John K. Turner did history a service in compiling this list, surely an under-count, of over 200 workers murdered by gunmen employed by bosses in just the few years before World War One. The list does not include those killed by the police and military. Turner names our dead and briefly describes the time, place, and circumstance. Crucially, he names their killers as well.

‘Victims of Gunmen’ by John Kenneth Turner from Appeal to Reason (Girard). No. 979. September 5, 1914.

Following is a list of working people murdered by private gunmen in labor troubles from 1910 to July, 1914:

1914.

Colorado.

Gus Marcus, striking coal miner. Jan. 15. died from exposure in dungeon to which he was subjected by gunmen militia.

Jack Hill, striking co miner March, shot and killed at Oak Creek by A.H. Pause and A.D. Perkins, Baldwin-Felts gunmen.

Ludlow Victims, 26 in All, April 20.

Louis Tikas, international organizer United Mine Workers of America beaten on head with gun and then shot, after capture, by Lieut. K.E. Linderfelt, gunman militia.

James Fyler, secretary Ludlow local, U.M.W.A. Executed after capture by gunmen militia under Hamcek and Linderfelt.

Charles Costa, striking miner. Shot and killed by gunmen militia and gunmen mine guards.

Frank Rubino, striking miner. Shot and killed by gunmen militia and gunmen mine guards.

Charles Thomas, striking miner. Shot and killed by gunmen militia and gunmen mine guards.

John Bartolito, striking miner. Shot and killed by gunmen militia and gunmen mine guards.

Premo Larsie, striking miner. Shot and killed by gunmen militia and gunmen mine guards.

William Snyder, 11-year-old, son of striking miner. Shot and killed by gunmen militia and gunmen mine guards.

Mrs. Charles Costa, her six-year-old son, Onafrio Costa, and her four-year- old daughter, Luey Costa: Mrs. S. Chavez and four children; Mrs. Pedro Valdez and four children: Joe Petrucci, four years old; Lucy Petrucci, three years old: Frank Petrucci, six months old: Robedie Pedrion, six years old, Clodevello Pedrion, four years old-All wives and children of striking miners–bodies burned after being suffocated or shot by gunmen militia under Hamrock and Linderfelt.

Frank Angelo, striking miner. April 28, shot and killed near Walsenburg by Baldwin-Felts mine guards.

Mike Linzini, striking coal miner. April 28, killed by machine gun in streets of Walsenburg; Baldwin-Felts militia.

George Bock. April 28, killed streets of Walsenburg by machine gun in hands of Baldwin-Felts militia.

Henry Ford. April 29, killed near Walsenburg by machine gun in the hands of mine guard militia.

Italian, name unknown. involuntary scab. January, shot and killed by gunmen militia while trying to escape from Berwind mine.

Grace Grant, negro working girl, March 27, stabbed to death by Earl Williams, member of gunmen militia; Walsenburg.

John Johson, involuntary scab. March 28, shot and killed by gunmen militia while trying to escape from Hastings mine.

William Young, involuntary scab. March 28, shot and killed by gunmen militia while trying to escape from Hastings mine.

New York.

Stanislaus Skonoski March 23, shot and killed by company guard at Lancaster during Gould Coupler Co. strike; the victim a striker.

Charles Madekes, striking pipe maker July 8, shot and killed on New York City street by Vincenzo Militello, gunman in employ of S. M. Frank & Co.

West Virginia.

James Smith, striking coal miner. February 13, shot and killed by Harry Lucas, gunman special deputy, at Colliers; employed by West Virginia and Pittsburg Coal Co.

1913.

California.

Nels Nelson, hop picker-September, driven to suicide in Yuba county jail by third degree administered by W.J Burns detectives.

Colorado.

Gerald Lippiatt, international organizer U.M.W.A. August 16, shot and killed on streets of Trinidad by G.W. Belcher and Walter Belk of Baldwin-Felts Detective agency.

Mack Powell, striking coal miner. October 9, shot and killed by gang of Baldwin-Felts gunmen in attack of latter on Ludlow teat colony.

Luka Vahernik, striking coal miner October 17, killed by machine gun in attack of army of Baldwin-Felts gunmen on Forbes tent colony.

Kris Kokich, Cisto Cerci, and Andrew Adwin, striking coal miners. October 24, shot and killed in “Seventh Street Massacre.” Walsenburg, by J.C. Russell, R.L. McGuffin and other Baldwin-Felts gunmen.

Pedro Armijo, scab. November 6, shot and killed from ambush by Baldwin-Felts gunmen: bullet supposedly intended for strikers.

Involuntary scab, name unknown. December, shot and killed while trying to escape from Delagua mine; Baldwin-Felts mine guards.

Illinois.

George Cameron, business agent of Painters Union, Chicago. September 20, shot and killed by private assassin during labor troubles.

Indiana.

John Brogan, striking carman, Indianapolis. November, shot and killed by James Gorman, traction company gunman.

Tom Carleton, union chauffeur and sympathizer of striking carmen. November, shot and killed on street of Indianapolis by Charles Fisher, traction company gunman.

John Doe Fisher, scab. November, shot and killed by traction company gunman while trying to escape from car barn.

J.H. Mason, striking teamster, and Claude Lewis, bystander. December 2, shot and killed on streets of Indianapolis by gang of guerrilla fighters employed by the City Ice and Coal Co.

Massachusetts.

Joseph H. Harris, striking shoe worker January 19, shot and killed by Charies A. Eaton, gunman employed by Dobbins & Wetherill Co., Haverhill.

Emile Bacchio, striker, Hopedale. April, shot in back and killed while on picket duty at Draper manufacturing plant: gunmen furnished by O’Brien’s Detective agency.

Michigan.

Alex Tijan and Steve Putrict, striking copper miners. August 15, shot and killed in boarding house at Painesdale, by John Raleigh, Arthur Davis, John Groff and James Cooper, Waddell & Mahon gunmen employed by the sheriff of Houghton county.

Joseph Minerich, striking copper miner October 8, shot and killed on public road by James Pollock, gunman special deputy; near Huronton.

Harry Jane, Thomas Daly and Arthur Jane, copper miners. December, shot and killed in their beds by Harry L. Nellis, William Grimes. P. K. Kelly and William Malven, Waddell & Mahon gunmen.

Seventy-three persons, 12 women and 61 children, wives and children of striking copper miners December 24, trampled or crashed in hall at Red Jacket; Waddell & Mahon gunmen caused panic by crying “Fire!” then barred door and beat women and children back, and thus were responsible for “Christmas tragedy.”

New Jersey.

Modestino Valentino. April 17, shot and killed by Joseph Cullerton, gunman furnished by O’Brien’s Detective agency; Paterson silk strike.

Vincenzo Madona June 30, shot and killed by Ferdinando De Napoli, scab gunman; Paterson silk strike.

Joseph Provinzan and Casper Provinzan, Newark coal passers. August 10, assassinated by gunmen employed by corporation during labor trouble.

New York.

Abraham Steinberg, secretary Cloakmakers and Buttonhole Makers union, New York City January 7. Shot and killed by Harry Wagner, private gunman employed by corporation.

Elizabeth Berman, striking garment worker. February 5, shot and killed by Valentine Sauter, corporation gunman, in fusillade upon strikers, in Rochester.

Rafael LaPiano, striking laborer April 14, shot and killed at Mamaroneck by gunmen furnished by Herald Square Detective agency.

Ohio.

Sartah Saprorian, striking rubber worker, Akron February 19, shot and killed by assassin supposedly in employ of rubber trust.

George Griffith, sympathizer with striking tin workers, Steubenville. July 22, shot dead by Harry O’Donnell, private gunman, in attack on strikers.

Pennsylvania.

George Kelsey, bystander. January 28, shot and killed by gunmen employed by American Steel & Wire Co., during strike at Pittsburg: many wounded.

Radi Elowitch, striking miner. October 8, shot and killed by gunmen special deputies at Cheswick.

Abraham Kaplan, striking cloakmaker, Philadelphia. October 23, shot and killed by Tony Cartesse, gunman employed by Cantor Brothers Cloak Co. Washington.

Name unknown, I.W.W. organizer. July 7, stoned to death by strikebreakers in railroad laborers’ strike at Wilson Creek; Great Northern Railway Co.

West Virginia.

F.F. Estep, striking coal miner. February 7, killed by machine gun on “Bull Moose Special” train, operated by Baldwin-Felts gunmen, in night attack upon Holly Grove tent colony.

James Hendrix, striking coal miner. February 10, shot and killed in battle with Baldwin-Felts private army, near Ronda.

John Miller, striking coal miner March 25, shot and killed by L.J. Michael, Baldwin-Felts mine guard, at Eskdale: Michael fired from train into crowd of strikers.

Name unknown, striking coal miner. April 30, shot and killed by Baldwin-Felts gunmen at Dry Branck, Cabin Creek.

Lee Woodrum and Name unknown, striking coal miners. July 24, shot and killed by Baldwin-Felts gunmen at Wake Forest, Cabin Creek district.

1912.

Illinois.

Frank Witt, union conductor and sympathizer of newspaper strikers, Chicago July 17, shot and killed on street by Barrett brothers, ex-convict thugs furnished by W.J. Burns International Detective Agency.

George Hehr, teamster. August 8, shot and killed by Arthur Friedman, newspaper gunman furnished by W.J. Burns to fight newspaper strikers; murderer killed Hehr being too slow in getting out of way of scab circulation wagon.

Louisiana.

Uriah Martin, striking lumber worker. July 7, shot and killed at Grabow by lumber trust gunmen; many others wounded.

Del Sharlon. September 25, shot and killed by lumber trust gunmen, Paul MeMillan, Ike Meadows and Jim Brown, employed to break strike of lumber workers.

L.B. Smith, organizer of Brotherhood of Timber Workers. October 4, shot and killed at Lake Charles by gunmen special deputies.

Massachusetts.

Anna LaPizza, striking textile worker. January 29, shot and killed by cop or private gunman: Lawrence strike.

Carnelo Mflaz, striking textile worker, Lawrence February 26, shot dead by special policeman.

John Smalsky, striking textile worker. Lawrence October 18. slugged and died; thugs organized as “vigilantes.”

Francisco Cirillo, striking rubber worker, East Watertown. November 8, shot and killed by Vincenze Ristage and three other gunmen in employ of Hood Rubber Co.

Nevada.

George Pappas, organizer of Western Federation of Miners. Shot and killed by Waddell & Mahon gunmen at McGill during strike.

Names unknown of two striking copper miners October 17, shot and killed by Waddell & Mahon gunmen in employ of Nevada Consolidated Copper Co., at McGill.

New Jersey.

Stephen Dudock, striking smelter worker, and Steve Prehudy, workman. June 14, shot dead at Perth Amboy, when Waddell & Mahon gunmen fired from American Smelting & Refining Co. smelter upon crowd; many wounded.

John Urban, striker June 25, shot dead by Waddell & Mahon thugs during Perth Amboy strike.

New York.

Steve Sevitch, striking cable worker. June 24, shot by gunmen furnished by Dougherty Detective agency and in employ of National Conduit & Cable Works at Hastings: others wounded.

Mrs. Joseph Maresks, wife of striking cable worker. Hastings June 29, shot and killed by gunman special deputy, in employ of National Conduit & Cable Works.

West Virginia.

Domino Pedro and name unknown, striking coal miners June 3, shot and killed by Baldwin-Felts mine guards in fighting at Mucklow, Cabin Creek.

Name unknown, striking coal miner July 10, shot and killed on Paint Creek by Baldwin-Felts mine guards.

James Devine and Mike Clancy, striking bartenders, Clarksburg. August 16, shot and killed by Joseph Devona, gunman in employ of liquor men.

Utah.

Name unknown, striking copper miner, Bingham Canyon November, shot and killed by Waddell & Mahon gunmen.

1911.

Illinois.

Rush V. Dennon, union printer, Chicago January 16, slugged and killed by corporation thug.

William Gentleman. June, shot and killed in war of Chicago newspapers upon organized labor.

Morgan H. Bell, union steam-fitter. Died after assault by Ed. Stargend and A.O. O’Conner, Chicago newspaper sluggers.

George Lewis, special strike agent Illinois Central shopmen. December 9, shot and killed by James E. Bacon, gunman special deputy in employ of Illinois Central.

Mississippi.

E.H. Montgomery, Illinois Central striker, McCombs City. October 3, killed by brick thrown by railroad thug.

Lem Haley, striking shopman, McCombs City. October 4, shot and killed by Illinois Central gunman; others wounded.

Carl Caxton and Truly Curtis, striking shopmen, McCombs City October 4, shot by Illinois Central gunmen; both died as a result of wounds.

John Tardy, striking shopman. McCombs City. October 5. shot and killed by gunmen in employ of Illinois Central railroad.

New York.

Name unknown, workingman, Sands Point. July 14, shot and killed by Hiram Eaton, private deputy, as a result of trouble with golf club workmen.

Ohio.

Ida Abrams, striking garment worker, Cleveland August 5, shot dead by Abe Porris, employers gunman, wounded others.

Helen Kelly, 10 years old. August 12, shot on streets of Columbus when Geo. W. Leary, leader of R.J. Coach strike-breakers, fired into crowd during street car strike: died later.

Bessie McIntosh, actress August 18, shot in forehead and died when R. J. Coach gunmen were firing promiscuously through streets of Columbus during carmen’s strike.

Pennsylvania.

Dominick Marko, striking coal miner March 3, shot dead at Pottsville by “Crits,” a gunman in the employ of the Reading Coal Co.; three others wounded.

Antonio Peteronowski, striking mechanic, Baldwin Locomotive Co., Philadelphia. June 29, shot and killed by Pinkerton detectives.

Tennessee.

Vietor C. Bremer. December 8, shot and killed at Memphis by gunmen deputy U.S. marshals, who mistook him for striking Illinois Central shopman.

1910.

Illinois.

Charles Cerny, striking baker, Chicago March 8, shot and killed by David Beyer, gunman.

George Gabler. November 26, killed when gunmen fired fusillade of shots at striking Chicago tailors; two others wounded.

Charles Lazinskas, striking garment worker, Chicago. December 2, shot and killed by Tony Yacolla, gunman employed by Royal Tailoring Co.

Massachusetts.

Patrick H. Triggs, business agent painters’ union, Springfield. April 2, shot dead by Charles Hendry, non-union painter.

New York.

John P. McLaughlin, striking steam-fitter, New York City. March 23, shot and killed by William Martin, notorious gunman.

Yulan Chizanowski and Valery S. Novakowski, striking sugar workers, Williamsburg. July 28, shot and killed by Thos. A. Morgan and other gunmen in employ of American Sugar Refining Co.

Edward Mayo, striking molder, Albany October 15, shot and killed by Frank B. Sheldon, gunman in employ of Federal Spiral Works.

Charles Flanagan, union driver, New York City. December 27, shot and killed by George Gowan, professional strike-breaker employed by James McCreary & Co.

Ohio.

John Caswell, leader of striking tin workers. Youngstown, October 15, shot dead by Charles Brown, gunman employed by American Sheet & Tin Plate Company.

James Burke, Youngstown. October 15, killed by Charles Brown same time as Caswell.

Pennsylvania.

Names unknown, two striking steel workers, McKee’s Rocks. April 19, shot and killed by Bergoff gunmen in employ of Pressed Steel Car Co.

Paul Reno, striking miner, Greensburg May 4, shot dead by special gunmen deputies.

Paul Renomeno, striking coal miner, Yukon. May 8, shot and killed by gunman special deputies; Westmoreland Coal Co.

Mike Chekan, striking coal miner, Westmoreland county. May 27, shot and killed by Frank Crowe, thug in employ of Latrobe-Connellsville Coal & Coke Company.

James Ciccone, striking section hand, Wilkes-Barre. July 24, shot and killed by James Johnson and George Wilson, gunmen in employ of Delaware & Hudson railroad.

Anton Eld, striking coal miner, Westmoreland county April 11, shot by Mike Padac, mine guard in employ of Pittsburgh & Baltimore Coal Co.; died later.

John McGuckin, striking carman, Philadelphia. May 1, shot through heart by Victor Farrell, gunman in employ of Philadelphia Rapid Transit Co.

Mike Opacich, striking coal miner, Westmoreland county. June 10, shot at Export by Walter McClosky, Jesse Martin and other mine guards; died of wounds.

John Cutter and Jacob Putley, striking coal miners, Westmoreland county July 13, shot and killed at Claridge by John Snelling and other gunmen special deputy sheriffs in employ of Pennsylvania Gas & Coal Co.

Samuel Yacobovitch, striking coal miner, Westmoreland county. July 30, shot and killed by coal and iron police in employ of Westmoreland Coal Co.

Mike Mizerak, striking coal miner, Westmoreland county December 11, shot and killed by Charles C. Davidson, gunman deputy.

The Appeal to Reason was among the most important and widely read left papers in the United States. With a weekly run of over 550,000 copies by 1910, it remains the largest socialist paper in US history. Founded by utopian socialist and Ruskin Colony leader Julius Wayland it was published privately in Girard, Kansas from 1895 until 1922. The paper came from the Midwestern populist tradition to become the leading national voice in support of the Socialist Party of America in 1901. A ‘popular’ paper, the Appeal was Eugene Debs main literary outlet and saw writings by Upton Sinclair, Jack London, Mary “Mother” Jones, Helen Keller and many others.

PDF of full book: https://www.marxists.org/history/usa/pubs/appeal-to-reason/140905-appealtoreason-w979.pdf