Omaha daily bee., 1907-07-11
Organization Had no Criminal Deal
with the Assassin.
ALLEGED CONFERENCES NOT HELD
Says He Never Met Orchard in Petit
bones Backyard.
CIPHER TELEGRAM INTRODUCED
1t shows That Jack simpLSiRs Asked
Union to Furnish Lawyer to
Defend HOsRn-Letters
Read Into Record.

I
went to the stand today, witness for his
fellow defendant. William d. Haywood,
and besides making positive denial Of all
the crimes attributed TO him and the
other federation leaders by Harry Orchard,
offered and explanation OF the uncolicited
appearance OF the Western Federation Of
Miners as the defender OF Harry Orchard
Immediately after his arrest at Caldwell
for the murder of Steunenberg.
Meyer swore that il was Jack SlmpSlns
who engaged Attorney Fred Miller at Spo-
kane 10 go to Caldwell to represent Or
chard, then known as Thomas Hogan and
that It was at the request Of SlmplSins
that the witness and Haywood subsequently
advanced $500 from the funds OF the fed
Grafton to meet the expense OF defending
Orchard At various stages OF the recital
the defense offered in evidence a number
OF documents including q heretofore un-
disclosed cipher telegram, which Slmpkins
sent to federation head quarters and tho
union at Silver City, Idaho, covering the
moves to protect the federation, which was
charged with the crime within a few days
after It occurred.
Telegram from simpIxins.
Meyer began by saying that he got his
information of the crime from the Denver
newspapers and that on the evening OF
January 4, Ave days after the crime, a
telegram in the federations cipher-a code
in which certain numerals represented the
alphabet and published in the ritual OF
the organization, was used to transmit
the password to local unions-came to Hay
wood from Spokane. II was long and the
translation was difficult and uncertain, but
he and Haywood figured the next day that
- GNa--.
not get lawyer to defend Hogan. An
swer."
Meyer testified that he was suspicious
about the message, the newspaper having
already charged the crime up to the fed
GRAFTON, and that he decided to consult John
Murphy. general counsel for the federation,
before he took any steps. Meyer said he
left for Chicago that Afternoon but that
Haywood took the matter up and opened
Communication with the union at Silver
City and made arrangements to engage
Attorney John Nugent TO look after the
interest OF the federation and defend Or
chard II necessary. The defense produced
copies of this correspondence and all of It
was read into the record.
Continuing Meyer said that Attorney NIL
Ter came to Denver about the first OF the
following month, bringing with him the
record OF Orchards preliminary hearing
Miller went to Denver at the suggestion OF
Simpkins, so the witness testified. and
brought a request from simpkins that the
federation furnish the largo amount OF
money that would be needed to defend Or
chard. Meyer said that he and Haywood
conferred with Attorneys Murphy and Mil
Ter and subsequently gave Miller 1850.
Never Planned Any Grimes.
Meyer denied that he had ever discussed
any kind of criminal act with Orchard or
anyone else or that he had ever given him
q cent except for expenses on the trip Or
chard made TO Ouray as a bodyBuard for
} him. He said that he had no personal
| feeling of hostility for Steunenberg and
there were no circumstances that would
: make him desire the life of John Neville.
whom Orchard testified Meyer wanted
killed Meyer said that Neville came to
him after his arrest for alleged compli-
cation in the Independence station AFFAIR
and asked that the federation give him
$500 to reimburse him for the expense
that he had incurred in clearing himself,
but this request was refused.
Denies Attending Conference.
Meyer denied that he participated In the
conference In Pettibone's back yard, where
Orchard said he, Haywood and Petitions
had discussed various acts Of violencei
denied knowledge OF the subsequent meet
, ling at federation headquarters, whers
Orchard swore that 6teunenberg and Me-
Vile executions were planned; denied prac-
tically every material statement In all Of
Orchards testimony. Meyer explained that
Orchard accompanied him to ouray be-
cause Orchard was going to silve~ton and
they made the Journey together as a mat
ter OF convenience. Representatives OF the
miners had been beaten up by thugs en-.
[ pioyed by the mine owners and the wit
ness and Orchard took along cut or shot
guns for their own protection. Meyer
swore that his gun was not subsequently
used 10 kill Lyte Gregory. but that Orchard
returned It 10 the witness after they got
back to Denver and the weapon had never
. been discharged up to the time Meyer waH
arrested.
! Meyer remained on the stand under d.
! rect examination from shortly after II
O'Clock in the morning and until q few
minutes before 4 O'Clock in the afternoon
, and most Of the time was taken up with
, recital OF the witness connection with
the Western Federation Of Miners. He
told a detailed story of the arrest at
, Ouray and his transfer to Telluride. where
the military refused to recognize the pro-
cesses OF the court set I'm motion 70 effect
: his release. He was arrested on the pre-
: text that he had desecrated flag by the
issuance OF a federation hand bill denounc-
ing the methods Of the state officials mine
owners and militia on which emblem OF
the American nag was reproduced. A copy
< Of the handbill was introduced and then the
witness told OF the various efforts 70 secure
his release and of his subsequent arrest
on the charge that he was implicated In
the Vindicator outrage.
Clash Between Counsel.
Only one important clash marked the
relations OF counsel during the day. The
= defense wanted 70 prove all the circuni-
70 stances under which Meyer and his as
r sistants were secretly arrested in Dem
YER denied communication with COUNSEL
and taken 20 Idaho by special train, but
: the state opposed It. The court ruled
that the circumstances OF the transaction