The Elbert County tribune., 1907-06-13
0 R HARD'S LIFE
SHOWS PRIDE IN THE VERY MAG
TuDE OF HIS CRIMES.
WRITES HIS OWN HISTORY
1t Is Not Generally Believed that Re-
iision Is the Sustaining Element
IN the Murdercr's 6raxenness.
BY John /. Tierney.

story OF my life. 1t is a true and COM
plete account OF my history from my
earliest recollection to the present"
So declared Harry Orchard on the
witness stand, and he made the an
nouncement with note OF pride in
his voice. He said he had been work
ing on II for more than year past
He had gone over 1t again and again.
He had revised 1t and changed the
phraesology to bring the work as near
perfection as lay in his power.
The vanity of authorship has seized
on Orchard. He displayed the symp-
toms today when answering Richard
sons questions. At times he disclosed
clearly that this child of his brain was
of far greater moment to him than was
the drama in which he has such
conspicuous part.
Orchard gave the students OF psy-
chology additional material on which
to work. changing the focus at which
they have been studying him and com
pelling changes in the conclusions al
ready deduced Now that the first
shock occasioned by the Orchard
story has passed. the minds of lawyers,
correspondents and spectators turn
from contemplation of those horrors
to an attempt at analyzing the witness.
why is he telling this story.
whether true or not?" is the question,
and no answer is satisfactory. Attor-
neys for the state are as much in the
dark as those to whom Orchard 10
new acquaintance.
"He is a marvel" declared Borah as
he joined group of correspondents af-
ter court had adjourned.
He is psychological mystery"
was Hawleys comment
The idea that religion is the impel-
ling force that is driving tho assassin
to lay bare his soul is not generally
believed. There Is no suggestion OF
remorse or contrition in Orchards
manner or appearance. II is not pos
sible he has travelled in mental con
sciousness the path whose end marks
atonemeut.
Look at the heavy. square jaws of
the man. They are plainly discernlble
even in his printed photograph. When
angered by Richardson this lower jaw
protrudes in ugly fashion, the express
sion undergoes a change, and here is
man who has been dealt a stlnging
blow or is about to deliver knockout.
The face Orchard wears at such times
has been seen at every prize fight ever
held.
No. 1t Is not religion. as we under
stand it. Besides. religion contem-
plates mercy. charity and forgiveness
as Its chief attributes. There is none
OF these in Orchards makeup.
AS for the idea of atonement, Or
chards thoughts are still worldly He
shows that in his carefully groomed
appearance. The clothes he wears are
of finer texture and better fit than
Hawley's or Borah's or the courts. His
linen is always fresh and his ties show
discrimination in selection. His pat
ent leather shoes are always bright,
and If the morning be chilly he has
natty top coat to adorn as well as pro-
tect him. Even his hands and nails
show care and attention.
Cases are on record where vanity
has led men to do utterly inconceivable
things, and where 1t has sustained
them in situations where other sources
OF strength failed. In the recital of
his monstrous story Orchard gives evil
dence in many places that now, after
the account Is all in, he Is supervising
the work of balancing the record with
a sense of pride for the magnitude OF
the sum total.
His very Indifference in telling OF
the number OF his victims and the
manner of their taking away indicates
vanity.
The unconcern he manifests when
lt~.lx. s.I. IL. -
Ing losing control by references to his
assassinations and his reluctance to
acknowledge lesser crimes than homi-
eide. bear out the theory.
did you commit any holdups in
Denver during the spring of 1904, any
burglaries. snatch any pocketbooks?"
asked Richardson.
An indignant denial came from Or
chard. and he glared viciously at at the
attorney. Such Incidental and trivial
acts were not for him.
On the other hand, when Richardson
cross-examined him with regard to
his knowledge OF or acquaintance with
Lyte Gregory. to bring out the cold
blooded character of that murder the
witness assented to Richardson's pur-
pose.
You did not know Lyte Gregory?
He had never done you any harm? You
had never seen him? You had never
even heard of him?"
To each of these questions Orchard
answered calmly:
mo"
In truth. Borah may style Orchard
marvel, although the comment was
made from the po Vt of view OF the at
torney watching his own witness in
the hands of the opposition counsel.
Il never saw such quick wit dis
played by witness in my life" said
Borah. He has absolutely refused to
be led by counsel and Richardson is an
| adroit examiner He frames his ques-