The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-07-23
Richardson Says Orchard Had q
Mania for Crime.
Admits He Killed Steunenberg
as He Described.
MIGHT HAVE SHOT HIM
Governor Was a Shining Mark
for Assassin's Bullet.
Offers Excuse for the Flight Of
Jack Simpkins.

Boise, Idaho. July 23.-Declaring
Harry orchard was man possessed
with lust for murders desire to
glut disordered brain with blood of
his fellow man-Attorney Richard
son, continuing his plea for the life
of William d. Haywood told the jury
that the defense was ready and willing
to admit that Orchard accomplished
the taking off of Governor Steun-
enberg In the manner described by
him on the witness stand
Orchard was painted, a man who
fancied there was glory In spectacu-
lar crime. Day after day was pre-
sented to him to kill Steunenberg in
comparative safety to himself, but
rather than shoot a man whose giant
stature, the attorney said. offered a
target as big as the side of a barn
door," Orchard planted a bomb and
planned the deed so that 1t might at
tract the greatest amount of atten-
ton.
Richardson asserted that Orchard
had a motive against Governor Steun-
enberg for the real or fancied loss of
his interest in the Hercules mine
through being driven out of the Coeur
D'Alenes. OF Orchards story of many
of his attempts upon the lives of men
said to have been marked for death
said it was the most absurd thing on
the face of the earth. He declared
that it would be long time before
the law would sanction such testi-
mOny as had been adduced against
Haywood and he pleaded with the
jury not to put a halter about the
neck of his client, 'at the behest of
the Mine Owners association and its
representatives"
AS to the disappearance of Jack
S1mpkins following the death of Gov
ernor Steunenberg, Attorney Richard
son said he too would flee to hiding
under similar circumstances, although
there was not an iota of evidence to
connect Simpkins with the crime.
Simpkins had had one experience in
an Idaho bull pen and his only safety
was in flight.
The Bradley Explosion,
Resuming his argument this morn
ing Attorney Richardson reverted to
the Bradley explosion in San Francis
co briefly to call attention to the tes--
timony of a witness who said Orchard
declared Bradley got what was com
ing to him and there's a chap named
Steunenberg who is going to get his"
Tracing Orchard back to Denver,
where he made the second attempt on
the life of Governor Peabody, Mr..
Richardson declared that absolutely
no corrOboration had been offered to
Orchards story of setting the bomb
under the sidewalk and it's failure to
explode because of coal cart driving
across the wire. The attorney also
declared that no sufficient explanation
had been offered as to why Orchard
abandoned from time to time the at
tempts on the lives of Governor Pea
body, Judges Goddard and Gabbert,
Sherman Bell and Hearne.
DO you suppose, gentlemen of the
jury" asked Richardson, that if
ern Federation of Miners had marked
these men for death and had hired
assassns to do their work, they would
have been so easily and without ap-
parent cause deferred from carrying
out their design? Do you imagine
they would stop until their purpose
had been accomplished
MurderOus Mania.
The attorneys voice was quite
husky today as a result of his effort.
when you consider all the testi-
mony in this case L think you will
reach with me the conclusio that this
man Orchard was possessed of
mania to go out and kill. Sometimes
his lust was greater than at others and
so it was that sometimes he was strong
in his purpose and sometimes waver-
ed. His testimony shows a desultory,
maniacal method of pursuing the vic
Tins selected for death for some
fancied grievance against himself or
perhaps the organization to which he
belonged. Why, gentlemen, even
Vaught, the insurance agent, who
Travelled with Orchard, slept with him
and knew as well anybody could,
tells you that Orchards talk at times
made him think the man was bug
house Orchards is the most absurd
story on the face of the earth. He
saws there was never any fixed amount
to be paid him for gwen crimes-he
was always invariably told not to take
too much as he could get more when
ever he wanted it. In the light of this
testimony what becomes of Hawley's
opening statement to you that the
western Federation os Miners had a
scale of prices for crime, so much be-
ing fixed for the murder of governor.
so much for judge and so much FOR
a common laborer?"
Richardson called attention to the
of Governor Peabody's tes-
tirnony. when he appeared as a witness
and exclaimed in stentorian voice:
Appeals to Jury.
''Wiu you men of the jury put halter
the neck of this man on such tes-
timony as this and send him to his death
at the behest of the Mine Owners as
sociation and its representatives? It
will be a long time tell you before the
law win sanction a conviction on any
such evidence as has been here ad-
duced."
richardson ridiculed Orchards story
as to being ordered Ito get" David H.
Moffatt, president of the First National
bank of Denver. He declared that Hay
wood deposited all the funds of the fed
GRAFTON in this bank and was constant
visitor there
..Think of that, men, and yet this crea-
ture. covered with the slime of his past
crimes, comes here and would have you
believe that Haywood was planning to
commit murder on the man to whom