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March 3, 1921

Review of a Series of Disorders Extending over a Period of Eighteen Months Operation as An Open Shop

The Willis Branch Coal Company operation is on Paint Creek, one mile above Pax, 28 miles from Deepwater. The lease consists of 2000 acres and was originally opened by the Herbert Collieries several years ago. About 5 years ago (1916) the Willis Branch Company made extensive improvements opening up a new seam and making it a profitable operation. It is a drift mine with a haulage and incline nearly two miles long. The Weirwood operation of the Berwind-White interests adjoins with a shaft mine and the Long Branch Company operates a short distant away. Principal stockholders in the Willis Branch Co. are Thos. Nichol, Wm. McKell and Dr. C.B. Lee, of Glen Jean.

In August 1919 about 175 miners were employed and the output was about 12,000 tons a month. Thos. Laing, supt. and the other owners of the property inaugurated the open shop policy, declining to make the check-off for union dues through the office. Both union and non union miners were given employment without discrimination.

September 1, 1919 the men went on a strike demanding the closed shop.

The mine was idle until Dec. 8, 1919 when about 100 men went to work, producing 750 tons, when on Dec. 16, 1919 all work ceased.

Jan. 8, 1920 - Five men started to work and produced 350 tons.

Jan. 20, 1920 - First destruction of property when hoist was damaged. Workers intimidated and party of men on way to mine set upon and assaulted.

Feb. 8, 1920 - Felts detectives engaged to guard the property and mine resumed Feb. 17 with 11 men. Threats and intimidation but no destruction of property.

March, 1920 - Twenty eight men at work produced 1650 tons in 65 hours.

April 14, 1920 - Quantity of dynamite exploded in front of and about 130 feet from Supt. Laing's residence. Windows broken. Reward of $1,000. No arrests.

May 1920 - Output 1950 tons by 35 men.

June 1920 - Worked 108 hours, 55 men, produced 5400 tons. Mine boss and assistant beaten up while passing through Cirtsville. Incoming workmen intimidated and made to leave. Bookkeeper assaulted at Weirwood ball game. Sheriff declined to station deputy on property. Miner named Humphrey assaulted at Long Branch; Ratliff assaulted at Pax and Tobe Pinkerton fired upon. State police called for.

July 1920 - Taxi driver hauling state police threatened and fired upon. On night of 8th two shots fired from Weirwood hill into super's house and his wife and child fired upon as they escaped the house. Employee Ford, driver of team on county road assaulted. Men assaulted upon leaving property. Night of 23rd four power and light poles dynamited. Night 26th 100 shots fired from vicinity of Weirwood school house. Col. Arnold of state police approves of plan to discharge Felts guards but later asks plans be held in abeyance.

August 1920 - About 75 men at work. About 2 AM on 8th dynamite exploded beside engine house and 500 shots fired into houses. Following morning camp fired upon from all sides; Major Payne wounded. Lafferty boy arrested in Weirwood stable and released on bond. Felts guards disarmed and discharged. Machine gun dismantled and shipped away. Another gun shipped to company stolen from express office at Pax.

September 1920 - Seven private guards hired and 15 miner produced 1300 tons of coal. Many threats against workers.

October 1920 - Much liquor coming in. Many wrecks on tipple and other mishaps. Night of the 10th three shots fired into house where Will Powell and John Nelson were asleep.

November 1920 - About 22 men at work, 10 watchmen. Raleigh Graham received slight scalp wound from bullet. His house fired upon next night. Watchman at store fired upon from railroad and school house. Guard returned fire. More wrecks on haulage. On night of 19th about 100 shots into tipple and store. One of children of C.C. Johnson had narrow escape from bullets through his house. State police arrested 4 men. On night of 26th store was fired upon, 300 shots in 20 minutes. Two bullets entered club house and barely Missed Mrs. Edens. Boarding house of Mrs. Smith shot into 5 times. Sunday, the 28th, Watchman Spangler and foreman Holstein fired upon at the tipple. Next evening 2 shots fired from train lodged in office door, passing near Jas. Davis standing on the porch. Daylight shooting becoming more common and situation serious.

About 2,000 shots Dec. 3rd from second ridge opposite Weirwood. Women and children spent most of night in cellars. Reported one man (Charlie Brown) living in his own property outside town moved to house in Weirwood with 12 rifles and then moved to another house. State police fired upon near Weirwood store by 3 men.

Night of Dec. 8 dynamite thrown toward watchman and attempt made to wreck sub-station. Bloodhounds follow trails toward Cirtsville. Headhouse burned Dec. 10 while watchmen were away. Week of Dec. 18 quiet with 37 men working.

Christmas eve 500 shots fired within half an hour. Firing on store Dec. 30 lasting 20 minutes. Next day men on tipple fired upon.

Jan. 2, 1921 - An hour's fire concentrated on super's house did great damage. State police returned the fire.

Jan. 4 - Two explosions wrecked incline. Blood hounds followed trail to Kidd house and one occupied by Robt. Ratliff.

All quiet until Jan. 22 when boarding house was fired upon when men were eating supper. More firing at night. Blood hounds follow trail into weirwood.

Jan. 28 - Firing from many quarters. Telephone wires cut. Guards instructed not to return fire. Many occupants of house narrowly escaped. Col. Arnold and Sheriff Conley on the scene. Two weeks of peace followed and 62 men at work week ending Feb. 12 produced 750 tons. On Feb. 14 Joe Wallace was shot in the side by firing from a passing train. The next night the sub- station was dynamited and electrical machinery damaged, rendering further operation of mine impossible. Guards were discharged and miners began leaving.

On the night of Feb. 18 the camp was given the hardest bombardment of the war and it was at this time Henry Lafferty, a Weirwood miner was killed as he was approaching the Willis Branch store with a bucket of kerosene. Supt. Grady and Bookkeeper Branscome were firing from the basement of the super's house. A general exodus of every employee of the Willis Branch Co. followed, the camp being absolutely abandoned. Half a dozen state constabulary and deputy sheriffs are in full possession of the deserted operation.

The only outbreak of shooting last week was on Wednesday evening Feb. 23. It was directed toward Sergt. McQuine, of the state constabulary who was doing patrol duty at the deserted store building. About 40 shots were fired in rapid succession and before the police could locate the gunmen the affair was over.

It is thought the shots came from an orchard above the store at the mouth of Lafferty hollow. A 30-30 rifle was found by the officers hidden in a fence corner in that neighborhood. The shooting occurred about 3 o'clock in the afternoon. All was quiet Saturday night, the half dozen constabulary patrolling the long line of property all night.

The Willis Branch Coal Company sustained a 25,000 dollars property loss Saturday night from unknown parties who burned the Coal Tipple at Willis Branch. Nine box cars of the Virginian Railway Company on a siding near the tipple were destroyed at a loss of about 20,000 dollars.

The fire was discovered at 2 o'clock Sunday morning. The roar of the flames awakened people living nearby and the suddenness with which the blaze spread indicates that oil had been used to start the fire. An automobile was heard a few minutes after the blaze broke out. It was going toward Weirwood. An effort was made to get bloodhounds from Huntington but the dogs are in service in Mingo county.

Four members of the state constabulary were on duty at Willis Branch. They were asleep in the super's house some distance away of the fire. There were no other guards on duty.

There were about seventy-five empty box cars on the siding at the tipple and the flames quickly spread to them. An engine was sent to pull the cars away but the engineer said he was delayed in reaching the scene when he observed four men armed with rifles standing on the track above the Willis Branch store. The armed men did not attempt to stop the trainmen who fearing trouble waited several minutes until they disappeared.

The burned tipple contained a vast quantity of timber but was not in good repair. Twenty-six bents were burned, leaving only seven bents at the upper end. Forty mine cars and a new steel cable were burned.

There was no shooting on the night of the fire and things have been unusually quiet about the place for several weeks. No attempt at repairing damage done by dynamiters several weeks ago has been made by the company, the property remaining idle and abandoned.

Sheriff Conley and Prosecuting Attorney Love visited the scene of the fire Tuesday and endeavored to get information or clues as to the incendiaries. They were unable to learn anything.

March 3, 1912

Governor Cornwell and Governor-elect Morgan Spend Five Hours on Willis Branch Battle Ground Sunday

The governor of West Virginia and the governor-elect saw some sights at Willis Branch Sunday that caused them to shudder and hang their heads in silent horror and mortification that such things should be in their beloved state. It was an unpleasant but enlightening Sabbath day journey. "Inconceivable" was the only public expression of the governor-elect. Governor Cornwell, wise with a varied experience in dealing with the industrial warfare, was amazed at the village literally "shot off the face of the map".

The trip was one of unofficial observation planned by owners of the property that the outgoing and incoming state executives might become familiar with a situation requiring some official action. No plan of solution or any action was presented or discussed.

The party which quietly slipped into the shot riddled camp, was composed of Gov. John J. Cornwell and private secretary, Jas. Weir; Gov-elect E.F. Morgan, Wm McKell, Thos. Nichol, Sheriff Conley, Messrs, Fitrow and Wilson, Three Charleston newspaper correspondents and the editor of the Tribune. The party spent five hours going over the camp, the governors leading the way and closely observing everything.

No unpleasant incident attended the inspection. Members of the party strolled everywhere alone or in small groups. Half dozen constabulary were on duty and were the only armed men seen. Not a pistol shot was heard all day. The only excitement created was when Mr. Weir, standing out on a point near the store tripped on a stone and fell backward flat on the ground like a man struck by a 30-30. His jolly laugh quickly assured friends of his safety.

The first inspection was that of the company store and office, a large two story structure the second floor of which was used for sleeping quarters. The corner office room had 47 bullet holes in it. Another room upstairs occupied by the super had about 80 holes. Beds, mattresses, everywhere there were bullet marks. Over in the super's house less than a hundred feet away the floors were covered with splinters and broken glass. The bed occupied by Supt. Grady was protected by heavy sheet iron on all sides. No matter where Grady moved his bed from room to room the bullets followed him.

Noting the range of firing was toward the Weirwood school house hill. Gov. Cornwell led the party to that point and walked among the houses of Weirwood miners. No men were to be seen anywhere, but women and children peered from windows. The governor engaged two little boys in pleasant conversation and the party turned toward the Willis Branch houses. Beside the school house was a barricade of stones about 4 feet high. The position commanded the entire Willis Branch camp and is the point from which much shooting is alleged to have been done. Between the school house hill and railroad is a row of a dozen Weirwood houses untenanted with windows nailed up. In one battle the Felts guards riddled these houses with machine gun fire. Most of the other Weirwood houses are below range of fire from the Willis Branch property.

Going up the Willis Branch tipple there were evidences of the dynamiting there and wrecked cars told of inexperienced workmen. At one point on the tipple it was pointed out where a colored boy had jumped 50 feet to escape bullets. Strews boards on the ground marked the site of an empty house that had been wrecked by dynamite.

It was then the party entered the houses and peered into the little dug outs under the floors that the greatest shock was felt. Into these holes not as big as a grave women and children spent nights of terror. In one of these houses Lum Maynor had been forced to take refuge after being driven away from his little farm some distance from the mine. He had a good sized dug out and one night when his neighbors house was being shot up he called the family to come to his house. An electric light is near and as two children attempted to circle around it they were fired upon and took refuge in an outhouse but two bullets followed them. They finally reached the Maynor dug out in safety. In the yard Maynor had made a barricade of some bags of earth. After the killing of Lafferty the Maynor family had to have the protection of a sheriff's posse to enable them to leave camp in safety.

In the boarding house kept by Mrs. Smith, widow of a union miner with two small children, a sand wall had been built around a room in addition to the usual dug out. There are numerous bullet holes in this house.

There are 67 houses in the camp and it is stated that all but two have bullet marks in them.

The party did not visit the wrecked sub-station which was a mile and a half over the mountain.

Returning to the store building, members of the party mingled with a few of the natives who were quite sociable. Governor Cornwell picking out a good natured fellow wearing a red sweater, walked down the railroad track with him and for half an hour listened to a story entirely contradictory of other guides over the property. "I am informed that Charley over there in Weirwood has a dozen high powered rifles" said the governor. "It's a lie!" retorted the red sweater man, "he ain't got but five."

The governor's entertainer was Bill Woolridge, a well known resident of the section who has been quite active in behalf of some of those charged with creating disorder. The governor was no doubt impressed with his vivid imagination.

Uncle Jim Davis, aged 73, who lives near the Willis Branch headquarters and whose son-in-law, Lewis Nieman is the postmaster and manager of the Willis Branch store, was one of the interesting characters who related some of his experiences. He has received numerous warnings that his life was in danger but he refused to leave and goes about his business as usual.

"If I had known two years ago what I would have had to go through with I never would have stayed here," he said, "but I am not going to run away now. I know all these people around here and don't feel unkindly toward them and have not wronged them and can't see why they should want to harm me." Mr. Davis has reared a family of six children, all of then prominent and well to do citizens of the community. He is positive, outspoken and fearless.

Judge Morgan also mingled with a group of miners sitting on the railroad track and listened to their conversation and discussion of the situation. He asked a few questions and his manner throughout the day was thoughtful and serious. Tomorrow he takes up a burden and responsibility that Gov. Cornwell gladly relinquishes. He may have more than one Willis Branch situation to deal with during the coming 4 years.

The greatest surprise was expressed by all members of the party that the loss of life had not been great in the shooting but so far as could be learned none of the occupants of the riddled buildings was ever touched by a bullet. They lodged in pillows and beds where people were sleeping and were certainly fired to kill and wound. A Felts detective was shot in the leg in course of one of the fights, a miner near the store slightly wounded by a shot from a train and the fatal wounding of Lafferty were the only casualties of the war.

Another circumstance that the Governors party could not fully understand was why none of those responsible for the disorder had not been apprehended and punished. It was explained that it has been impossible to secure evidence to convict, those who are able to furnish such evidence being afraid to take a part or be known as furnishing information. Local officials have not been over zealous it is claimed. There is some prospect whoever that with the preliminary hearing March 10 of Grady and Branscome charged with the murder of Lafferty a basis may be established for prosecution. One of the Constabulary received an anonymous type written communication through the mail last week.

It read: Notice You are commanded in the name of the state of West Virginia to summon <seven names given> and other whose names I will not mention, to appear at Fayetteville, March 10 and show cause why they were with Henry Lafferty when he was killed and also for Charley _______ to show why his wife had to get him a clean pair of underwear. So help me God.

The question arose as to who was paying for such quantities of ammunition as have been expended. Winchester 30-30 guns and shells are expensive and an individual would have to be well supplied with funds to carry on such a protracted campaign. It has been hinted that the attacking forces have more than on ally in their fight to destroy the operation. Business interests may have an eye to acquisition of the property at a bargain price. It is a fine lease but poorly equipped and camp is acquiring an evil name among the union fraternity. This forced solution of the problem has been presented as one way to end the turmoil.

The property is now without any protection other than the patrolling constabulary. These seven men on duty Sunday were Sergt. McQuine, A.L. Dempsey, of Mingo; D.W. Cox, Charleston; Harry McCoy, Kenova; John Isaacs, Fred Kemper and Harry Burr of Weston. They mingle freely with the residents keeping an eye open for gun toters and moonshiners. Most of the pistol toters they have picked up are able to produce a license to carry weapons. Shipments of arms and ammunition continue to be received at near by shipping points so the constabulary stated.

The property is situated in a pocket that to protect it against such attacks as have been made, at least a regiment of guards would be necessary. Armored air craft could be given a good test on these mountains.

It has been two weeks since the last big battle and the property stands just as it was deserted. Houses and building are open, all live stock is gone and not even a caretaker dare to venture on the scene.

"Is it all over," asked the Tribune of a Pax business man.

"Yes, until they start to work."

February 24, 1921

Henry Lafferty, a Weirwood miner, was shot and killed near the Willis Branch Co. store about 2 o'clock Friday morning. A two gallon bucket, which had contained either gasoline or kerosene was found near where he fell. A Winchester shot gun and pistol were lying near by.

The shot which killed Lafferty evidently came from the house of Supt. Pat Grady about 100 yards away where Grady and the company bookkeeper, E.E. Branscome were barricaded in the cellar. Grady and Branscome are charged with the killing and are under bond to appear for a preliminary hearing March 10.

The heaviest barrage ever put up in any of the numerous attacks on the Willis Branch property opened about 11 o'clock Thursday night. Within 4 hours it is estimated 10,000 shots were fired. The company store, office and residence of Supt. Grady were the targets. Probably 50 men were pumping lead into the valley from the hills on all sides.

Only two men were on the company property and these were Grady and Branscome. All the guards had been sent away the day before. From the cellar of grady's house the two men, whose lives seemed to be short, worked their "Brownie" repeaters with all their might. It was a moonlight night and they had a full view of the store building. The firing from the hills ceased and three men approached the store one of them carrying something. It was thought to be more dynamite, which had been freely used to wreck the company property. A pool of blood within 8 steps of the store building marks the spot where Lafferty was shot and where the empty bucket was found. His body was found about 50 yards away. It had been dragged a short distance and was lying near the railroad track.

It was alleged there was a box of pepper in Lafferty's pocket and a match held between his teeth. Ammunition to fit the Winchester and pistol, found near by, was in his pocket. It was about two hours after he was shot before the body was discovered, Deputy Sheriff Joe Williams being among the first to reach the scene at 4 o'clock. He found Grady and Branscome behind some rocks near the store. At his request they sought shelter in the basement of the store. About noon they were escorted to Mt. Hope by four deputy sheriffs and later after giving bond left for Huntington.

The bullet which killed Lafferty passed from shoulder to shoulder almost in a straight line through his body. Death was almost instantaneous and it is the opinion of physicians that he could not have walked to the point where his body had been dragged a short distance.

The situation was very tense following the shooting and Sheriff Conley and deputies had to be very diplomatic but firm in controlling it. Columbus Maynor, a Willis Branch employee, who has been waging a hard fight for his company was given escort to a train and marched through a hooting, jeering crowd with his wife and three small children. There was a general exodus of every worker at the Willis Branch mine and the operation is now absolutely deserted. No attempt is likely to be made soon to repair the damage or operate the mine.

Saturday night the shooting opened again with considerable force, the property of Jas. Davis was burned. Davis had been conducting the Willis Branch company store and had incurred the enmity of the gunmen but is fighting bravely for his rights.

While the shooting and burning was going on Saturday night a party of Weirwood miners congregated at he hoisting house. There was some moonshine and Jack Evans, crazed with liquor, shot Macdonald and killed him. One bullet struck him in the neck and second in the shoulder. He died within a few minutes. Evans is in jail.

Evans was given a preliminary hearing before Justice West Tuesday and held under $2500 bond. Witnesses to the affair claim Macdonald struck Evans in the face before the shooting. Evans is 67 years old and has borne a good reputation.. He had a pistol in his pocket that night, the first time for many years. He claims he was so drunk that he has no recollection of what happened.

Henry Lafferty, who was killed Friday, was a son of the late Ed Lafferty who lived on Boyds Branch of Paint Creek. He has 5 brothers, Chas., Wesley, George, Robt. and J.M.. He was about 35 years old. He leaves a wife and 2 children. He was a big strong man physically and very daring. It is alleged he was one of the leaders in the band that has been waging war on the Willis Branch operation.

Grady and Branscome, who were alone against the army of half a hundred in the battle, have gone through several experiences that none but the bravest could endure. Grady is a Kentuckian and not afraid of the crack of a gun. He had not given up his job and expects to return after a little rest. Branscome served with our army in France and went over the top a number of times but declares he never has such exciting times as he has gone through at Willis Branch. His home is in Huntington.

The Nichol, of Glen Jean, went on the bond of $2,000 given by Grady and Branscome for their appearance for a preliminary hearing before Squire West March 10.

Following the trouble Friday morning Sheriff Conley made a search for a machine gun but found only half a dozen Winchester and Brownies which he confiscated. The following were sworn in as special deputies to preserve the peace: Lewis Davis, Hans Williams, I.S. Ellison and L.C. Lively. Deputies Williams and Craigo are spending some time there giving protection to a few of the Willis Branch employee who are moving their goods away. Half a dozen state police are on duty in the neighborhood.

There are many rumors afloat regarding the affair. Friends of Lafferty claim he was on his way home when shot and do not believe he was carrying a bucket of kerosene when shot. They believe his body was dragged onto the railroad thinking that it might be run over by a train before being found.

The finding of a box of pepper in the dead man's pocket is vouched for by two reliable witnesses. There were 15 cartridges in his pockets and some matches. The report that he held a match in his teeth has not been fully corroborated.

The Willis Branch operation, has been subject to a series of attacks extending over a period of nearly 2 years. Thos. Laing was in charge of the property and built a nice residence expecting to make it his home for years. An attempt was made to dynamite it and although a large reward was offered no arrests were ever made. Life became so uncertain that Mr. Laing moved away and recently became so discouraged that he sold his interest in the property. Albert O'Neal succeeded Laing as superintendent but he too was forced to leave a few months ago and was succeeded by P.A. Grady of Kentucky, who has had more precarious experiences than his predecessors.

The property was placed in charge of the Baldwin Felts detectives last summer. This brought on more trouble that ever and a pitched battle was fought in August in which Major Payne one of the detectives was shot in the heel. The detectives were sent away and home guards have since been in charge. Outbreaks have been of weekly occurrence but strangely enough nobody has hurt until last week when Joe Wallace was shot from a freight train passing the store. If there have been any fatalities among the snipers the matter has been kept secret.

The property is so situated that it is very hard to protect. There is a 2 mile haulage way from the tipple to the mine mouth. It is through the woods in an isolated section. The mining camp property is surrounded by hills with trails leading to Paint and Cabin Creeks. Moonshine stills operate on all sides and their product has gone to incite many a man to join in the "possum hunts".

At he January term of court indictments were made against Robt. Lafferty, Lee Donald, Clarence Donald and John Kidd charging them with conspiring to destroy the haulage property and doing damage to the amount of $6,200. The trials were continued by the state on account of the absence of important witnesses. At the July term several were indicted for assault on Tobe Pinkerton and conspiring against E.F. Grow. Some of the cases were tired and the accused acquitted.

February 3, 1921

At the preliminary hearing before justice West at Fayetteville Tuesday E.E. Branscome and Pat Grady, Willis Branch Coal Co. officials charged with the murder of Henry Lafferty, were discharged. There was no evidence whatever to show that either of them fired the fatal shot. The prosecuting attorney asked for their discharge after trying in vain to secure some evidence against them from a dozen witnesses. C.W. Osenton appeared as attorney for the defendants.

In the course of the examination of witnesses, it was sought to throw some light on the circumstances attending the shooting up on the mining camp on the night Lafferty was killed. Of the dozen witnesses who were quizzed at considerable length not one had a hand in the affair or knew anything of the shooting until it was all over.

After a few witnesses had been examined attorneys Summerfield and Bennett entered objections to the manner of the examination. They explained they had been employed by relatives of the dead man to assist in the prosecution of Grady and Branscome but their investigations had not developed any testimony against the accused. Prosecuting Love stated he had spent a day at the scene of the trouble and while unable to obtain any evidence he had caused to be summoned a number of witnesses who might in the course of the examination give evidence of an enlightening character. The taking of testimony had continued but neither Bennett nor Summerfield took further part in the examination.

Practically all of the witnesses testified to being home asleep when the shooting started. Many of them went to Weirwood shaft house where a dozen or more had congregated and where news of the killing of Lafferty was brought them by Gus Vass a Weirwood miner who found the body on the railroad track as he was going home from work about 3 o'clock in the morning. Lafferty was alone when shot so far as any of the witnesses knew.

The hearing did not attract a very large crowd and those in attendance moved about silently. The sheriff's force kept a keen lookout on the crowd and three of the state constabulary were also on hand.

No testimony was offered by the defense. In brief the testimony of the states witnesses was as following:

GROVER MOORE - Pax policeman, at home asleep, awakened by wife at about 1:00 AM, by shooting, went to Willis Branch about 3 or 4 o'clock when sent for by Cass Gilbert. Chas. Brown, John Kidd and Bryant Kidd joined then at Weirwood shaft; paid no attention to conversation; knew man was dead; stayed at Willis Branch until daylight. Recalled none of conversation during walk. Was miner at Weirwood 4 years before police. Other men with Cass Gilbert when came to his house but did not know them. Gilbert told him dead man was on railroad near Willis Branch. Went to bed about nine o'clock that night, did not see Brown or Kidd after supper. Dead man had rubber coat looked like had been on wrong side before; made no examination of body; thought body had been dragged 16 ties on railroad; blood 15 or 20 feet from store; smelled gasoline or kerosene; new bucket lying close.

JOHN KIDD - Assistance mine foreman at Willis Branch until August, 1920, and then worked at Weirwood. Was at home on night of shooting and went to Weirwood shaft about 2 or 3 o'clock; Clarence Donnell went with him; stood around tipple until Moore and Williams came and went with them to Willis Branch and saw dead man; stayed until 4 o'clock, and returned home with Donnell; was not out of house after supper and went to bed about 9 o'clock; went to tipple to inquire safety of sister; had no gun and rifle only gun in house; about 15 men at tipple when he reach there; never examined body of Lafferty.

BRYANT KIDD - Brother of John Kidd; former employe of Willis Branch; went to work in Weirwood in January; joined shaft crown coming from boarding house with Paul Maynor and Roy Kidd; Cass Gilbert at shaft when he reached there; also Henry Thomas; then to Charles Brown's house three quarters of an hour after shooting and was there 30 minutes; left Brown in bed; told Brown somebody had been killed; went to Willis Branch; saw body of Lafferty, a cousin; shooting lasted 15 minutes after he reached shaft; seven or eight men at shaft.

PAUL MAYNOR - Weirwood miner at Daniel boarding house; went to shaft while shooting was going on; 15 or 20 men there; Henry Williams, Cass Gilbert, Ed. Bailey, Bryant and Roy Kidd among them; spent half hour at shaft; body of dead and reported by Henry Vass who was on way home to Cirtsville; never saw man dragging Lafferty up track; never told father that.

GUY VASS - Cirtsville; working night turn at Weirwood; quit work at 2:30 AM, first heard of shooting when came out; first knew of dead man when he found body; was not told of dead man before; went home by county road.

CHARLES BROWN - Weirwood; left Willis Branch 18 months ago. At home in bed on night of shooting alone; family in Dewitt cellar 100 yards away; was drunk and very sick; poor recollection of events on afternoon and until shooting was over. Had three shotguns, rifle and pistol in house. Owned his own property half a mile away but moved about 3 months ago for safety to Weirwood house; denied that there were signal shots before heavy shooting began.

CASS GILBERT - Miner at Weirwood 8 years; came out of mine 2:30 AM; saw Paul Maynor, John and Roy and Bryant Kidd, and Benny Williams at shaft; Vass gave the news of dead man; went after others and went with them to Willis Branch.

ROY KIDD - Home at Weirwood; on visit from Norfolk on night of the shooting; not out of house after 8:00 o'clock; sleeping with Bryant Kidd; went too shaft after shooting; returned home without knowing what man was who had been killed.

J.S. HAYDEN - Weirwood tracklayer since February; lives next house Chas. Brown who called him and went to his house while shooting was going on; Brown not sober.

WALTER ROMINE - Young Cirtsville merchant at Weirwood 1:00 PM saw Henry Lafferty at school house and talked about delivery of goods; filled union striker orders; about 48 on list.

HENRY WILLIAMS - Weirwood motor runner working until 12 o'clock night of shooting; never left house; went to Willis Branch 8 AM next morning; no information as to who killed Lafferty; saw 100 shells behind rock pile near school house.

SEYMOUR DAVIS - Farmer at Willis Branch; lived 250 yards from where Lafferty was killed; heard shooting, looked out; saw Lafferty dead about 7:00 AM; his house struck by 8 or 10 bullets.