Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, July 26, 1993 TAG: 9307260111
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: CHARLESTON, W.VA. LENGTH: Medium
Also Sunday, friends and family gathered in Mingo County to bury Eddie York, the nonunion contractor who was killed at Arch of West Virginia's Ruffner mine in Yolyn, Logan County.
State police also said they investigated a report of another shooting incident at another Logan County mine, but could not substantiate it.
The Bituminous Coal Operators Association said it was matching the $100,000 reward being offered by Arch Mineral Corp. of St. Louis.
The $200,000 is offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for York's death, said B.R. Brown, chief negotiator for the association.
Authorities said Sunday they believe they are closing in on a suspect in the Thursday slaying of York, 39, of Lenore, who was killed by a sniper's bullet as he drove past a UMW picket line. No arrests had been made as of Sunday, a state police dispatcher in Logan said. But troopers said they know what kind of gun was used and believe they know where the shots came from.
"I think with the cooperation we're getting from some of the people down here, some of the people in the community and people on both sides of the strike, it appears everyone wants this solved," said Col. Thom Kirk, superintendent of the state police.
Trooper S.A. Wigal of the Logan detachment said, "We're looking strong and hard at one individual who is a member of the union."
Union officials distanced themselves from the shooting.
If a union member was responsible, "it was an individual acting on his own," said Mike Burdiss, state director of the UMW political action committee.
by CNB