Daily Kennebec journal., 1906-02-21
Is Charged to the Ac-
count Of Harry Orchard
And Will Be Used by the
Accused Western Miners
In Their Defence Against Charge Of
Gov. Stunenhurg's Murder.

day says: Harry Orchard, who is un-
der arrest in Idaho charged with as
sassinating Former Governor Steunen-
burg, ana who has made a confession
charging the leaders of the Western
Federation of Miners with instigatin2
number of dynamite outraSes and
Cripple Creek Mine Owners Association
as detective during the great strike
il the Cripple Creek district.
This most important fact will he
uscG in the defence of the accused Ia
Dor leaders when they arc brought to
trial III the courts Of Idaho.
"The following facts have come to
the the Times from 4 most relia bic
source and have been carefully veri-
fled:
"Orchard was 4 member of the Western
Federation of Miners and employed in thu
Cripple Creek district when the famous
strike was ordered. In November 1902
he approached a conductor named Jones
on the Florence & Cripple Creek Rail-
road and introduced himself as a broth
er Mason. 4 am a member of the Min
crs' Union said Orchard. and last night
l heard some Of the members of the union
planning to wreck train on this road
7 do not believe in such methods and
thought I would come to YOU and tell of
the plot. I picked you out because you
are a Mason
Zones Immediately took Orchard to
Scott C Sterling, the detectives for tn Z
Mine Owners Association. He repeated
his story and Scott & Sterling immedi-
ately employed him as q detective to
work for the Mine Owners Association.
He was instructed to attend the meet
ings of the union and report daily.
Orchard continued in the employ OF
the Mine owners Association until Junn,
1904. The day before the explosion which
wrecked the independence station he col
lected some life insurance due him be-
cause of the death of a relative.
Then came the explosion at the In
dependence station June and Orchard
disappeared. A mob took possession
Of Cripple Creek and Victor and at
tompts We're made to force confessions
from many suspected persons. A young
man was suspended by his thumbs
and he finally agreed to tell the name
of the ficnd who had caused the eX-
plosion. When he was lowered to the
ground he said Harry Orchard did it.
1.-The pursuit of Orchard was taken
up. blood hounds being employed. Or
ckard and a companion named Neville
Immediately after the Independence
explosion secured a rig and drove out
OF Cripple Creek. They went across
the country, avoiding the more i'm
rGrtant towns. When they reached
Greeley they disposed of their rig and
took train for Cheyenne. where Or
cfard received n considerable sum of
money from friends in Colorado and
disappeared.
lie returned to Denver last April and
visited the headquarters of the Fedora
ton of Miners in this city. He said that
he feared arrest because Of the charges
made against him ir connection with the
Independence explosion and had therefore
changed his name to Hogan. For a time
he worked for various insurance comra-
MES in this city and last August left Col
orado. saying he was going to New York.
When next heard of he had been arrested
i'll Idaho charged with the assassination
Of Former Gov. Steunenburg.
Neville was arrested in Wyoming ana
taken back to Cripple Creek but no So
rious attempt was ever made to prosecute
him. Sheriff Bell of Cripple Clecls claims
that Neville confessed to him that he and
Orchard dynamited the station. 1t is
said that Neville is now dead. This lat
ter statement the Times has been unable
to verify"
81 will not say whether or not Harry
Orchard did make such confession as at
tributed to him." was the statement made
by Detective James McFarlan today
Numerous efforts were made to int:ri-
date the man into saying things against
himself. but l refused to allow this