Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1906-1908, 1907-06-14
ORCHARD WEEPS ON
THE WITNESS Stand
BREAKS DOWN WHEN TELLING
STORY OF HIS CONVERSION
AND CONFESSION.
HAD ONCE THOUGHT OF
COMMITTING SUICIDE
Self-Confessed Murderer Later Meets
Ex-Governor Peabody, Whom He
Has Sought to KilI-Defense Gives
Outline of Its Case.

Boise, Idaho, June 14-After with
standing with marvellous strength of
nerve and muscle weeks examina-
ton that was one prolonged confes-
sion Of crime, Harry Orchard Thurs
day broke down and for a few mo-
ments wept like a child. His unnerv-
ing came with the story of his con-
version and confession and the men
ton of King David, murderer, the
biblical figure which is supposed to
be Orchards later guide.
The defense had given solemn tone
to the scene preceding the meeting
between Orchard and Detective Nc
Pariand to whom he confessed, by
showing that Orchard was first illegal
ly brought to the penitentiary and
thrust into almost solitary confine-
ment. His only cell neighbor was
Bob Wetter, a condemned murderer.
Then came the first Mcfarland inter
view and the story of David and
Uriah. Orchard just before the noon
adjournment in low and shaken tones
told of his coversion. How, when in
the penitentiary, in thought over his
past life he thought of putting him
self out of the way and that he ought
to make a clean breast of it all. He
said he had come to feel that the
grave did not end it all. The story
was told to a hushed courtroom, the
silence only being broken by the
drone of Orchards voice. Orchard
also testified that he was a Mason
when he lived in Canada and a mem
Der of the Colborn lodge.
Witness Meets Peabody.
Former Gov. Peabody and Orchard
met face to face in the office Of J. II.
Hawley a few minutes after the re-
cess was taken at noon. Orchard,
while plainly nervous from the strain
of the mornings examination, had
recovered his equanimity and was
speaking to one of the men who had
accompanied him from the courthouse
when the governor entered.
Orchard recognized him at once.
His face changed and as Mr.. Pea
body approached the man who had
hunted him for a year seeking an OPP
portunity to kill, Orchards face
changed He shrank back and trem-
bled. The former governor smilingly
held out his hand, saying:
How are you, Orchard?"
Orchard broke down completely.
He said:
81 am ashamed to look at you, sir;
/ am ashamed to speak to you
in n,
few words and Orchard replied:
"I am thankful that I did not kill
YOU and am spared the thought of
that crime"
Gives Outline of the Defense.
The case for the defense, in contra
diction of the connection of Hayward
with the actual murder or arrange
ments for the murder Of Steunenberg,
is shown by the questions put SO as to
bring out evidence to show that Or
chard reached Wallace planning to
kidnap the children of August Paul
son, on whose bounty he had lived.
Failing that, he became poverty
stricken, and committed burglary at
the railroad depot. Getting no pro-
ceeds from this, he robbed cash reg
lister.
These funds running out, he bor-
rowed $500 from Paulson, the man
who had been his partner, and who
had become rich from the proceeds
of the mine, sixteenth share of
which Orchard had sold for song,
and then, envious of the rich man and
angered at the thought that Steunen-
berg had driven him, in common with
other union men, from the state, he
planned the enterprise Of vengeful as
sasSinStion.
The defense asserts that Simpklns
was at Wallace at the time in line
with his duties as member of the
executive board of the Western fed
Grafton, and that neither there nor at
Coldwell had he any direct connec-
ton with Orchards plans.
The state will begin the corrobora-
tive testimony next week. About $50
witnesses will be held to give evi-
dence in support of Orchards testf-
mony. 1t is understood also that GER
tain documentary evidence will be
produced, but the nature Of this has
been kept secret.
Miners Acting Head Under Cloud.
Denver, Col, June 14.-As a fore
runner of the split between the West
ern Federation of Miners in session
here and the Industrial Workers of
the Wori4, it developed Thursday in
the report of Acting President c. E.
Mahoney to the federation convention,
that McCabe union, Western Fedora
ton of Miners of Butte, had adopted
resolutions at a local meeting chars
ing Mahoney with having fraudulently
used the funds of the federation to
help the Industrial Workers and with
being a traitor to the federation. Ma
honey denied the charges and de-
manded the union file written charges
against him, that the convention hear
evidence, and if he be found guilty
that he be expelled from the fedora
ton.