 The operators also directly paid the salary of at least forty of Chafin 's deputies , ensuring control over the department and favorable treatment . The bribes from the mine owners did indeed result in favors from Chafin ; Chafin stationed one of his deputies at every railway station in Logan County to " guard against union organizers " . Upon suspicion that someone entering the county was a union organizer , Chafin 's deputies would either force him to leave , arrest him , or beat him . In one case , Chafin mistook J. L. Heiser , the Chief Clerk of the West Virginia Department of Mines , for a union organizer , then threatened him with a gun , hit him over the head with a blackjack , and forced him to leave the county . After the incident , realizing his mistake , Chafin paid Heiser $ 1 @,@ 000 in compensation , but never faced any other consequences for his actions . 
