Tag: Centralia WA

Hellraisers Journal: From The Butte Daily Bulletin: “Seven of Centralia Defendants Found Guilty in Second Degree”

Janet RayeHellraisers Journal
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Quote Wesley Everest, Died for my class. Chaplin Part 15———-

Hellraisers Journal – Tuesday March 16, 1920
Montesano, Washington – Seven Centralia I. W. W. Defendants Found Guilty

From The Butte Daily Bulletin of March 15, 1920:

BDB, in Interest of WC, p1, Mar 15, 1920IWW Centralia Trial, Seven Found Guilty, BDB p1, Mar 15, 1920

(Special to the Bulletin.)

Montesano, Wash., March 15.-Ignoring Judge Wilson’s instructions that their verdict must be either acquittal or first degree murder, the jurors in the trials of the 10 I. W. W. charged with killing Warren O. Grimm during the rioting which resulted from the attack of a group of legionnaire paraders on the I. W. W. hall at Centralia last Armistice day, late Saturday night brought in verdicts of acquittal for Elmer Smith, Mike Sheehan and Loren Roberts and second degree murder in the cases of Britt Smith, Ray Becker, James McInerney, Bert Bland, Eugene Barnett, John Lamb and O. C. Bland. Robert’s acquittal was based on the grounds of insanity.

Centralia Trial, IWW Defendants Names, Spk Chc p1, Feb 7, 1920

The verdict was the second returned by the jury in the case, the jurors having come in earlier in the evening with the announcement that they had found McInerney, Becker, O. C. Bland and Bert Bland and Britt Smith guilty of second degree murder, and Eugene Barnett and John Lamb guilty of third degree murder. On this occasion Judge Wilson refused to accept the verdict and ordered them to return and deliberate in accordance with his instructions, holding that a verdict of third degree murder was not permissable under his instructions.

Immediately after the last verdict was read to the prisoners and the court, Sheriff John Berry of Lewis county immediately rearrested all of them on charges of having murdered Arthur McElfresh, who also was killed during the Armistice day rioting.

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Hellraisers Journal: Centralia Trial: Defense Proves IWW Was Attacked Before First Shot Fired, Grimm Lead the Assault

Janet RayeHellraisers Journal
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Quote Wesley Everest, Died for my class. Chaplin Part 15———-

Hellraisers Journal – Saturday March 6, 1920
Montesano, Washington – Witness Swears Grimm Led Attack on I. W. W. Hall

From The Butte Daily Bulletin of March 1, 1920:

Centralia Trial, re Attack on IWW Hall, BDB p1, Mar 1, 1920

Witness Swears Grimm Leading Attack
on Workers When Killed
———-

Centralia Trial, IWW Defendants, Spk Chc p1, Feb 7, 1920

Labor Jury Recommends Demand by Workers for
Removal of Soldiers From Montesano.
—–

(Special to the Bulletin.)

Montesano, March 1.-In a telegram sent late Saturday to the labor councils of Seattle, Tacoma, Everett, Centralia and Portland, and also to the metal trades councils of Seattle and Portland, the labor jury attending the trial here has recommended that the withdrawal of regular troops from Montesano be demanded of the governor. The telegram sent out by the labor representatives follows:

“We, the labor committe, request you to demand of Governor Hart the withdrawal of the troops. They are not needed. They are here to an atmosphere.”

Members of the labor jury based their action on the refusal by Prosecutor Allen of Lewis county, who called for the troops, to reveal the information he claimed to have as a justification for calling the troops.

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Hellraisers Journal: From The Butte Daily Bulletin: “Vanderveer Proves Centralia IWW Killed Grimm in Self Defense”

Janet RayeHellraisers Journal
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Quote Wesley Everest, Died for my class. Chaplin Part 15———-

Hellraisers Journal – Sunday February 29, 1920
Montesano, Washington – Centralia I. W. W. Defended by Attorney Vanderveer

From The Butte Daily Bulletin of February 28, 1920:

Centralia Trial, HdLn Vanderveer for Defense, BDB p1, Feb 28, 1920

LEGIONAIRES ATTACKED HALL
—–
Witness Testifies Paraders Broke Ranks and
Smashed Windows Before a Shot Was Fired.
—–

(Special United Press Wire.)

Centralia Trial, IWW Defendants, Spk Chc p1, Feb 7, 1920

Montesano, Feb. 28.-Forrest Cameron, 19, witness in the Centralia trial, today testified the soldiers and paraders broke ranks and started toward the Centralia I. W. W. hall before there was any shooting. Several witnesses told of the movement toward the hall, but more were uncertain whether it preceded or followed the shooting from the hall.

“I heard the crash of glass and saw them breaking in the door,” Cameron said. “After a short interval shooting followed.”

Mrs. Mary Sherman testified she saw the soldiers make a break for the hall, but did not know whether the shooting was before or after they smashed the door.

During cross-examination by Prosecutor Abel, Mrs. Sherman admitted she did not think the defendants were guilty.

—–

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Hellraisers Journal: “Murder at Centralia” by Fellow Worker J. T. “Red” Doran for The Liberator, Lumber Barons Exposed

Janet RayeHellraisers Journal
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Quote Wesley Everest, Died for my class. Chaplin Part 15———-

Hellraisers Journal – Tuesday February 3, 1920
Centralia, Washington – Lumber Barons Plot Murder, Never Charged

From the New York Liberator of February 1920:

Murder in Centralia

By J. T. Doran of the I. W. W.

ON Armistice Day, Nov. 11, 1919, a mob broke into the I. W. W. hall at Centralia, Washington, and five of them were killed. The attackers came from a passing parade of ex-service men. The same day an ex-serviceman, Wesley Everetts [Everest] by name, was seized by a mob, dragged through the streets and lynched.

Truth ab Centralia n Lumber Baron by Maurice Becker, Liberator p17, Feb 1920
The Truth About Centralia by Maurice Becker
—–

The lynchers of Wesley Everetts are known. They have not been indicted. They will never be tried for their crime. That is because Wesley Everetts was a member of the I. W. W.

But ten members of the I. W. W. (including five ex-servicemen) have been arrested and charged with conspiring to fire upon and kill the men in the parade as it passed their hall; they are charged with having plotted and planned to do this thing for two weeks in advance of the act; they are charged with doing this as an attack upon the Government. They are going to be tried for murder.

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Hellraisers Journal: Centralia IWW Defendants Forced to Stand Trial in Montesano Where Lynching Is Threatened

Janet RayeHellraisers Journal
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Quote Wesley Everest, Died for my class. Chaplin Part 15———-

Hellraisers Journal – Tuesday January 27, 1920
Montesano, Washington – Centralia I. W. W. Defendants Threatened

From The Butte Daily Bulletin of January 26, 1920:

Centralia, Montesano Trial Armed Camp BDB p1, Jan 26, 1920———-

CENTRALIA I. W W. FORCED TO TRIAL IN TOWN
WHERE LYNCHING IS THREATENED
—–

(Special United Press Wire.)

Montesano, Wash, Jan. 26.-An attempt by George Vanderveer, chief counsel for the defense, to introduce articles and editorials printed in a Gray’s Harbor newspaper during November and December, as the basis of his request for a change of venue for the I. W. W. defendants accused of the Centralia Armistice day killings, met defeat when the trial began this morning. Judge Wilson ruled that only new matter arising since his previous ruling denying a change of venue can be considered now.

The accused were freshly shaven when they entered the courtroom this morning. For the most part their faces were expressionless.

Montesano, lying in a valley between wooded hills, doesn’t seem unduly excited. There is, however, a rather grim determination to mete out “justice” apparent in the faces of the citizens who thronged the corridors of the courthouse.

Elaborate precautions have been taken by the authorities to prevent any trouble during the trial. Twenty-four deputy sheriffs are constantly patrolling the streets. Sheriff Barten announced he had deputized 100 members of the American Legion at Centralia, 300 at Hoquiam and 100 at Elma, who will be called if trouble arises.

The hundreds of witnesses who will be called during the trial will be fed in a huge dining room established at the city hall.

The defense’s application for a change of venue was denied by Judge Wilson at the end of the morning session. The court held that the showing of the defense was insufficient to cause the trial to be shifted from Montesano and that the law does not permit a second change of venue in a case of this kind.

All doubt that self-defense will be the keynote of the defense was swept away by Attorney Vanderveer in his argument on a motion for a change of venue.

[He declared:]

That the legionaires attacked the I. W. W. hall will not even be disputed before we finish this trial. Even from the prosecution’s own witnesses we will prove the attack was made before a shot was fired.

—–

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Hellraisers Journal: Anna Louise Strong on Seizure of the Seattle Union Record and Arrests of Ault, Strong, Rust, and Listman

Janet RayeHellraisers Journal
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Quote Anna Louise Strong, NO ONE KNOWS WHERE, SUR p1, Feb 4, 1919———-

Hellraisers Journal – Monday December 15, 1919
Seattle, Washington – Union Record Editor and Staff Arrested

From The Nation of December 13, 1919:

A Newspaper Confiscated—And Returned

By ANNA LOUISE STRONG

[Part II of II.]

SUR Seizure, Red Rags to Die, Spk Rv p3, Nov 15, 1919
Spokane Spokesman-Review
November 15, 1919

Meantime [as more facts came to light concerning the Centralia outrage] The Record had been seized. Two hours before the seizure the other competing newspapers knew of it, and proclaimed it on the streets. Reporters, camera men, and moving-picture men accompanied the deputies. The editor, and the president and secretary of the board of trustees, were arrested and later released on bail. The employees were cleared out of the building which was then searched. Much material was carted away. The seizure occurred while the presses were turning out the regular home edition, and their work was stopped. The staff was told, rather vaguely, that the place was closed. Later in the evening the proprietors again obtained possession of the plant, with the assurance that there was no intention of holding it. However, on the following day, when the main edition was on the press, the marshal again arrived, stated that the plant was indefinitely closed, and gave the employees half an hour to clear out. The first act of one of the deputies was to take down the telephone, call up a competing newspaper, and announce “We’ve shut her down tight.”

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Hellraisers Journal: Anna Louise Strong on Seizure and Return of the Seattle Union Record Following the Centralia Outrage

Janet RayeHellraisers Journal
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Quote Anna Louise Strong, NO ONE KNOWS WHERE, SUR p1, Feb 4, 1919———-

Hellraisers Journal – Sunday December 14, 1919
Seattle, Washington – Union Record, Confiscated and Returned

From The Nation of December 13, 1919:

A Newspaper Confiscated—And Returned

By ANNA LOUISE STRONG

[Part I of II.]

SEATTLE has a way of making labor history. The third week in November saw not only the confiscation and later the return of the property of The Seattle Union Record, the mouthpiece of organized labor in that city, but produced as by-products several actions new in the history of unionism. The newspaper’s plant was seized without warning by the United States Attorney, held throughout a week’s time through various court delays, and at last returned on order of the court, which stated that it was illegally held. The mailing of the paper was held up for over a week by the local postmaster on the ground that he was “in doubt” concerning its mailability.

SUR Seizure, Stt Str p1, Nov 13, 1919
The Seattle Star of November 13, 1919

Meantime, the labor movement of the city, which was obviously expected by the authorities to indicate its anger in some storm or upheaval, remained calm and self-controlled, and began voting a day’s pay per member for “a bigger, better Union Record.” Several unions displayed spontaneously the extent to which solidarity of feeling has transcended in Seattle the actual craft lines of organization. The union teamsters, sent to The Union Record office to haul away the confiscated files, records, and papers, obstinately refused to handle them until the marshal appealed to the secretary of The Union Record’s board of control, whom he had just arrested. Mr. Rust then went out and told the teamsters “It’s all right, boys; go ahead.” And they went ahead.

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Hellraisers Journal: Big Bill Haywood for The New Solidarity on the Lynching of Wesley Everest at Centralia, Washington

Janet RayeHellraisers Journal
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Quote Wesley Everest, Died for my class. Chaplin Part 15———-

Hellraisers Journal – Thursday November 27, 1919
William D. Haywood on Lynching of Wesley Everest at Centralia, Washington

From The New Solidarity of November 25, 1919:

HdLn Tragedy in Centralia, New Sol Extra p1, Nov 25, 1919

Hanging W. Everest, Nw Sol p1, Nov 25, 1919
[Lynching of Wesley Everest by Maurice Becker]

———-

WILL YOU HELP NOW?
[-by William D. Haywood]

Hanging W. Everest, crpd, Nw Sol p1, Nov 25, 1919

Another member of the Industrial Workers of the World has been murdered. Wesley Everest was lynched at Centralia, Washington [Armistice Day, November 11th]. He was hung to a bridge, the body riddle with bullets. The corpse was afterwards cut down and by the murderers dragged back to the jail and thrown in among the many fellow workers who had been imprisoned after the [illegal] raid on the I. W. W. hall. Four of them under an armed guard were escorted with the body of their dead fellow worker out into a yard where they were compelled to dig a grave and bury the dead.

Fellow Worker Everest, the murdered man, was an overseas veteran. He fought for the United States of America against the Imperial German government. When he returned from the war he took up his membership in the Industrial Workers of the World, beginning again the battle against the lumber trusts of the Northwest.

When the I. W. W. hall was raided several of the aggressors were killed, but this in no way justified the un-American, unlawful, inhuman murder of their comrade who had fought with them in the trenches of Flanders.

The Centralia outrage was followed by many others all over the country. Halls were raided, furniture destroyed, literature confiscated, and it is reported that over a thousand men have been arrested,-that is, thrown into prison without warrant, and denied the privilege of seeing friends or lawyers.

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Hellraisers Journal: From The Industrial Union Bulletin: J. H. Walsh, “I.W.W. ‘Red Special’ Overall Brigade, On Its Way”

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The morning is bright and all
are sleeping on the jungle grass,
with our arms for pillows,
and coats for covers.
-J. H. Walsh
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hellraisers Journal, Tuesday September 22, 1908
Adventures of the Overall Brigade Enroute to Chicago

From The Industrial Union Bulletin of September 19, 1908:

IWW, Overalls Brigade HdLn, IUB, Sept 19, 1908

[J. H. Walsh on the I.W.W’s Red Special, Part I of II.]

IWW Songs, Union Emblem by Hughes, IUB Sept 19, 1908

In my last article to the Bulletin, I concluded just as we were ready to get to the railroad yards, to take our “Special” en route to Chicago.

Well, we’re in the yards, gathered together at the water tank. In order to know if all are present, we have numbered ourselves. The numbers run from one to nineteen, Mrs. Walsh making twenty. A switchman is seen and he informs us where our “Special car” will be found. The train is late however, and we are delayed a few hours. “Fly Cops” are pretty busy in the yards. They are watching their master’s property that some hobo may not break a sacred seal and pile into a car where valuable merchandise is stored.

Two blasts of the locomotive whistle are heard and the train is starting on it’s journey, and simultaneously nineteen men, all dressed in black overalls and jumpers, black shirts and red ties, with an I. W. W. book in his pocket and an I.W. W. button on his coat, are in a “cattle car” and on our way.

In a short time a glim (lantern) appears and the breakman jumps into the car. His unionism is skin-deep. He belongs to the B. of R. T., but never heard of the class struggle. He is unsuccessful, however, in the collecting of fares, and we continue are journey.

Our first stop, where we expect to hold a meeting is Centralia, and when about half way there, “our car” is set out. There is only one now left in the train to ride on. It is an oil car, so nineteen men will be found “riding” on that car as soon as the train starts. Being delayed for a few hours again, while the train is being transferred across the ferry, we are hovered around the first campfire toward the wee sma’ hours of morning. At last two short blasts of the whistle are heard, and all are aboard. It is only a short distance to our destination and the train is whirling along at passenger speed. The morning is turning cold and spitting a little rain, but all are determined to stick to the car, when again, appears the brakeman and tells us we cannot ride since daylight has come, but he is informed that we must get to Centralia. He insists we’ll get off at the next stop, but we fail to get off, and in a few minutes we arrive at our first stop.

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