Rocky Ford enterprise., 1906-03-02
|HIS CONFESSION.
GOVERNOR eooDINe CREDITS OR.
cHARD's STORY.
iMPLIcATEs FEDERATION

ekIifuIi Work Of Detective Mcfarland
Orchard Tells Story Of Twenty.
Six Murders-AIi the Result Of
conspiraeies.
Boise. Idaho.-0overnor Gooding has
issued the following statement In rc-
gard to the Steunenberg assassination
case:
II want to state officially that Harry
Orchard had made a full confession
ns to the manner and motive OF the
assassination OF Ex-Governor Steuneu,
berg, telling OF the plans made and
giving the names OF those making
them. The assassination OF ex.Gov.
ernor Steunenberg. which occurred Mt
his own gate. on the evening OF Dc
| cember 80, 1905. was the third attempt
that Orchard made against his life.
This confession was made to James
Mcfarland.
1T includes n history OF his life
from his early boyhood up to the time
OF the arrest. In that confession Or
chard implicated all those now under
arrest. and others. including J. l.
Simpkins. He told the story OF
twcnty.six murders. the result Of con
spirncies by which all the accused
parties were implicated. When this
story IL given to the public believe
II will be the greatest narrative OF
crime which the world knows.
There has never been any doubt
NJ to the truth Of Orchards confession
among those who are familiar with
tho crimes committed In Idaho and
Colorado and charged TO the inner cir.
Gle OF the Western Federation OF
Mincrs. have seen Orchard myself
since this confession wns made. lie
has told me that no promises OF elem
cncy or hope OF reward had been held
out to him. Mr.. Mcfarland was aided
In his work by Orchards early train
Ing. In his boyhooi homc the Bible
WAS read night and morning By his pa
rents.
-Thc Impression Of those early days
came up and smotc his conscience
when he wrs broush, face TO face with
his God. He told me that he believed
In a supreme Being and hereafter.
snd that his one thought was TO make
his peace with his Maker. The HndinE
Of tho bomb nj Judge Goddafds Eaic
and many other things which VIII ia,cs
bc made known to the public at Tho
trial have proved the tru,hfa!n.sa Of
Orchards confession beyond all qucs'
,ion To those familiar with his story.
The states motive II to secure justice.
There IL no though, Of punishment oa
III. innoecn, or wasins war on any Ia
Dor organization. In the assaasinaiion
of Ex-Governor Strunenbcfr grave
orIcnac agninst the state Of Idaho vas
committed. As Its chief executive ]
felt II my duty to bend every energy
toward the discovery Of the guilty par
ties and GttIug punikhmsnt.
Il wish to announce ihn, ] have
Withdrawn the otter Of 5000 reward
made by the state for the punishment
Of the guilty par,icp. and have advised
other PARTIES who had offered rewards
TO do likewise. This they have agreed
to do, and today there In not siaslc
dollar Of reward offered for tho eonsic'
tion Of tho musdcrcfa Of s,runcabcts.
A reward of $1,000 il no~ offered by
mo for information leading 10 the sf-
scst OF J. l.. simpkins. and this is the
oniy reward now offered In eonaCciioo
with tho s,cuncabcrT assassination.
My reason for Withdrawing the TO
ward and advising others who had Of
fcrcd rewards TO withdraw them is
that think no detective agency OF any
one ciss IL entitled to reward. Harry
Orchard was arrested before any dc
/
formation secured by committee os
citizens Of Caldwell. assisted by a few
Of US who lcf, boise an % special train
after the assas ssination Of Ex-Governor
s,cuu.nbcrg. We were all the friends
and ncishboss Of the ex-governor. and
am sure their services will always be
remembered with gratitude. There is
no question abou, a fair trial. No
higher class Of citizens can be found
than those who live in Canyon county.
They have no prejudice against ans
class Of citizens. be they Iabosrrs OF
CAPITALISTS. I am a firm believer In or.
sanised labor. but feel there mus; he
more cf an effort made by the mem.
bcys Of such organizations TO select
men Of high character as their lead
crs.
There has been some complaint
made a. to the close confinement, Of
Meyer. Haywood and Pcttibone In the
pcniicniiary. I wish IL understood that
as much leniency viii be shown these
men as the rules Of the prison will pcf.
init, They have not been given prison
Eafb or prison food. They have been
furnished the game food as is placed
| on the table for employees OF the peni'
tsntiary. They will be given ample
time for exercise. and with the escrp'
tion Of the state papers. they will be
allowed any newspapers they desire.
There is not better library In Idaho
than the one at the peni,en'iar.. They
have been given access TO this and
| will he shown every courtesy In keep
ing with the management and dis