Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-05-09
Famous Case at Boise,
Idaho, at Last is
Begun.
WEEKS TO GET A JURY
II Acquitted Other Mine Officers
Will Surely Also Go
Free.

Boise, Idaho, May 9-Wiliam ..
Haywood, secrctary-treasurer of the
Western Federation of NIiners. was 10.
day placed on trial for conspiracy n
the murder at Caldwell. Dec. 80 1905,
of former Governor Frank Steunen-
berg. Haywood is one of four defen.
dants charged with the murder.
The others are Charles II. Moyer.
president OF the federation; George \.
Pettibone, former member of the exec
utiye committee of the federation; aII
Harry Orchard.
Most Important Witness.
The last named man is expected e..
be the most important witness for tna
state against the others. He is said 20
have made a confession aud il has
been the task of the prosecution to en-
deavor 10 corrOborate this confession
wherever possible. The fact that Hay
woods case is first called for trial is
regarded as an indication that the
prosecuting attorneys believe their
strongest evidence is against the se.-
retary of the federation. The outcome
of his case will determine the action u
be taken with regard to Moyer and
Pettibone.
III Acquitted will Drop Case.
The acquittal of Haywood undoub.-
edly would mean the abandonment Of
the cases against the other accused 9f.
tcers. Orchard will not be tried until
the other cases are disposed of. 1t is
said the evidence against him is 50
strong he cannot hope for other than
a conviction of murder in the first de-
gree regardless of the verdicts upoT
the indictments against Haywood. Moy-
er and Pettibone.
Is Promised Nothing.
Orchard. it is said has been prom
ised no degree of clemency whatso-
ever, in giving evidence for the stato.
Having admitted his active part in the
heinous crime of blowing the former
governor of Idaho to pieces. with 4
bomb at the gate of his residence. o.
chard unquestiOnable will have to pav
capital punishment for his confess
crime.
Change Granted.
Caldwell, where the murder was
committed, is the county seat of Can.
yOn county. \ change OF venue Il
Boise was granted on the motion Of
the defense. it being alleged in behai,
of the prisoners that a fair trial in
Canyon county would be an impossi-
bility. Haywood. Meyer and Pettibona
were transferred to the county Jail
here
The court for which the cases wee
set is known as the district court OF
the third judicial district.
First Important Case.
The presiding Judge is Judge FIR
mont Wood, native of Maine. and {;
former practitioner before the bar in
this city, presiding now over his fir;
important criminal case Wood is re
garded as a careful. deliberate man
and the prosecution and defense in tn,
present trials believe he will leave *
stone unturned to see equal and ever
handed justice done.
Orchard is confined in the Idahc
state penitentiary several miles out oI
the city. He is kept under carefa
guard at all times. Speculation as e
the length of the trial has resulted y
guesses ranging from two weeks to fiy,
months.
Big Task to Get Jury.
There are some who believe the tasL
of selecting jury alone will require ii
least three weeks. In the jury pane
reporting today were only - names
two of these having indicated their TX
cuae is certain. Each side has ten PEI
emptory challenges and there are like
" to be many disdualificatinns