Today is Thursday, September 10th, 2020.

On this day in 1897, a sheriff's posse gunned down 19 unarmed coal miners in Latimer, Pennsylvania.

Welcome to today in True Crime, a parcast original.

Due to the graphic nature of today's crimes,

listener discretion is advised.

Extreme caution is advised for listeners under 13.

Today we're covering the tragic massacre of coal miners who protested unfair labor practices in rural Pennsylvania.

Let's go back to September 10th, 1897,

on a hot, late summer day in Pennsylvania coal country. It was a little past noon as Steve Jurich, a Slovakian immigrant and coal miner, finished

lunch with his new bride, Johanna.

He was enjoying the last bites of his stuffed cabbage as he heard whoops outside their home.

Jurich knew what that sound meant.

His fellow coal miners were assembling for another strike and demonstration. Today they

planned to march from their town of Harwood to a nearby mine in Latimer to protest

unfair mining policies.

So when Jurich heard the men outside,

he jumped up from the table and grabbed his suit jacket and hat.

He kissed Johanna and told her he would be home late.

It was about a 12 mile round trip from Latimer and back.

In the heat of late summer, it would be a long, hot walk.

Johanna told him to be careful and a long, hot walk.

Johanna told him to be careful and kissed him again.

...