The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-05-07
HARRY ORCHARD
WILL Be CALLED
EARLY IN TRIAL
Defense VIII Make Fight
On Credibility of
Idaho'S Witness.

BOISE, Idaho May 7.-Realizing that
its strongest witness is an acknowledged
self-confessed perjurer and murderer.
and that il will be a difficult task 10 con-
vince the jury his evidence is worthy of
credence. the attorneys for the State in
the Haywood trial viii establish new
precedent in a major criminal action,
by calling him as one OF its first wit
nesses.
Ordinarily a witness of this magnitude
would be reserved for the last hour, but
Messrs. Hawley and BOrah. for the
prosecution, have decided il will be
necessary TO have much corroborative
evidence to have Harry Orchards story
carry weight, so he will early repeat
his confession" Then other witnesses
following are expected to show what he
swears to is So
Will Try to Impeach Orchard.
The defense will have many witnesses,
including boy and early manhood
friends Of Orchard on hand TO impeach
his credibility as a competent witness.
They, it is averred, will swear that from
boyhood Orchard always was a monu-
mental liar.
As Orchard says he planted the bomb
was paid TO do IL by Meyer, Haywood,
and Pettibone, II Will be seen readily
that the acceptance or rejection OF his
story viii be the chief factor in the
present trial.
At 10 a. m. Wednesday. Judge Wood
is expected to hand down his decision
denying the application for a bill of
particulars IN the case OF Haywood, and
g, f.T
morning
Although the city is quiet. a declara-
ton Ia open court by the States at.
torneys that witnesses are being lamp
cred with has aroused considerable re-
sentiment and may have an influence
on the securing Of a jury, which already
Is acknowledged TO be a lengthy task.
only about loo men are available in
Ada county for jury duty. and the SEN
sational statements about the case
which are given local publicity will ac-
knowledgedly tend TO form an opinion
10 dlsqualfy jurors.
Attorneys and friends Of the defend
nnts are not pleased with the charges
of Senator Borah and his associates
They claim IL is part OF an already
formed plan 10 convince the people Of
the country that terrorism rules and GER
methods TO clear the accused. Counsel
Tor the defense insists that all its side
wants or desires is complete justice, and
this, IL Is openly averred, will free
Meyer, Haywood. and Pettibone.
Twenty six Veniremen on First Panel.
When the trial opens Thursday the
work OF selecting the jury will begin
at once. But twenty-six veniremen are
on the panel. and these probably viii be
exhausted In one day. Then additional
panels will be drawn until finally all
twelve seats are occupied
The plans Of the State for presenting
Its case are practically complete. Or
chard, the star witness. will be called
very early II has been decided to call
four witnesses before him. They will be
persons who saw the body OF the muir
dered Steunenberg and those who saw
Orchard in Caldwell before and after
the crime was committed. Then Or
chard will be called to tell the story al
ready given by him In his confession
duplicating the accused.
Prosecution Will Call 80 Witnesses.
The prosecution will call thirty-three
witnesses in direct examination, and
have twelve for rebuttal. Counsel for
the defense has not decided how many
witnesses they will need until after the
prosecutions case is closed
Today being an off day IL is being
spent by both sides in picking up ali
loose ends and completing preparations
Tor the legal battle No matter how
Judge Woods decides on the defense's
application for a writ of particulars
w unesaay, the real work OF selecting
o'clock