The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-06-13
When Story of Conversion and
Confession Is Reached.
M'PARLAND AS PRIEST
Told Him the Story of David
and Uriah.
Thought of Committing Suicide
When First Locked Up.

and muscle a weeks examination that
was one prolonged confession of crime,
Harry Orchard today broke down and
for a few moments wept like a child.
His unnerving came with the story Of
his conversion and confession and the
mention of King David, the murderer,
the Biblical figure which is supposed
to be Orchards later guide. The oe-
fense had given solemn tone 20 the
Scene preceding the meeting between
Orchard and Detective MCFARLAND 10
whom he confessed. by showing that
Orchard was first illegally brought to
the penitentiary and thrust into almost
solitary confinement. His only cell
neighbor was Bob Wetter, condemn
ed murderer. Then came the first Nc
Parland interview and the story OF
David and Criah.
' Orchard just before the noon ad-
1ournment in low and shaken .ones
told of his conversion. How, when in
the penitentiary he 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 court room. the silence
chard's voice
Orchard also testified that he was a
Mason when he lived in Canada and a
member of the Colburn lodge.
In opening what he had announced
would be his last days cross-exaniira
tion of Harry OF chard, Attorney Rich
ardson, counsel for William D. Hay
wood. turned suddenly on the witness
and said:
Had your usual talk with Mr.. Nc
Parland this morning.
Il saw him for five minutes in Mr..
Hawley's Office"
Orchard declared that the Haywood
case had been discussed but casually.
MCFARLAND said he was quite i'll with
a heavy cold and just able to keep out
of bed.
During yesterdays cross-examination
he said he had written to Meyer from.
Wallace. Idaho, asking for some mon
ey. Orchard had gone 10 Wallace 5f-
ter the first proposed attempt on Gov
ernOr Steunenberg. Richardson asked
further about the Meyer letter, want
ing to know if Orchard ever received
an answer to it.
The witness said he had received 10
direct answer, but as result of the
letter Jack Simpkins gave him 800
which he said Haywood had sent to
him. Orchard only had Simpkins
word as to where the money came
from. Leaving Wallace en- route back
to Caldwell to assassinate Steunenberg.
Orchard said he and Jack SimDkins
first went on a weeks hunting trip
into the St. Joe river country of Idano
They traversed the trail on which It
was said Steve Adams had killed Fred
Tyler, the man for whose murder Ad-
ans has once been tried, the jury fail
ing to agree. The return trip to Cald-
we'll was made by way of Spokane
Simpkins said that an excuse for
going along he would say he was Wis
iting locals of the Western Federation.
This would also enable him to draw
expense money from the union. Or
chard said there was no arrangement
at the headquarters whereby Sin.p-
kins should help in the Steunenberg
plot.
3rfv1 CS,I.7
chard said he and Simpkins were there
for about three weeks. The witness
made several trips to Nampa and
Simpkins went to Haley, where there
was a federation local.
Haywood Seemed Unconcerned.
During the time his attorney was
tracing Orchards movements prior to
the assassination of Governor Steunen-
concerned. He read several letters
which Mr.. Darrow, one of the de-
fense's attorneys, handed him.
Orchard fixed the date of his second
Caldwell visit as some time in No
Vember. 1905.
"Wen. if you and Simpkins went to
Caldwell in November to kill Steunen-
berg why didn't you do t?'' demand
ed Attorney Richardson.
I'VE did make an attempt to, but it |
wasn't successful"
Simpkins then went back home to |
Wallace. saying it would not be good |
were caught in company. /
"Simpkins had agreed to come" Or |
chard continued, but he began to get
scared after we were on the ground" |
Now as a matter of fact" asked |
Richardson, was Simpkins with you |
any longer than it required him to Wis |
It the federation locals at HALEY and |
Silver City2"
''He was with me in Caldwell about |
q week"
''An at once?"
mo; he was there twice"
Simpkins started for home about |
December 1. 1905 and Orchard said |
he had not seen him from that day to |
this. While in Caldwell Simpkins help |
ed him manufacture a bomb.
Bomb That Killed Steunenberg.
"was that the bomb which killed |
Steunenberg
"It was the same powder 1 later
changed the casing from wood to TIM |
Orchard denied that he had ever |
tried to sell what he claimed was a |
non-freeza Bile explosive.
Orchard also left Caldwell after the !
failure of the attempt with Simpkins. |
He called Bill Easterly of Silver City
up on the telephone and asked him If |
he didn't want to come over to Cald-
well and take part in a contract"
Easterly declined, saying he was too |
busy at home
Orchard then went to Salt Lake to /
get a man named Shoddy to help him. |
Shoddy. however, could not be found |
Returning to Caldwell alone Or |
where he became acquainted with the |
employees of the place. He made no |
effort to conceal himself
Richardson wanted to know why IL |