Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1906-03-01
SAYS HE CONFESSED.
Sow. Gooding Of Idaho Issues a State
ment Regarding Orchard.
HETOLD TIE STORY OFFS MURDERS.
Calls II "Greatest Narrative OF
Crime which the World Knows"
--AIl Rewards Were
Withdrawn.


Boise, Idaho, Feb. 26.--Gov. Goodini
Sunday night issued the following
statement with respect to the steunen
berg assassination case:
IL want to state officially that Har
~ Orchard has made full confession
rs to the manner and motive OF the
assassination Of ex-Gov. Steunenberg
telling Of the plans made and giving
the names of those making them. The
assassination Of ex-Gov. Steunenberg
which occurred at his own gate, on
the evening of December 80, 1905, was
the third attempt that Orchard made
against his life. This confession was
made to Capt. James Mcfarland. 1t
included a history Of his life from his
early boyhood up to the time Of his
arrest. In that confession Orchard
implicated all those now under arrest,
and others, including ]. L. Simpkins.
He told the story Of 26 murders, the
results of conspiracies in which all the
accused parties were interested. When
this story is given to the public, be-
lieve 1t will be the greatest narrative
Of crime which the world knows.
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 Color
ado and charged to the inner circle Of
the Western Federation of Miners.
attribute Orchards confession to the
great brain of James Mcfarland, who
has been employed by the state to run
down the murderers Of ex-Gov. Steun-
enberg. ! have seen Orchard myself
since this 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.. Nc
Parland was aided in his work by
Orchards early training. In his boy
hood the Bible was read night and
morning by his parents. The impress
sion OF the early days came up and
smote his conscience when he was
brought face to face with his God. He
told me that he believed in supreme
being and hereafter, and that now his
one thought was to make his peace
with his Maker.
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
question to those familiar with his
story. The state desires to secure
Justice. There is no thought Of pun
ishing the innocent or waging war on
any labor organization. The assassi-
nation of ex-Gov. Steunenberg, "a
grave crime against the state Of Ida
no, was committed, and as its execu-
tive felt II my duty to bend every
energy toward the discovery of the
guilty parties a1d their fitting pun
lshment, wish to announce that
4 nave withdrawn the offer Of $4,000
reward made by the state for the
punishment Of the guilty parties and
have ADVISED that the parties who
mad offered rewards do likewise. They
nave agreed to do so, and to-day
Lhere is not a single dollar of reward
offered for the conviction of the muir.
derers OF Steunenberg. A reward of
il,OOO Is low offered by us for infor-
nation leading to the arrest Of J. IA
Simpkins, and this is the only reward
low offered In connection with the
steunenberg assassination.
MY reason for Withdrawing the re-
ward and advising others who had Of {
cred rewards to withdraw them Is
hat ] felt that no detective associa-
Ion or anyone else is entitled to the :
'eward onered by the state. Harry {
orchard was arrested before any de- q
ectlHes we're on the ground on infor-
nation secured by a committee Of cit
zens OF Caldwell, assisted by few of
Is who left Boise on the special train /.
few minutes after the assassina- :
ion Of ex-Gov steunenberg. We !.
vere all the friends and neighbors of :
he ex-governor, and l am sure the y
ervices will always be remembered '
nth gratitude. There is no ques- y y
ion about a fair trial. No higher !.
lass of citizens can be found than !.
hose who live in Canyon county. =
hey have no prejudice against any y !.
lass of people, be they laborers or u
capitalists. am a firm believer in
rganiced labor, but feel there must
Q more Of an effort made by the Ii
lembers Of such organizations to So a
ct more high characters as their IN
laders. q
warm WsSthef Causes Flood. 81