Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1900-03-23
Defense in the Idaho Riot Cases
Now Giving Its Version Of
the Affair.
Governor Steunenberg Tells the
Committee Why He Asked
for Troops.
Sinclair Acted as Agent Because
Of the Governors Illness at
the Time. .

WASHINGTON, March 23.-Unusual
interest attached to the Occur d'Alene
investigation al the prosecution, after
presenting testimony almost uninter-
ruptedly for five weeks, closed its case
and gave wayto the defense. Governor
Steunenberg of Idaho was the first wit
ness called to rebut the charges which
have been made. He is a type Of the
sturdy far West, Of massive build, and
his Indifference to conventionalities is
shownSby refusal to wear a necktie.
Al she took the standhe spread before him
several hundred telegraph dispatches.
The examination was conducted by J..
@. Cheney, one of the counsel for the
defense. Governor Steunenburg said
he was elected governor Of Idaho in
1896. on the Peoples-Democratic ticket,
having accepted the nomination of the
Democratic convention. He read a
number of kilograms dated several days
prior to the blowing up Of the Bunker
Hill mine on April 80, and leading Up
to that event.
Why He Asked for Aid.
On April 26, Frederick Burbridge of
the Bunker Hill mine ~telegraphed that
an armed mob had stopped the Bunker
Hill men from working and calling for
protection to+the property interests. He
also read many kilograms to and from
the sheriff and others showing the steps
taken to maintain order. The governor
suggested arbitration of differences but
in answer Mr.. Burbridge stated there
was nothing to arbitrate and again
called for protection. On April 90, the
day of the blowing up of the mill, Gov
ernor S~teunenberg said he received at
10:37sa. m. a dispatch from Mr.. Bur-
bridge stating that all the miners of
Canyon Creek had laid off and were
coming to Wardner to- menace the
Bunker Hill men. This was ac-
companied by another request for pro-
lection. At the same time dispatches
were received from A. L. Mohler of the
OF. & N. first stating that an armed
force had taken possession Of the rail-
road tracks at Wardner, and then at 4
p. M. stating that the rioters had set
fire to the Bunker Hill, that they had
placed dynamite under the mill and
that it would be blown up. Sheriff
Young also t~elegraphed him from Ward
ner that the mill was blown up and Civ
ing the gravity of the situation. At 6
p. m. the governor said he sent a dis
patch to the president calling for fed
eral aid as the Idaho troops were absent
in the Philippines.
Governor Had Been Ill.
The governor said he had been i'll
prior to the Occur d'Alene excitement
and being unable to go in person, he
sent a representative, Bartlett Sinclair,
to the seat of disorder. On April 80,
Sinclair telegraphed urging that the
president be asked to rush troops from
the nearest available post. He also tele-
gTaphed that he had thoroughly investi-
gated the needof martial law; that nine
tenths Of the citizens favored martial
law; that the local administration Of
the law was a farce and amounted to
mal-administration; that people were
afraid to testify and that masked men
were providing about the town, terrify-
ing people.
Many like kilograms, showing the ex-
citing developments from day to day,
the arming of the citizens, the making
Of arrests, etc, were read by the gov
ernor. On this information, the gov
ernor said, and from his own knowledge
Of affairs for six years, including re-
peated outrages with apparently no eef-
fort to apprehendt the guilty parties, he.
proclaimed that q state of insurrection