The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-11-13
CONFESSION OF
STEVE ADAMS
Document Admitted in Evil
dence Despite Objections of
Clarence barrow.
FRED TYLER BUMPED OFF"
'SiMPkINs FAILED TO PAY FOR
THE JOB.

Spokane, Wash. Nov. PA special
to the Spokesman-Review from Rath-
drum, Ida, says:
In the gathering gloom of the last
hour of court here today the confession
of Steve Adams, on trial for his life
for the alleged murder of Fred Tyler
in the Marble Creek district of Sho-
shone county. Idaho, in August. 1904,
was e to the jury. 1t was the con-
fession made to James Mcfarland, a
Pinkerton detective. soon after Adams
was arrested in February, 1906, and put
in the Boise ~penitentiary. In the trail
of blood delineated in the confession
of the defendant in the present action.
he weaves an almost romantic tale. II
required a little short Of an hour in
the reading. 1t was admitted by Judge
Wood during McParland's direct exam
ination. Mr. Darrow objected on the
ground that it a not been made vol
unfairly. and that inducements and
promises of leniency had prompted it.
The Confession.
The confession was made in the office
of the warden of the dab state peni-
Tertiary. Feb. q. 1906, in the presence
of James Mcfarland, a PinkertOn de-
tective Of Molie Mcclure fame. and
". B. Hopkins. The defenset claims
that Adams was induced to sign the
document under threats.
Adams had first Joined the Western
Federation of Miners at Altman, about
1899. 1t was while in Colorado that
Adams first met 1dOyer. Haywood and
Pettibone. and the particular time, as
stated in the confession. was the sum
mRr following Arthur Gn11fDGs aScaCGin-
alton at Telluride
Adams was intimately acquainted
with them CMoyer, Haywood and Pet
tibone), right along up to the time he
left Colorado.
Wanted Him to Go to Idaho.
They told me to go to Idaho and see
Jack SimDkins," Adams is quoted in
his confession as saying. THAT he
wanted to see me on some business in
regard to Ex-Governor S-teunenberg,
and that 1 would meet him near Wal
lace, Ida. at Wardner, I believe"
Then the confession deals with pre-
liminary talk about the proposed as
s~assination of Governor S~teunenberg.
This talk had occurred shortly after
the dynamiting of the depot at indie
pendence, in 1904. 1t was about a
month after that Adams started for
AHoiAo II ain Idu idhtl place III
Petitioners back room, and besides Ad-
ans, there had been present Haywood
and Pettibone. Quoting from the con-
fession: They just told me to go up
and see Simpkins, as he wanted to see
me, and he would probably tell me
about the Steunenberg matter, as they
wanted to get ~Steunenberg."
Gave Him 5000.
ssDid Won oct any p,orax- ps
on
Who gave you the mcney?"
George Pettibone."
After meeting Simpkins, Adams lin
sered but a short time in Wardner,
but left 500 for Simpkins' claim,
about fourteen miles above the head CT
navigation on the st. Joe.
There We're some jumpers in there"
Adams is quoted in his confession as
saying.
"Simpkins said that if I helped him
to get rid of these fellows he would
give me $500. Two of these men were
killed."
Who assisted in the killing of these
men?"
Newt Glover, Jack simpkins and
myself"
How did you carry u the murder
ul ISlcE-
Murder of Tyler.
We went in one night, Newt Glover.
AlVah Mason n myself, to Simpkins'
cabin, made some coffee had
breakfast, and in the morning we went
over 10 try to catch Tyler in his cabin
on Jack Simpkins' claim. He was
gone, so we laid there until shutdown. |
He never returned. n we started I'D
TO a spring, and while we were drink
ing We heard someone coming. I said:
All right, l am glad of it I got my
Winchester and, standing by the side
OF he trail, V moved. l saw it
was Tyler coming; he had a big gun
buckled on him.. / stCpred out on the
trail and told him to throw up his
hands. We then disarmed him, took
him to Simpkins' cabin n stopped
there until morning. when we took him