The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1906-10-06
DETECTIVE TELLS ABOUT
CONFESSION OF ADAMS.
HIS IMPLICATION IN THE TYLER MURDER CASE FULLY SET
FORTH BY TtElL AT WALLACE.

the Spokane Review gives the fullest
report of the Steve Adams trial and
of the latter's confession as related
by the detective, that has yet been
printed. Although Adams has been
held to the district court the story
of his crime is not without interest.
1t follows: Detective c. S. Theif of
Spokane, assistant superintendent of
the Pinkerton Detective agency, TO
whom Steve Adams is alleged to have
made a complete confession of the
murder of Fred Tyler, the Marble
creek homesteader, called by the de-
Tense a "claim jumper" on or about
August 10. 1904, was placed on the
witness stand in the Adams case
when the court convened this morn
ing and told in full the horrible de-
tails of the murder as he said they
were related to him by the defendant
in the Boise penitentiary March Is
of this year.
The tale of the detective is fatty
denied by the defense, and during
Mr.. Thiel's examination by Prosecut-
ing Attorney Clyde, J. w. Lillard,
Adams uncle, the man who is paying
for Adams defense, came near Great
ing a sensation by walking around
the table to where Attorney Darrow
was sitting and loudly whispered in
Darrow's ear, pointing his finger at
the witness: What that mans tell
ing is a lie." The aged LIZARDS
emotion was plainly noticeable, and
what he said was whispered in SO
loud voice as to be audible to all
sitting around the lawyers table.
Mr.. Thiel began by saying he had
known Adams since February 20,
1906, when he first met him at the
home of his uncle, Mr.. Lillard. Ad-
ans at that time was arrested upon
the strength of Orchards confession
for completely in the Steunenberg
murder, with Orchard, Meyer, Hay
wood and Pettibone. A few prelim-
mary questions brought Detective
Thiel down to the alleged confession
of Adams bearing upon the Tyler
murder, the case now at issue.
Interview in PEN"
The detective said he had talk
with Adams and Orchard in the pen
itentiary, March 16, relative to the
whereabouts of Simpkins, Thiel be-
lieving that Adams knew where Simp-
kins was. Adams, Orchard and
Thiel were the only persons present
at this initial interview. The nex'
day he said he talked with Adams
and Mrs. Adams relative to some
articles of Importance which the de
tective might procure by going to the
Lillard home, six miles from Haines
Ore, the articles including an "eRpt!
cartridge, the bullet from which hat
killed Tyler" He said that Lillard''
son had helped Mrs. Adams to bur.
the plumber, and that he adams.
would give Thiel letter of intro
duction to young Lillard, and that h
could go to the Lillard home and di'
up the stuff.
The witness said Mrs. Adams wa
back ward about talking, and wrot
on a piece of paper something to he
husband. The witness believed 1t 7
be a question about some article
though he did not see 1t, and immedi
ately upon reading 1t he said Adam
began to laugh. Adams then toll
him that the cartridge the bulle
from which had killed Tyler wa
given him by Jack Simpkins. Littl
more was said during that confer
ence, but the next day Adams tol
him all about the Tyler killing.
Previous to this Adams, said tn
witness, had told him that each a
ticle buried had history. and
March IS, Thiel asked him for tn
history of some of these trinkets.
1--WE spoke in a general way or q
Marble Creek district, and the 'clai
iumpers' spoken of by Adams. al
Adams said he firmly believed u
killing of Tyler was justified
some capitalists had placed those me
on timber claims held by settlers.
How They 'GOt" Tyler"
The detectives narration OF VIII
Adams is said to have told him
the actual murder of. Tyler follo'
complete:
I'm speaking of the Tyler KILN
he stated that sometime in Angus
1904, Tyler was killed by hims'
(Adams), the circumstances OF whi
ne gave me from the time he car
to Idaho, stating he had been sent
Wallace by members of the Weste
Federation of Miners to confer wi
Jack Simpkins relative to some ella