Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-07-29
COURT SETS HIM AT LIBERTY
Goes First to the Bedside of His Aged
Mother in Hospital.
NOW AT HOME WITH HIS FAMILY
Verdict Causes Him for First Time to
Break His Stoical Attitude.
OPINIONS OF COUNSEL AND JURY
Governor GOOdinE Announces that
Contrary to Expectation Meyer,
PetttbOnc and Adams VIII
BE Tried.

PetttbOnc and Adams VIII
BE Tried.
BOISE, Idaho. July 2S.-Into the bright
sunlight OF beautiful Sabbath morning,
into the stiffness of a city drowsy with the
lazy slumbers Of a summer Sunday, william
D. Haywood, defendant in one Of the most
noted trials involving conspiracy and MUIR
der that the country has ever known,
walked today a free man, acquitted of the
murder of former Governor Frank Steunen-
berg.
The probability of a verdict OF acquittal
in the case of the secretary treasurer and
acknowledged leader of the Western Fed
GRAFTON of Miners had been freely predicted
since yesterday when Judge Fremont Wood
read his charge, which was regarded az
strongly favoring the defense in its in
depreciation of the laws of conspiracy.
circumstantial evidence and the corrobora-
tion of an accomplce who confesses.
1t was also freely predicted that in the
event of Haywood's acquittal the state
would abandon the prosecution of his as
sociates, Charles H. Meyer, the president
of the federation, and George A. Pettibone
Of Denver. Statements from counsel and
from Governor Gooding issued today dispel
this view OF the situation. Governor Good
ing said:
The verdict is great surprise to me,
and believe to all citizens of Idaho who
have heard or read the evidence in the
case
II have done my duty. l have no regret
as to any action l have taken, and my
conscience is clear. AS long as God gives
me strength I shall continue my efforts
for government by law and for organized
society.
'"rhe state will continue vigorous prose-
cution OF Meyer and Pettibone and Adams
and OF Simpkins, when the latter Is ap-
pretended. There will be neither, hesits-
ton nor retreat"
VIII Apply for BaII.
Application will be made to Judge Wood
tomorrow morning to admit Meyer and
Pettbone to bail, and II Was said tonight
that in the case OF Meyer, against whom
the state is admitted to have its weakest
case. a favorable consideration would not
be unexpected.
Not the least interesting OF the COM
ments made upon the verdict today was
that of Harry Orchard. the self-confessed
murderer of Governor Steunenberg and the
witness upon whom the state chiefly relied
to prove its claim OF a conspiracy on the
part of the Western Federation OF Miners.
Haywood had been acquitted Orchard
said:
We'll, I have done my duty. I have
told the truth. I could do no more
am ready to take any punishment that
may be meted out to me for my crime, and
the sooner It comes the better"
1t was after being out for twenty-one
hours that the jury, which at first had
been divided, to 4, and then seemed
deadlocked at 10 to 2. finally came to an
agreement shortly after the first faint
streaks OF the coming day showed greg
above the giant hills which wall Boise to
the north and east The weary, snow
bearded old bailin who had kept an all
night vigil before the door of the jury room
was startled into action by an imperative
knock from within. Events moved rapidly
enough after this, and when at last the
principal actors in the trial had been gath
cred into the court room at a few mo-
ments before s o'clock the white envelope
handed by the foreman to the judge was
torn open and the verdict read.
Tears I'm Haywood's Eyes.
Tears welled to the eyes Of the man who
during the eighty days OF his trial had
sat with stolid Indifference written upon
his every feature-st last the icy arnor
he had thrown about himself with the first
day OF jury selection had been pierced and
Whatever the pent-up feeling had been
contained within was loosed Haywood's
attorneys were fairly lifted from their
seats, and Judge Woods made no effort tn
restrain them as they surrounded him to
shake his hands and shout aloud their con-
gratulations. James H. Hawley, leading
counsel Tor the state and o. N, Van Duyn,
the prosecuting attorney Of the county in
which former Governor SteunenberR was
assassinated. sat gloomy and unspeakine
In their places. Senator Borah, who made
the closing plea for conviction, was NOT
present. OF the prisoners counsel those
In the court room were Clarence Darrovv
or Chicago, L. #. Richardson OF Denver
ana John +. Nugent OF Boise. The ab-
sehtees from the defendants table incliidad
Edgar Wilson the former law partner az
Judge Wood, who presided at the trial
NO member Of the prisoners family. or
any OF his friends among the socialist
writers and the so-called labor Jury. who
nave been attending the trial. was in the
oouIl room at the early hour the verdict
was rendered. The spectators bencba.
empty, out In the doorway stood Gov
erhor Frank Goodlng, who has taken 81,
active part in pressing the prosecut,or -
Haywood and his associates. There u.sa
no demonstration other than that mede h,
the attorneys for the defense, and the
court proceedings were over. the prisoner
had been discharged and the iurv dis
missed Tor the term in less than three min.
utes time. -'''N-
Verdict a Surprise.
Inc news OF the verdict was received ra-
iuclahly IN Boise. Extra editions OF the
papers carried the tidings far ana wias
and during the day there was considerabIs
discussion In clubs. cafes. hotel IobbIes
ana upon the street corners. The surI
prise which had been so manifest in the
court room was prevalent everywhere The
long time the jury was out has conveyed
the general impression that there could
be no other outcome than a disagreement,