The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1907-01-17
MINERS FR|AL
IS TO BEGIN B |
soon ]
Most Noted Criminal Trial Of
Latter Years is Set at: cald.
well, Idaho.
OFFICERS OF, FEDERATION,
Of MINERS ACCUSED
Must Answer for Conspiracy in the
Murder Of Ex-Governor Stuenenberg
ON Dec. 80, 19O5-Harry Orchards
Confession Led to Arrest of Three
Others Now in Tolls.

Others Now in Tolls.
Associated Press to The Evening Times.
Caldwell, Idaho, Jan. 17.-Unless an
unforeseen delay occurs, one week
hence will witness the beginning of
what promises to be the most noted
and sensational criminal trial that has
ever taken place in this part of the
country. Charles H. Meyer, William
D. Hayward and George A. Pettibone,
all of them officials of the Western
Federation of Miners, will be placed
in the dock to stand trial on a charge
of completely in the murder of ex-
Governor Steunenberg. The trial will
take place before Judge Ed L. Bryan
of the Seventh judicial district of
Idaho. Judge Bryan, who is a Demo-
crat, was elected to the bench last
November. Before his election Judge
Bryan was attorney for Harry Orch
ard, also accused of completely in the
Steunenberg murder and whose con-
fession resulted in the arrest of the
other three.
The arrest of Meyer, Haywood and
Pettibone was the elimination of the
crimes attending the strike of Western
miners in 1905. On the evening of
Dec. 80 Of that year Ex-Governor
Frank Steunenberg was murdered.
The murder was most atrocious one.
The deed was committed by means of
a bomb. A string was attached to the
gate at the Steuenberg home, and
when the Ex-Governor opened it the
mine was fired, killing him instantly.
The miners had but slight personal
grievance against SleuLenberg, and /.
is alleged that his murder was only
one of series of assassinations plan
ned by the accused men In order to
revive the life and influence of the
miners organization, which had suf-
fered seriously as a result of the fail
ure Of the strikes.
A short time after the murder,
through the efforts of detective James
Mcfarland of Denver, Harry Orchard
was arrested and made confession
in which he charged the officials Of
the Western Federation of Miners with
having instigated the crime. Orchards
confession was a most remarkable re-
cord of crime. In addition to giving
the details of the Steunenberg MUIR
der he told how he had planted and
exploded the bomb which blew up the
railroad station at Independence, Col,
killing thirteen men and mangling
six others, and how he had plotted
to assassinate Governor Peabody,
Judge Goddard of the supreme court
of Colorado, and others who had in
Cured the enmity of the Western Fed
Grafton of Miners.
Meyer, Haywood and Pettibone were
not in Colorado when Orchards con-
fession was obtained. They had gone
to Denver. The authorities believed
they were leaving the United States.
The warrants for them were sent hur-
riedly t. the Governor of Colorado.
He issued extradition papers before
the arrests were made. The three
men were taken on the evening of Sat-
urday, February Is, and hustled on
board a special train. They had no
opportunity to retain or consult coun-
sci. On account of alleged irregulari-
ties in TIE conduct of the police who
arrested them they applied to the
United States courts for writs of hab-
cas- corpus. These being refused they
onpoo1od tn tho I1p{tad Cfofas Cnpro,oo
court. The court little over month
ago decided the application adversely
to the men, thus removing the last bar
to their trial.
The trial is expected to be battle
royal. Some of the best legal talent
of the West, and, in fact, of the en-
tire country, has been secured by those
interested in the defense, while two
of the leading attorneys of the Idaho
bar will conduct the prosecution. There
is some likelihood that the attorneys
for the defense will ask for change
of venue to either Ada or Washington
counties, Of which Boise and Weiser
are, respectively, the county seats.
The trials probably will be long
drawn out, especially If the defendants
insist upon being tried separately. If
separate trials are had it is probable
that Meyer will be the first defendant
put on the stand, as he is the president
and guiding spirit of the Western Fed
GRAFTON of Miners.
Probably the feature of the. trials
will be the testimony of Harry Orchard
and Steve Adams, the two men who
have confessed to part in the con-
spiracy to assassinate Steunenberg.
Though the Orchard confession has
been carefully guarded by the authori-
ties, many of its details were learned
at the time Of the extradition proceed
ings. But practically nothing has been
CONTINUED on page 8.)