Scarlett To Stand Trial For Rioting

Strike Leader Committed by Magistrate Martin After Hearing Here Saturday.

On charges arising out of the riot between strikers and police in Estevan on Sept. 29, Sam Scarlett, alleged agitator, was committed for trial when he appeared in the courthouse here on Saturday before Magistrate J. C. Martic, K.C., of Weyburn.
Scarlett was arrested by R.C.M.P. Thursday night on the farm of Charles Pavo, a Finn, near Birsay, Sask. He is said to have been traced by a letter addressed to Pavo, which was posted in Lethbridge, Alta. and was reported to have been written by Mrs. Jas. Sloan, wife of the president of the Mine Workers' Union of Canada, who is also wanted on a charge of inciting to riot. The third man wanted on a similar count arising from the riot is Martin J. Forking, who is reported to be in hiding in Winnipeg. Scarlett, Sloan, and Forkin left Bienfait by motor car on the evening following the melee, in which three men suffered fatal injuries and a score were wounded.

19 Committed A total of 19 men have been committed to stand trial at the next sittings of King's Bench court here in March, as a result of the riot. THey are: Sam Scarlett, John Kalemkas, Alex Petryk, John Grycluk, R. W. Dixon, Metro Uhryan, Joe Liptak, Andy Livie, Mike Polkoniuk, Martin Day, Peter Smars, Joe Barnatos, Isadore Minster, Dave Rowsen, Jas. McLean, Wm> Cunnah, and Mike Paulovitch.
The total was raised to 19 on Monday when Louis Revay and Mike Kyatik, who had been inmates of Estevan Hospital since the riot, were brought before Magistrate Martin. They were released on bail of $3,000 each, advancing their own bonds of $1,500 and two sureties of $7.50 each.
W. H. Morrison conducted the case against Scarlett, who was represented by J. H. McFadden. Both town and R.C.M police had taken part in the investigation, and the prisoner was brought to Estevan Friday night by Staff Sergeant Mortimer, R.C>M.P.
The crown's inital attempt to link Scarlett with the riot was the evidence of A.B. Stuart, town clerk, who testified that the accused had appeared before the Estevan town council at a special meeting on Sept. 14, at which he had represented 15 strikers from International Clay Products, Ltd. he had been delegated by Jos. Forkin to appear in protest against the strikers being suspended from the town's relief list. Mr. Stuart also produced the minutes of another special meeting at which the council had instructed him to notify the strike leaders that no parade would be allowed on Sept. 29. He had done so.

Was In Restraunt Jos. Kraft, proprietor of the Princess Cafe, stated that Scarlett had been in his restaurant having a cup of coffee while the riot was in progress. He had told the accused that the fight was on, advising him to try and stop it as men were being injured. Scarlett, he said, had replied that there were other leaders with the men and his presence was not necessary.
Geo. Macready had seen Scarlett walking along Fourth St. while the riot was on. He had turned off the sidwalk and across the vacant lot between the Grange Bakery and the Employment Office.
A conversation between Scarlett and Thos. McLean on Sept. 29 was related by the latter to the court. McLean had been standing on the corner of Third St. and 11th Ave. watching the fight, when Scarlett had come along and said "Hello, what's going on here?" McLean had relied, "You know.... .... well what's going on. You started it." "Are they shooting?" Scarlett had asked. When told that they were, Scarlett had said "If I had a gun, I'd be shooting too."
A sensation was caused in the court as McLean uttered the last sentence. Scarlett, who was following the proceedings closely, called out, "You're a liar!" He was told to keep quiet by Magistrate Martin.
Jod. Stovin, the next witness, told of the struggle between strikers and police, and he saw it through his office window. THe mob had thrown rocks and pieces of iron at the officers and at the firemen who attempted to play a stream of water on them. One striker, he declared, had picked up an axe in his backyard and had started to chase a fireman with it, but dropped when struck by a bullet from the gun of one of the policemen.
Strong objection was taken by J.H. McFadden, Scarlett's counsel, to the evidence introduced by the crown. None of it, he contended, had any bearing on the charge against the accused. Magistrate Martin noted the objection, and then adjourned the hearing for the lunch hour.

Issues Statement From his cell a few minutes later Scarlett issued a statement to the press in which he vigorously criticized Premier Anderson and the suggestion that the miners sever their connection with the Mine Workers' Union and link up with another trade organization. He said "Dr. Anderson was conspicuous by his absence while the strike situation was developing. The kind of union he suggests to the miners in place of their affiliation with the Mine Workers' Union is like a meal tiket found on the sidewalk with all the nourishment punched out of it."
When the hearing was resumed, the Crown asked leave to introduce further evidence, and the request was granted. Horace J. Patterson, employee of Crescent Collieries, Ltd., and a member of the miners' union, testified that he had seen Scarlett riding in the strikers' parade to Estevan on Sept. 29. The accused had been seated in a car driven by Wm. Cunnah, fourth in the procession. On reaching Estevan the car had turned north off Fourth St. before reaching the cordon of police which had stretched across the road.
Wm. O'Handley had seen Cunnah stop his car on Fourth St. near the Mitchell Grocery store, and the occupants had joined a group of men who had jumped off one of the trucks in the procession, and were running down the street. John Eberharde, special R.C.M.P. constable, reported statements made by Scarlett at an open air meeting in Bienfait, at which speeches had also been given by Jos. Forkin, Jas. Sloan, Isadore Minster, and Anna Buller.

Pleads Not Guilty Asked if he had anything to say in his own hefalf, Scarlett merely replied to the court, "I know of no reason why I should be a defendant here todya." Further claim was made by his counsel that the evidence produced had in no way substantiated the charge against the accused. Magistrate Martin then committed the accused for trial.