Hellraisers Journal: Widows of Union Men Massacred at Bogalusa Demand Justice; Murderers Have Not Been Arrested

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Quote Messenger p2 editorial, Bogalusa Massacre, Feb 1920———-

Hellraisers Journal – Tuesday October 5, 1920
Bogalusa, Louisiana – Widows of Four Murdered Trade Unionists Demand Justice

From the Duluth Labor World of October 2, 1920:

WIDOWS OF FOUR DEAD UNION MEN
DEMAND JUSTICE
——-
Murderers of Timber Workers, Although Known,
Have Not Been Arrested.
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Bogalusa Massacre, NYT p1, Nov 23, 1919
The New York Times
November 23, 1919

BOGALUSA, La., Sept. 30.-Widows of four trade unionists who were murdered by a mob last November have asked Governor Parker to order the state attorney general to prosecute the murderers.

The petition states that the men were slain “without just cause or excuse by employes of the Great Southern Lumber company,” and that two grand juries have considered the killings without taking action, and that the district attorney has admitted under oath that he did not summon a state witness but did summon witnesses for the defendants, including the defendants themselves.

The murders, were the [result?] of attempts by the lumber company to destroy trade unionism. After failing to divide the workers on racial lines a lynching party started for the home of an estimable negro [Sol Dacus] who was influential among his fellows. The negro hid in the swamps and escaped. The mob then came to the headquarters of the trade unionists and demanded the negro. They were told that the man was not there, and they were invited to search the building. The lynchers replied with a volley from shotguns and revolvers, killing several workers .

[Note: four trade unionists were murdered by the mob: L. E. (Lum) Williams, President of Bogalusa Trades Council, and Carpenters Thomas Gaines, J. P. Bouchillon, and S. J. (Stanley) O’Rourke.]

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Hellraisers Journal: Mine Workers of District 5 Honor Martyrs Sellins and Starzeleski with Beautiful Monument

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Quote M. Robbins, for Fannie Sellins, Wkrs Wld p4, Nov 28, 1919———-

Hellraisers Journal – Friday October 1, 1920
New Kensington, Pennsylvania – Monument Erected for Mine Workers’ Martyrs

From the United Mine Workers Journal of October 1, 1920:

Monument for Martyrs Sellins n Starzeleski, UMWJ p9, Oct 1, 1920
A beautiful monument was unveiled in memory of the late Fannie Sellins and Joe Starzeleski at their graves in Union Cemetery, New Kensington , Pa., Sunday, September 12, 1920.

Sellins n Starzeleski Monument, UMWJ p9, Oct 1, 1920

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