HERRIN MASSACRE

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 172, 9 April 1923, Page 7

HERRIN MASSACRE

SIX MINERS ACQUITTED

IMPOSSIBLE TO GET CONVICTIONS

BY TELEGRAPH.—PBEBS ASSOCIATION. —OOPYBIGHT. (Rec. April 3, 5-5 p.m.) New York, April 7.

At Marion, Illinois, the jury acquitted six miners charged with participation in the Herrin massacre'. Some of the defendants were also acquitted at the first trial.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

(Rec. April 8, 11.5 p.m.) New York, April 7.

A telegram from Marion, Illinois, says that with the acquittal at the second trial of men involved in the Herrin massacre, an unprecedented situation in American legal justice occurred, when Judge Hartwell, upon the request of the prosecuting attorney, dismissed the charges of murder and conspiracy against 76 other persons involved in the tragic occurrence.

The district attorney, in a statement, said the county had been put to tremendous expense already, “and although we have done our utmost to piove to the two juries that these men were murderers, and responsible for the riots, we failed. lam convinced that it will be impossible to get convictions, in this county, regardless of the evidence.”

The prosecution also declared that there were evidences of intimidation, prejudice, and downright dishonesty. Justice cannot be obtained even in the first two cases, where the strongest proof had been amassed in indictments charging larceny in connection with the rioting at Herrin. The prosecution may later attempt to obtain a conviction on these charges, though success is considered unlikely—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn.