemble at Marmet?

A: About a week before they did.

Q: How did you hear it.

A: They held a meeting and a man came and told us.

Q: Who was the man?

A: Mr. Holt.

Q: Savoy Holt?

A: Yes, I suppose it was.

Q: Where did he tell you this meeting was going to be held.

A: He didn't say it was to be held at Marmet, they men were leaving all over the Country.

Q: Did he address your local union on that occasion?

A: Yes, sir.

Q: Tell the jury what he said.

A: He came there one evening and told them all to get ready, that they were going to have a meeting of all the men; that they were figuring on having a meeting at Smithers, but they didn't have it there, and they had it at Marmet.

Q: Did he tell you and the rest of the men what the purpose of this meeting was?

A: Yes sir.

Q: Tell the jury what he said?

A: To march through to Logan Co. and then from there to Mingo.

Q: Did he state what they were going to do in Mingo Co.

A: Yes, sir.

Q: Tell the jury what he said they were going to do?

A: To release the prisoners over there in Mingo, and he mentioned there was Martial Law there, and he said to hell with the Martial Law, they had Martial Law on Paint Creek and we whiped them there and we will whip them here.

Q: Did he say anything about what was to be done with the Martial Law?

A: He said to hell with it we will wipe it out.

Q: He was a United Mine Worker was he not?

A: Yes, sir.

Q: Was U. S. Cantley present at that meeting?

A: Yes, sir.

Q: The same U. S. Cantley who is jointly indicted here for treason?

A: I don't know.

Q: Do you know where he is now?

A: I do not.

Q: When did you last see him?

A: Along in January.

Q: Do you know where Holt is now?

A: No.

Q: When did you last see him?

A: Not since the day Mother Jones spoke at Lense Creek.

Q: What action if any did your Local Union take after Holt made this speech?

A: They got ready to go on the march.

Q: In what way did they get ready?

A: They got all the men together.

Q: What was done by the men?

A: They passed a resolution that we would draw money out of the treasury and get ready for the march.

Q: How much money did you intend to take from the funds of the Local at that time?

A: What Local.

Q: Ward Local?

A: About $300.00

Q: Who was to handle this money?

A: Mr. Cantley, Gid Kay and a colored man.

Q: Was it decided what Cantley was to do with this money?

A: No not at this time, he told me afterwards he was going to buy guns.

Q: Did he say anything about ammunition?

A: No, sir.

Q: Was this $300.00 turned over to him?

A: Yes, sir it was turned over to him and he gave it back.

Q: Then what was done?

A: I don't know.

Q: Did the Local furnish any supplies?

A: Supplies.

Q: Yes, to the men of the armed march at Marmet?

A: You mean groceries.

Q: Yes.

A: Yes.

Q: About how much?

A: I don't know. They furnished groceries, I myself went and got some.

Q: Can you give the jury approximately how much the local expended for supplies?

A: I heard it was $1500.00

Motion made to strike above answer out.

Q: Who told you it was $1500.00?

Objection
Sustained

Q: Was there any action by your Local? in reference to furnishing the supplies that were later furnished.

A: They drew $500.00 the first time to get groceries, and they were to send it over by a man, and he didn't bring it. I went back over there and that is when they said they drew another $1000.00, but I don't know that to be the truth, but I do know they drew the $500.00.

Q: Did you go to Marmet?

A: Yes sir.

Q: When did you go?

A: I cannot recall the date, I went on Monday night.

Q: When was it in reference to the day that Mother Jones spoke on Lense Creek?

A: I went on Monday night and she spoke the next day.

Q: Who did you see there when you got to Lense Creek that you knew?

A: I seen thousands I knew.

Q: Did you see the defendant Wm Blizzard at that time?

A: No not that day.

Q: Did you see him the next day.

A: No not that next day.

Q: Did you see him at any time while you were there?

A: I don't think I saw him on Lense Creek.

Q: Where did you see him?

A: The last time was at Blair.

Q: Were you on Lense Creek during the time the battles were going on?

A: Yes, sir.

Q: Do you know anything about a young man being killed at Cedar Grove by the name of Petry?

A: Yes, sir I seen him.

Q: After he was killed?

A: Yes, sir.

Q: When was he killed?

A: The night Mother Jones spoke.

Q: I will ask you if you know anything about, or know why Petry was sent into Cedar Grove/

A: Yes, sir.

Objection.
Sustained.

Q: How did Petry get to Cedar Grove?

A: He was supposed to have come there in an automobile.

Objection.
Sustained.

Q: Do you know whether or not Petry was at this meeting on Lense Creek before he went to Cedar Grove?

A: Where Mother Jones spoke.

Q: Yes, sir.

A: Yes, sir.

Q: Do you know how he went from there to Cedar Grove?

A: In an automobile.

Q: Who went with him?

A: I only know two of the men, A. J. Munsey and a man by the name of Elsick.

Q: Now when did you next see A. J. Munsey and Elsick who you say left in this automobile with Petry?

A: The next morning.

Q: Where did you see them?

A: I met them about a mile from the mouth of Lense Creek.

Q: Did you have a conversation with Munsey and Elsick on that occasion?

A: Yes, sir.

Q: Where were they coming from?

A: Coming from Ward.

Q: Where is Ward from Cedar Grove?

A: About three miles up Kelly's Creek.

Q: Did Munsey say anything to you? on that occasion about Petry?

A: No he never said anything, it was the other man

Q: What did the other man say?

Objection.
Sustained.

Q: Do you know why Petry and these men went to Cedar Grove?

A: Yes, sir.

Q: Why did they go?

A: To get some high powered rifles.

Q: From whom?

A: From the Kelly Creek Collieries Co.

Q: Where did you see Petry's body after he was killed in reference to the Kellys Creek Co Store?

Objection.
Over ruled.

A: At Eastbank.

Q: Did you know how his body had gotten there?

A: Only when I was told.

Q: Who told you?

Objection.
Sustained.

Q: Did you examine this man's body at the time you saw him dead?

A: No, sir.

Q: Did you see any wounds on him?

A: Nothing but blood.

Q: About how many men belonged to the Ward Local at that time?

A: I suppose there was about between nine and ten hundred/

Q: All the men you worked in and about that mine belonged to this Union did they not?

A: Yes, sir they had to.

Q: Do you know anything about the shooting of a negro by the name of McGuire near the head of Lense Creek?

A: Yes, sir.

Q: What do you know about that?

A: I was at the head of Lense Creek and they started to marching over a bill. It was late at night and two or three fellows went up a hollow, and they claim this man jumped out on them and hit them with a club.

Q: Did you hear the firing?

A: Yes, sir.

Q: About how many shots did you hear?

A: I suppose thirty or forty.

Q: did you later see the body?

A: Yes sir.

Q: Where?

A: In a wagon.

Q: Who was taking him out on the occasion?

A: I didn't know the man's name.

Q: About how far above your camp was it that this man was shot?

A: Maybe three hundred yards.

Q: Prior to that time had you been lower down on Lense Creek?

A: Yes, sir.

Q: Had you been given any instructions by any of the persons there to carry information to anyone?

A: Yes, sir.

Q: Tell the jury what your instructions were?

A: They started marching over the hill about two or three o'clock and Mr. Cantley told me to tell this Mr. Jones not to go over the hill until he got further notice. I went and told him.

Q: Then you were with John Jones from that time on for a while.

A: Yes, sir.

Q: Were there any other orders given that you heard about that night?

A: Yes, sir.

Q: Who gave them?

A: A fellow by the name of Green

Q: Was Green actively engaged in the marchers there?

A: Yes, sir/

Q: What did he say on that occasion?

A: He told all the men that had heavy rifles to go over the hill to the mouth of Indian Creek. He comes up there and said get all your men over the hill to Indian Creek. John Jones said I have orders to stay here, and he said, "to hell with your orders, I have orders for you to go over the hill" he said "by God I have orders from Blizzard for the men to go to the mouth of Indian Creek".

Q: Then when the men got those orders from Green what did they do?

A: They got ready and went on.

Q: Where did you go to?

A: I never went any further.

Q: Did John Jones and his men move out that night?

A: Jones's men did but he did not.

Q: Where did you go?

A: I went home.

Q: Did you have any trouble getting out of Lense Creek at any time while you were there?

A: Not that morning.

Q: Did you have trouble at any time?

A: I had trouble getting in there.

Q: How did you get in?

A: On a pass.

Q: Whose name was on that pass?

A: Mr. Blizzard's and another man whose first name was G. W. but I don't remember his last name.

Q: What did you do with that pass?

A: I gave it to John Jones.

Q: How many guard lines were thrown out on Lense Creek?

A: Three.

Q: You did not hear Mother Jones's speech did you?

A: Yes, sir part of it, just a little part of it.

Q: Did you see Frank Keeney there?

A: I seen a man there called Frank Keeney.

Q: You didn't know him?

A: No and I don't know him now.

Q: Did you see Fred Mooney there?

A: Yes, sir.

Q: How long did this man who was pointed out to you as Keeney and Mooney stay there after Mother Jones made her speech?

A: About three-quarters of an hour.

Q: Did you hear Frank Keeney make a speech?

A: I never heard him make any speech, but I heard him talk about a telegram.

Q: What did he say?

A: He said it was a fake.

Q: What instructions did he give to the men while he was there?

A: I heard him tell the men not to go anywhere, he said he would find out about the telegram and would return later.

Q: Did he say what time he would return.

A: No.

Q: Do you know whether he later returned.

A: I do not.

Q: Did you see Blizzard on that occasion?

A: No I never seen him.

Q: After Keeney told the men to stay there and he would find out about the telegram, were there any guard lines thrown out?

A: Yes, sir.

Q: Did you try to get out?

A: I did the next morning.

Q: What happened the next morning when you tried to get out?

A: They stopped me.

Q: What did they say to you?

A: Asked me if I had a pass.

Q: And you did not have it that morning?

A: No.

Q: And you didn't go out?

A: No.

Q: I will ask you if you did not have a pass could you get out?

A: No, you couldn't.

Q: Now you say you went home?

A: Yes, sir.

Q: How long was it after that until you were at Blair on Lens Creek?

A: About a week or something like that.

Q: How did you come to go to Blair?

A: I went over there on that march.

Q: How did you go?

A: In a car.

Q: Automobile?

A: Yes, sir.

Q: Did you have any arms?

A: Yes, sir.

Q: How many went with you on that occasion.

A: There were five of us.

Q: Who were they?

A: John D. Munsey, Lee Henderson, Bill Stump, they said his name was and the taxi driver.

Q: Can you recall the day you reached Blair?

A: I don't know the date, but I know the day.

Q: What day was it?

A: It was on Wednesday.

Q: What did you do after you got there?

A: I didn't do anything.

Q: You have said you saw Mr. Blizzard there on that occasion

A: Yes, sir.

Q: Where did you see him?

A: I seen him in an automobile.

Q: Is that the only place you saw him?

A: No, sir, I saw him on the schoolhouse porch.

Q: Who were occupying the schoolhouse?

A: The miners.

Q: Was that their headquarters?

A: Yes, sir.

Q: Who seemed to be in charge of the miners before you saw Blizzard?

A: Nim Roberts.

Q: Did he stay at headquarters?

A: Yes, sir.

Q: Did you recall what kind of an automobile Blizzard came in?

A: I don't know, but I think it was a Ford.

Q: Did you go through Madison on your way to Blair?

A: Yes, sir.

Q: I will ask you whether or not you say Blizzard at Madison?

A: I won't be positive.

Q: Did you think you saw him there?

A: I took it to be him.

Objection.
Sustained.

Q: Did you hear firing over there?

A: Sure.

Q: Did you see any one that had been killed or wounded?

A: Yes, sir, one that had been killed and about 3 wounded.

Q: Did you see the man that was killed?

A: Yes, sir, but I do not remember his name, I think it was Hanley.

Q: What did they do with the body?

A: Taken it out down the creek.

Q: Did you hear Blizzard make any statement while there?

A: Yes, sir.

Q: Tell the jury what it was?

A: The boys asked him how they were getting along on Crooked Creek and he said they were gaining ground down there.

Q: Did you know a man by the name of Roberts and another by the name of Hickman?

A: Yes, sir.

Q: Where were they?

A: At Blair.

Q: At headquarters?

A: Yes, sir.

Q: Did you see Blizzard talking to them?

A: I seen him talking to Roberts.

Q: About how many do you estimate were there under arms at the point where you were?

A: I judge about 800.

Q: Were they all armed?

A: No, sir.

Q: About how many of them were armed?

A: About half of them.

Q: Did you see any supplies brought in?

A: Yes, sir.

Q: How were they brought in?

A: On a train.

Q: Who was in charge of that train?

A: I don't know.

Q: Did you talk to Cantley at Lens Creek?

A: Yes, sir.

Q: And he was the same man that was president of your local union?

A: Yes, sir

Q: Did he make any statements in regard to Mr. Blizzard?

A: Yes, sir.

Q: What did he tell you?

A: Not Mr. Blizzard, no.

Q: What did Cantley tell you on that occasion?

A: I was talking to him and I said I didn't like to go over there, that we would get in trouble, and he said, "You are going if you expect to work in this country again." I said, "I would like to have further orders than that," and he said, "These are the orders from District 17."

Q: Did they say anything at the time of this march, any of these men, whose names you have mentioned, concerning what they were going to do in Logan County?

A: No, I never heard anything.

Q: Did you hear any of the men that were in this march way what they were going to do in Logan county?

A: Just going to clean up them guards up there

Q: Did you buy anything in the way of supplies while you were on that march?

A: Yes, sir.

Q: What?

A: Automobile tires and groceries.

Q: Where did you buy them?

A: I bought the automobile tires at Eastbank.

Q: Did you pay for them?

A: No.

Q: Did you have them charged?

A: Yes, to our local, half of the bill.

Q: Do you know whether or not the local union paid the bill?

A: They paid for the tires, yes, sir.

Q: Was there any resolution or action taken by your local prior to this march about requiring the men to go on a march?

A: I don't understand you.

Q: What did your local do before this march in the way of passing resolutions calling upon the men to go, if any such action was taken?

A: They called all the men.

Q: What did they do then?

A: They got all them in the camp together, the town is scattered out and they sent committees out and they passed a resolution that all the men that did not go on this march would not have a job when he got back.

Q: That was the time that Savoy Holt spoke there?

A: That was afterwards.

Q: You say you had a pass to which Blizzard's name was signed?

A: Yes, sir.

Q: Did you see anyone else with passes with Blizzard's name signed to them?

A: No sir.

Q: Now in going from Ward to Marmet the men from that point would go down through the town of Cedar Grove and cross the River at Cedar Grove, would they not?

A: Yes, sir that is the way we went.

Q: How long did you stay at Blair?

A: From Wednesday to Sunday.

Q: At the time you left, had the Federal troops come?

A: They came in Sunday morning.

Q: And you left that day?

A: Yes.

Q: Do you know what the miners did with their guns when the troops came in?

A: Yes.

Q: What did they do with them?

A: They gave them up.

Q: Did all of them give them up?

A: No.

Q: What was done with the others?

A: They took them away from them at Madison.

Q: Did the fighting continue until the soldiers came?

Objection.
Objection sustained

Q: When did the firing cease with reference to the time the soldiers come in.

A: About an hour before the train came in.

CROSS EXAMINATION BY MR. TOWNSEND.

Q: Did I understand you to say they disarmed some of these men in Madison?

A: Yes.

Q: Do you mean the soldiers did?

A: Yes.

Q: Just how did they disarm them?

A: They came through the train where the men were and searched every man from front to back of the train.

Q: The miners on that train were coming from the direction of Blair, were they not?

A: Yes.

Q: They were not on a march, were they?

A: No.

Q: They were on their way home, were they not?

A: Sure, they were.

Q: That is the disarming you refer to, is it not?

A: Yes, but that was only one.

Q: Well, that is the only one you saw at Madison, is it not?

A: Yes, but there was another one at Blair.

Q: There was not but one disarming at Madison, was there?

A: No.

Q: What day was that?

A: On Sunday.

Q: What day of the month?

A: I don't know.

Q: Was it in September or August?

A: I think it was about the 4th of September.

Q: If it was on Sunday and Sunday was the 4th of September, would you say that was the date?

A: I guess I would have to, would I not?

Q: I am asking you?

A: Sure.

Q: Now, let us get back to where we started from. How long did you work in Ward?

A: About 18 months.

Q: And you lived in Charleston?

A: No, I lived at Ward then.

Q: But you live in Charleston now, do you not?

A: Yes.

Q: When did you leave Ward?

A: On Sept. 10th, 1921.

Q: Where are you living in Charleston?

A: At South Ruffner.

Q: Whom do you live with?

A: With my father.

Q: That is across the river from Charleston, is it not?

A: Yes.

Q: And you went there on Sept. 10th, 1921

A: No, I said I left Ward on Sept. 10th.

Q: Where did you go then?

A: I went to New River, to work.

Q: How long were you there?

A: I worked there until Oct. 24th.

Q: And then you went to Charleston, didn't you?

A: Yes.

Q: Have you been in Charleston, ever since?

A: No, I have been away several times.

Q: Where have you been?

A: Well I went up Lew Creek

Q: Why did you leave Ward on Sept. 10th, 1921.

A: I wanted to get me a job.

Q: Did you not have a job at Ward?

A: No.

Q: Were you not working there at that time?

A: No, I had quit.

Q: You quit and left them - is that right?

A: Yes.

Q: How long had you been working at Ward on that occasion?

A: About eighteen months.

Q: What was the first occasion you heard anything about this march?

A: We had a meeting like I told you.

Q: Who had a meeting?

A: The miners had a meeting.

Q: Well, say the miners had a meeting. I don't know who you mean by "We." When was the meeting?

A: About a week before things started.

Q: Before what started?

A: This march.

Q: When did the march start?

A: It was in August.

Q: On what day in August?

A: I think about the 12th.

Q: It started on the 12th of August, you think?

A: We started getting ready by the 12th of August

Q: Do you mean by that that they started marching for Marmet on August 12th?

A: I said we started getting ready to go to Marmet then.

Q: You start to get ready to go to Marmet in August 12th?

A: Yes.

Q: What did you do to get ready?

A: We got the men together.

Q: Who got the men together?

A: The committee.

Q: What committee?

A: The miners' committee.

Q: Who were this committee?

A: George - a colored man, but I have forgotten his last name.

Q: Who else was on this committee?

A: I have forgotten who the other one was.

Q: There were three of you on this committee then?

A: yes.

Q: How did you three men happen to get together? Who told you to get together?

A: The President of the Local told us to go and get the men together.

Q: Is the name of the President of that local Candor?

A: Yes.

Q: Where was this meeting held?

A: About 400 or 500 yards from the store on the railroad

Q: It was held in the open, was it not?

A: Yes.

Q: How many men were there?

A: 300 or 400.

Q: Who made any speeches there on that occasion?

A: Mr. Holt.

Q: You say Mr. Holt made a speech on Aug. 12th?

A: I did not say he made a speech on Aug. 12th

Q: What date did you say he made the speech then?

A: I did not say the date. I said we began to get ready for the march on the 12th.

Q: I understood you to say you and two or three other men gathered there men together on the 12th of August, by the store?

A: No, I did not say that, we got them together on the 12th.

Q: Where did you say you get them together?

A: We had two or three meetings about it?

Q: Where did you hold the first meeting?

A: The first meeting was at the hall on Aug. 12th.

Q: Who got this meeting together.

A: That was a regular meeting night

Q: When was that?

A: On August 12th.

Q: Was that a regular meeting night?

A: I think it was.

Q: On what day of the week does the regular meeting start?

A: I don't know.

Q: On what day of the week do the regular meetings occur?

A: I don't remember.

Q: You don't know the day of the week on which your regular meeting is held?

A: No.

Q: How long were you a member of this Local?

A: About 18 months.

Q: You attended it, did you not?

A: I attended it as long as this trouble was going on, but I live a mile and half up the creek.

Q: And yet you say you don't know the regular meeting night of your Local?

A: Yes, I certainly say it.

Q: Anyhow, this regular meeting night came on August 12th?

A: Let me explain - We had a regular meeting and at this meeting they made arrangements to call all the miners together two or three nights after that.

Q: Who made arrangements?

A: The miners, I guess.

Q: Was that the meeting at which Holt spoke?

A: Yes, at the second meeting, but the resolution was passed at the first meeting, to call the meeting

Q: You say you had your regular meeting of your local, and at that meeting you passed [t]he resolution to have a called meeting is that correct?

A: Yes.

Q: And at this called meeting Holt made a speech - is that correct?

A: Yes.

Q: Where was the second meeting held?

A: I told you it was held right along the road.

Q: How many people attended that meeting?

A: 400 or 500.

Q: Who made speeches there?

A: Mr. Holt.

Q: What did he say?

A: I don't know much that he said. He told these men to be ready when he came back, for he was going to Putney to have a meeting and he would let them know what was done when he came back from over there.

Q: Did he talk about anything else in his speech

A: Yes, he told the men about Hatfield being killed, over in Welch, I think it was.

Q: Did he tell them anything else?

A: Yes, he said they were going to let the prisoners out of jail.

Q: Who was going to let them out?

A: The miners. He said they were going to have a march over there.

Q: He said they were going to have a march and the miners were going to let the prisoners out - do you mean the miners in the jail in Mingo county?

A: Yes.

Q: What did he say about Logan County?

A: He said we would wipe the guard our as we went through.

Q: Did he come back there anymore?

A: I did not see him.

Q: When did you have another meeting?

A: I don't remember

Q: Did you have another meeting?

A: Yes.

Q: Was it within the next two days, or the next two weeks?

A: It was probably in the next two or three days.

Q: That would be the third meeting, would it not?

A: Yes.

Q: What would be the third meeting, would it not?

A: Yes

Q: What did you do at the third meeting?

A: We got busy then.

Q: Is that all the answer you want to make?

A: We got ready to go to Lens creek.

Q: Did you go?

A: Yes.

Q: How many of you went the first time?

A: Eight or ten.

Q: Were you with them?

A: Yes.

Q: When was that?

A: I don't know the day, but it was on Monday.

Q: When you got to Lens creek was there anyone there?

A: Yes, a good bunch of men, seven or eight hundred.

Q: How long did you stay at Lens creek that time?

A: I stayed there until midnight on Tuesday.

Q: Where did you go then?

A: I started home.

Q: Was there a guard line across the creek when you went over>

A: Yes.

Q: Was there a guard line when you came out?

A: Yes, and there were three guard lines when we went in

Q: Do you know the day of the month that the Monday you say you went over came on?

A: No, I don't

Q: Was it the Monday after you had the meeting on August 12th, or that Wednesday?

A: No, it was a good bit after that?

Q: Was it the second Monday after that?

A: I don't remember.

Q: Can't you say whether it was the first or the second Monday after you had your meeting on Aug. 12th?

A: I did not say we had the meeting on Monday, Aug. 12th, 1921.

Q: You said you had a meeting on Monday. I asked you if it was on the next Monday or the Monday after that that you first went to Lens creek.

A: You asked me if it was on Monday that we had the meeting.

Q: Was it the first of the second Monday after the 12th of August that you went to Marmet?

A: About the third Monday, I think, but I can't be positive.

Q: And you stayed there from Monday to Truesday [sic]?

A: Yes.

Q: There where did you go?

A: I went home.

Q: Then where did you go?

A: We came back to Lens creek on Sunday, and we went home again on Wednesday morning. Then we went back after that on Sunday night. Not that Sunday night, but the Sunday following

Q: Were you there when Mother Jones made her speech?

A: Yes.

Q: You went from you home on that date?

A: No, I was on Lens creek.

Q: When did you go to Lens creek with reference to the time Mother Jones spoke?

A: On the Monday before.

Q: Did you come out anymore until Mother Jones made her speech?

A: I came out the same night.

Q: When was that?

A: I went back on Sunday.

Q: Then you were not there from Monday until Sunday night?

A: I was not there from midnight Tuesday that Mother Jones spoke until Sunday night, and then I went back.

Q: Was it on Tuesday that Mother Jones made her speech?

A: I think it was.

Q: Are you positive?

A: I think it was on Tuesday.

Q: Are you positive of this?

A: Yes.

Q: On Tuesday she made her speech. There were five Tuesday in August - the 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd, and 30th - Now which one was the day on which she made her speech?

A: I would say on the 23rd.

Q: Yes, that was the day she made her speech. Did you come off the creek after she made her speech?

A: Yes.

Q: Where did you go after the speech.

A: I went to the head of the creek.

Q: How long did you stay there?

A: Until midnight, as I told you.

Q: Did you tell me that?

A: Yes, I did.

Q: Then you went home on the night of the 2rd [sic]?

A: I know I went home the night of the day Mother Jones spoke.

Q: You say you went home that night? How long were you at home?

A: Until Sunday night

Q: Then where did you go?

A: Up Lenscreek.

Q: If Mother Jones spoke on the 23rd, the next Sunday would be the 28th. It was the next Sunday that you went back, was it not?

A: Yes.

Q: What did you find there?

A: I found a good bunch of men.

Q: How many?

A: Several thousand.

Q: Did you go with them?

A: No.

Q: What did you do then?

A: I went to Blair.

Q: By yourself?

A: No.

Q: Who went with you?

A: De Munsey, Henderson, Ball, and Shepherds. We went in an automobile.

Q: What kind of car was it you went in?

A: A Studebaker.

Q: Whose was it?

A: The 606 Taxi Co. of Charleston.

Q: Who sent for it.

A: I don't know.

Q: Where did you go?

A: Up Lens creek.

Q: What time did you reach Blair?

A: About five in the evening.

Q: Was that the same Sunday, or the next day?

A: It was the Wednesday following that.

Q: If you left Lens creek on Sunday and to Blair on Wednesday, that would be Aug. 31st., would it not?

A: I never said I left there on Sunday.

Q: When did you leave there?

A: I left there on Wednesday

Q: Then you stayed on Lens creek from Sunday to Wednesday and then left there on Wednesday morning. You say you left there on Wednesday morning and got to Blair at five o'clock?

A: Yes.

Q: During your stay at Lens Creek from Sunday to Wednesday, you say there were several thousand men there?

A: Yes.

Q: Was that when you saw Mr. Keeney?

A: No.

Q: Did you see Mr. Blizzard there?

A: No.

Q: Did you see Mr. Mooney there?

A: No.

Q: When you got to Blair, that would be on the 31st - did you see Mr. Blizzard there?

A: No.

Q: When did you see him?

A: I saw him a day or two before the soldiers came.

Q: What day was that?

A: I cannot be certain.

Q: Do you know the day of the week?

A: Yes, but I cannot be certain the day he was there.

Q: Do you know the day of the week the soldiers came in?

A: Yes, it was Sunday.

Q: Then you reached there on Wednesday, Aug. 31st, and the soldiers came in the next Sunday.

A: Yes.

Q: Was that the day you saw Blizzard?

A: No.

Q: How long after the soldiers came in did you see him?

A: It was a day or two before they came. I think I saw him on Friday or Saturday.

Q: That would be the 2nd or 3rd of Sept. would it not?

A: Yes.

Q: Who was with him?

A: I don't know.

Q: What kind of a car was he in?

A: He was in a ford.

Q: What did you say he said at the time you saw him?

A: He had a bomb in his hand. It was one that had been dropped over there.

Q: Who dropped this bomb.

A: It was dropped from an air plane

Q: Who had the air planes? Your side did not have any, did they?

A: I did not see any.

Q: The soldiers had not come then, had they?

A: I had not seen them.

Q: you did see the airplanes, did you not?

A: Yes, two or three of them.

Q: Was this bomb you mention dropped from an airplane?

A: I did not see it, being dropped

Q: You saw the airplanes, did you not?

A: Yes.

Q: Which way did they come in?

A: From every way.

Q: The air was full of them, was it?

A: I could not say that

Q: What did Blizzard say on this occasion?

A: Some one asked him how he had gotten on down, that there and said they were gaining ground.

Q: Where was that?

A: On Crooked creek.

Q: Where is Crooked creek?

A: I don't know. I have no idea

Q: You don't know whether it is in Boone or Kanawha county, do you?

A: No.

Q: Or in Jefferson?

A: I never heard of Crooked creek before. All of them are crooked.

Q: Did you see Blizzard at any other time since?

A: I saw him the first time, and I have not seen him since.

Q: Where had you seen him before?

A: I could not tell you where I had not seen him.

Q: Did you know him?

A: Yes, I knew him.

Q: Had you ever met his before that time.

A: Yes.

Q: Where?

A: In the local.

Q: Where?

A: On Paint creek and other places.

Q: You are acquianted [sic] with him then?

A: Yes.

Q: Where did you know him on Paint creek?

A: At Livingston - it used to be Walcona.

Q: When did you see him there?

A: I seen him there off and on for 8 or 10 years.

Q: Then you used to see him frequently on Paint creek?

A: Yes.

Q: What was he doing there?

A: Working in our mine.

Q: Did he go to the Local on Paint creek?

A: Yes

Q: Did he visit the locals?

A: Yes, when we have had meetings, I have seen him there.

Q: Was that in the same district?

A: I don't know.

Q: But you saw him there?

A: Yes.

Q: You are sure?

A: Yes.

Q: You say he worked in the mines up there

A: I think he was raised about there.

Q: And you saw him during the time he was working in the mines on Paint creek?

Q: He played ball us [up?] there, did he not?

A: I don't know.

Q: You did not see him on this march, did you, after you saw him in the Ford with the bomb?

A: No, not until I came here.

Q: Have you told the jury all you heard him say on that occasion?

A: That is all I heard him say.

Q: Did you ever know another Blizzard on Paint Creek?

A: I did know another Blizzard, but he has gone to Detroit to live.

Q: Is not that the Blizzard you are referring to, and not Bill Blizzard

A: I think I would know the two men apart.

Q: You seem to know some things very well, and some thing you do not. You don't know anything about the killing of this man Petry of your own knowledge, do you?

A: I know right smart about it.

Q: Did you see him killed?

A: No.

Q: What do you know about it of your own knowledge?

A: I saw the man, and that is all

Q: You don't know who shot him?

A: No.

Q: Do you know whether he was shot or not?

A: He was shot, though he might have been stabbed. I know too how he came to get killed?

Q: Do you know it of your own knowledge? Were you there?

A: No.

Q: Did someone tell you?

A: No, I know what caused him to get killed

Q: Did you see this man on the day Mother Jones spoke?

A: No.

Q: When did you see him?

A: On the day following that.

Q: Did you say you had to get some sort of an order to go through the lines?

A: Yes.

Q: Whose name was signed to that order?

A: Blizzard's. There were no initials. Then there was G. W. some that I could not make out, and the date.

Q: Do you know whether Blizzard wrote that?

A: I only know it has Blizzard's name to it.

Q: Do you know his hand writing?

A: No, I do not.

Q: Do you know who signed it or who gave it to you?

A: Caudle had it, and someone gave it to him, and he handed it to me.

Q: Who gave it to him?

A: A man standing guard line at the lower end of the branch.

Q: Then this man whom you don't know, gave it to Caudle, and Caudle gave it to you, and you gave it to Jimmy Jones and you don't know or care to whom he gives it.

A: No.

Witness dismissed


William Blizzard Trial Transcript

West Virginia Archives and History