Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1906-09-15
Ellis
ABOUT
IDAHO
os Bay Newspaper Ma
| Talks About the Steu-
neDberg Murder

rhe eyes of the whole country are
Idaho at the present time. The
of the Western Federation off
Is charged with the murder of ex.
vernon Steuenberg is one of ma.
hal Importance. Meyer, Haywood
b Pettibone are lying in the Ada
lnty jail awaiting trial which is
for December.
The representative of the Journal
Is the following story in regard to
case from a visitor who has just
burned from the National Irriga-
bn congress at Boise.
One learns very little in regard to
lis matter in Idaho. 1t is the plan
the officials to keep secret all the
Edence that they have against
hese men. However, there is much
interest that has leaked out.
1 The theory of the state is that the
estern Federation of Miners had
anned another strike in the Cour
Alenes. For seven years the
iners' union in northern Idaho has
ben of little authority. The Feder-
ion officials once more had planned
e closed shop. The first step nee
sary in this campaign was to intim-
ate the authorities. A note of
arning must be given to Governor
boding not to interfere. Therefore,
-Governor Steuenberg was assas-
hated. and thus notice was served
all the world. The reign of the
|ners union in the Cour d'Alenes
bs to be supreme.
The defense set up by the miners
as follows: They claimed that IL
conspiracy on the part of the
line Owners association to ruin the
estern Federation of Miners and
|ake the Miners union desputable
the eyes of the people. To this
bd, they say the Mine Owners
hemselves hired Harry Orchard to
III Steuenberg.
This claim is made on the part of
be defense Notwithstanding the. fact
pat the Federation itself was the
rst to come to the defense of Harry
orchard. Even while he was mas
|uerading under an assumed name
hey wired an attorney in idaho to
efend him. Even while Orchard
Gas known as Hogan" Fred Miller
tarted from Spokane as representa-
We of the Miners Federation to act
counsel for Orchard at the prelim-
nary hearing.
This defense is made even in. the
ace of the fact that Orchard has
onfessed that he was employed by
Ae Miners Federation to kill Steuen-
erg. In his confession, covering
lany years of depredations, Orchard
calls 26 murders instigated by the
estern Federation.
Not much however, is know in re-
ard TO Orchards confession. Should
ae state make this public, 1t would
axe a difficult task for the authori-
s TO secure a jury in any part of
iaho. or for that matter. In any
aH of the United States, but moth
Is known of this confession
la' would make 1t surpass the
anes OF the Molly Maguires in
ennsylvania.
orehard is represented as having a
0e memory and gives dates and
Anes with great accuracy.
orehard's evidence in corrobor-
'su by Stephen w. Adams where
~ the two come in contact. Adams
imself, was not directly concerned
'he assassination OF Steuenberg,
.'Sas with Orchard in many of his
'aef exploits.
rue last move upon the part of
defense is to take Adams out OF
penitentiary on habeas corpus
weddings where he has been held
months without any charge or
eviction. The object OF the de-
use II is believed. In taking this
~ Is to make the state disclose
evidence. II is also an attempt
uscredit Adams in the eyes of
,aw' and when he appears on the
-ao to do so as a confessed fel-
criminal. The state. no doubt.
'-'e like to put Adams on the