◆ SpookStack

“Tpon aeking Elshoff as to why he wes making this entry into Mine A, - _Bishof{ et that it wes not of thelr business, that neither Becker Bootes SoMMMMMNNIMY =i coine $0 $011 hic hot te ru iy Daan t Wo no explenation, Becker then stated that . “would ask Oscar oe re Flshoff pranptly gtated that: INTERVIBT WITH Springfield, niincks, whe svonitted written ‘reports. : WALTER BECKER = to thpAf and B Coal Companys Hr. Becker advised ~ oontimed) © that 4rhon Elshoff was prossod a6 %o why be could © not deal with the Progreseives that he would: thet he had a contract with the United Mine Workers and that ths © - Progreseives would not let him work ¢ under this contrasts: ae Basing hie opinion on the reporte ibis Mr, Becker wae oF - the opinion that the mine had fo ma 6 orew, & carefu) serutay : of these reports, however, indloated that some ef tho supervisory force - aid go down into the mine during the early months of 1958, until ome - of the force walked into a pocket of Dbiock damp, and was killed as a- result, During tho time thot the mine was shut dom, there were no serious fires reported. Since the mine hes reopened, however, thers hes beon one fire that llr. Becker knew about, This happened sbout za) and one half years ago, and that sootion had to be shut oft, The olrounstances gurr ounding the sale of Mine ‘Ah were . discussed in detail with Mr. Booker. ire Booker steted that the transfer \ of the lease came ae wm complete surprise, They ware not notified of the transfer umtil ths date of ite acoamplishnant, when Ryan and Elshoff called to ask their “blessing” on the deal, Thie transfer was not to -— , the liking of the lessor, horever, there was nothing that gould be done about it as there was no provision in the lease which necessitated the © consent of the lessor to the sale, The records disclosed that thie sale - Was made on September 4, 1941, and that full operations were resumed on September 28, 1941 according to report. Inquiry dfee - olosod that Elshoff aotually did an entry into Mine wt ae _ Pertiouler inquiry was made into these "feats finasmaich as it has been Alleged that Elshoff threstensd to mine Mine A ooel through Mine B . gith United ilinere in order to swing an election at Mine A in favor" * - of the United tine Workers. Mr. Becker produced maps which showed in detail the course which Elshoff was working in both minss to connect =. them. The report of this activity oame to the B and B Cool Company; through their man early on January 15, 1942, when evidently . 4t had been going time. Previously it bad been agreed that - thore should be no connections between the two minsa without the consent — of all three partics concerned, including the lessor. Me, Becker and ..4.. Br, Bontsoe immediately went to Springfield to leok into this matters” Bad. neither would Faloetti tell them anything about it. Mr. Becker then’ “advised that: they got tough and told Elshoff that he would have to eed Be ‘the openings up, which was dons, rt should be boted that arty 8 work 4): oe ae tm. Pasa: Sis S¢ . a a © re . eee ae af Bs