Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1906-02-26
Goyernor Makes Public
Statement About
'Orchard.
oe+ai1ed Story Of Assassination Was
Given to Detective McParland-
corruborative Evidence Has
Been Found.

Boise. Feb. 26-Governor Gooding
,ast night issued statement with re-
snect to the Steunenberg assassina-
tion as follows:
~ want to state officially that Harry
Orchard has made a full confession
as to the manner and motive of the as
sassination Of Ex-Governor Steunen-
berg, telling of the plans made and Civ
ing the names Of those making them.
The assassination of Ex-Governor
Steunenberg, which occurred at his
own gate on the evening of December
30. 1905, was the third attempt that
Orchard made against his life. This
confession was made to Captain James
MCFARLAND. 1t included a history Of
his life from his early boyhood up to
the time of his arrest. In that confess
sion Orchard implicated all those now
under arrest, and others. including J..
L. Simpkins. He told the story of 26
murders, the results of conspiracies in
which all the accused parties were in
terested. When this story is given to
the public, believe 1t will be the great
est narrative of crime which the world
knows.
No Promise Of Ciemency.
There has never been any doubt as
to the truth of Orchards confession
among those who are familiar with the
crime committed in Idaho and Colora-
do and charged to the inner circle OF
the Western Federation Of Miners. I
attribute Orchards confession to the
great brain of James Mcfarland. who
has been employed by the state to run
down the murderers of Ex-Governor
Steunenberg. have seen Orchard my
self since his confession was made. He
told me that no promises Of clemency
or reward had been held out to him by
Mcfarland or anyone else. Mr.. McPar-
land was aided in his work by Or
chard's early training. In his boyhood
the Bible was read night and morning
by his parents. The impression of the
early days came up and smote his con-
science when he was brought face to
face with his God. He told me that he
believed in a supreme being and a
hereafter and that now his one thought
was to make peace with his Maker.
Confession Is Corroborated.
THE finding Of the bomb at Judge
Goddard's gate, and many other things
which will later be made known at the
trial, have proved the truthfulness Of
orchards confession beyond all ques-
ton to those familiar with his story.
Inc state desires to secure Justice
There is no thought of furnishing the
innocent or waging war on any labor
organization. The assassination Of ex-
Governor Steunenberg, a grave crime
against the state Of Idaho, was COM
hltted and as it's executive I felt it my
uuty to bend every energy toward the
discovery of the guilty parties and their
htting punishment.
oners Of Reward Withdrawn.
wish to announce that have with
urawn the offer of $4,000 reward made
W the state for the punishment of the
guilty parties and have advised that
'he parties who had offered rewards to
w likewise. They have agreed to. and
'ooay there is not single dollar Of re-
ward offered for the conviction Of the
"orderers of Steunenherr. a reward
" Si,ooo is now offered by us for In
.'ihiation leading to the arrest of ].
simpkins and this is the only re-
"a'' now offered in connection with
'''e steunenberg assassination.
NY reason for withdrawing the re-
''u ana advising others who had Of
.'eu rewards to withdraw them, is
'' telt that no detective association
anyone else Is entitled to the re.