Omaha daily bee., 1906-02-21
MPARLAND DENIES STORY
Colorado Detective Says Harry Orchard has
Not Confessed Murder.
CLAIMS TO HAVE EVIDENCE OF CRIMES
Many Deaths I'm Colorado Laid nj
Door of western Federation
of Miners by Man
on Case.

Ilshed here today Detective James McPar-
land denies the report that he secured a
confession from Harry orchard. who is
charged with the murder of former Gov
ernor Frank SIeunenberg at Caldwell.
Idaho, December 30 last, duplicating the
officers OF the Western Federation of Min
ers and many others in the crime, though
he claims to have ample evidence of their
guilt.
There have been statements made by
various persons" said officer Mcfarland.
but ! know of none made by Orchard.
and as | have been the only man at work
on the case | think would have known
Of it had there been one.
"a undertook the investigation OF Gov
ernor Steunenberg's death at the request
of his personal friend. Governor Goodins,
and Governor Gooding has personally paid
what expenses have been incidental on my
investigation.
81 felt it my duty as citizen of Colo
RADIO to uproot the gang and as such /
undertook the work. These fellows
thought that It was so long ago that had
broken up the Molly Maguires that must
now be in my dotage. They were not
afraid Of me. But there is a weak spot in
every wall. especially such one as that
founded. and that weak spot l found. 1t
will cost Meyer, Haywood and Pettibone
and as many more their lives"
Talks of Many Murders.
MCFARLAND claims to have positive evil
dencc that members of the Western Fed
GRAFTON planned and carried out the assas-
sination of Detective Lyle Gregory. killed
mysteriously in West Denver two years
Of 40 inf Of
the wild Horse mine at Cripple Creek.
who was thrown down shaft of Arthur
Collins. superintendent of the Smuggler-
Union mine at Telluride. who was shot
from ambush; of the killing of fourteen
men in the explosion at the Independence
depot near Cripple Creek June 6, 1904; of
the murder of Martin b. VALLEY, who was
killed last summer by an explosion. in this
city and of other murders.
The killing of VALLEY Is said to have
been accidental the nitro-gycerin with
which he was killed having been placed
on a vacant lot through which Chief Jus
tce Gabbcrt OF the supreme court was
accustomed to pass with the intention OF
killing him.
Mcfarland denied the charge that he
had kidnapped the federation officers out
of Denver
''The papers are regular" he said. land
were served regularly. 1 could not be
expected to notify their lawyers that
Meyer. Haywood and pettibone were in
Jail and about to he taken to Idaho.
They knew that If they were captured
they would never be able to clear them
selves and were about to leave the country
when arrested. They had planned to blow
up the train IL an attempt were made to
To- "a,
1 insisted on having a special train to take
them to Idaho"
Mine Owners Employed Orchard.
The Times today says: Harry Orchard.
who is under arrest In Idaho charged with
assasslnating former Governor Stcunen-
burg. and who has made confession
charging the leaders of the Western Fed
Grafton of Miners with instigating a num-
Der of dynamite outrages and murders.
was in the employ of the Cripple Creek
Mine Owners association as a detective
during the great strike in the Cripple Greek
district This most important fact will be
used In the defense of the accused labor
leaders when they are brought to trial in
the courts OF Idaho.
The following facts have come to the
Times from most reliable source and
have been carefully verified:
Orchard was a member of the Western
Federation of Miners and employed in the
Cripple Creek district when the famous
strike was ordered. In November, 1903
he approached a conductor named Jones
on the Florence & Cripple Creek railroad
and introduced himself as a brother Ma
son. II am member of the Miners
union. said orchard. "and last night
heard some OF the members of the union
planning TO wreck train on this road
J. do not believe in such methods, and
Of the plot. ] picked you out because you
are Mason
Jones Immediately took Orchard TO Scott
and Sterling, the detectives for the Mine
Owners association. He repea tied his story
and Scott and Sterling Immediately EN-.
ployed him as detective TO work for the
Mine Owners association. He was i'm.
structedl to attend the meetings of the
union and report daily.
Orchard continued I'm the employ of the
Mine Owners association until June 1901
The day before the explosion which
wrecked the Independence station on June
6, and Orchard disappeared. A mob took
possession of Cripple Creek and Victor and
attempts were made to force confessions
from many suspected persons A YOU'RE
man was suspended by his thumbs and
he finally agreed to tell the name OF the
fend who had caused the explosion. Wher
he was lowered to the ground he said
Harry Orchard did it,"
The pursuit of Orchard was taken up
a companion named Neville Immediately
after the Independence explosion secured 4
rig and drove out Of Cripple Creek They