The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1907-08-01
Jury Returns Verdict of mot
Guilty" in Noted Case
RESULT WAS A SURPRISE
Ei1kt Jurors Were for Haywood from
the First and Other Four Were FL
naI!y Won Over Orchards
Story Unavailing.


:iful Sabbath morning, William D.
Haywood, secretary and treasurer OF
he Western Federation of Miners,
walked from the court room at Boise,
Idaho, a free man, acquitted of the
murder of former Governor Steunen-
berg.
Probability of acquittal was freely
predicted after Judge Fremont Wood
read his charge Saturday, which was
regarded as favorable to the defense
in its Interpretation Of the laws OF
conspiracy, circumstantial evidence
and the corroboration of a confessed
accomplice.
It was also freely predicted that, IN
the event of Haywoods acQuittal, the
state would abandon the prosecution
of his associates, Charles H. Moyer,
president of the federation, and Geo.
A. Pettibone Of Denver. Statements
from counsel and from Governor
Gooding. issued Sunday, dispel this
view of the situation. Governor Good
ing said:
The verdict is great surprise to
me. and l believe to all citizens or
Idaho, who have heard or read the
evidence in the case. have done my
duty. I have no regret as to any ac-
ton 1 have taken, and my conscience
is clear. AS long as God gives me
strength, 1 shall continue my efforts
for government by law and for organ
lied society.
"The state will continue vigorous
prosecution of Meyer and Pettibone
and Adams and of Simpkins WHEN
apprehended. There will be neither
hesitation nor retreat.
Application will be made to Judge
Wood to admit Meyer and Pettibone
to bail
No. the least interesting of the CON-
ments made on the outcome was tnat
of Harry Orchard, the confessed
murderer of Steunenberg, and the wit
ness on whom the state chiefly rslied
to prove it's charge of a conspiracy
among certain members Of the west
ern Federation OF Miners. When told
at the state psnitentiary that Hay
wood had been acquitted Orchard
said:
"Well l have done my duty. have
told the truth. 1 could do 20 more. l
am ready to take any punishment
that may be meted out to me for my
crime and the sooner it comes the
better"
It was after being out for twenty
one hours tha: the jury, which at first
had been divided 8 to for acquittai,
and then seemed deadloclzed, at 10 to
2 finally came to an agreement.
Events moved rapidly enough after
this and when ct last the prlnclpal
actors in the trial had been gathered
into the court room, at a few mo-
ments before 8 o'clock, Sunday morn
ing the envelope handed by the 1ore-
man to the Judge was torn open ana
the verdict read.
If came as an electric thrill to the
prisoner, to his counsel, to the attor'
news for the state and the small group
of newspaper reporters and court Of
acers who had been summoned Iroln
heds but lately sought, or from Of
fces where sleepless waiting had
marked the night.
Tears welled to the eyes of the man.
who during the so days OF his trial.
had cat with stolid Indifference writ
ton on his every feature. At last, tne
;cv armor that he had thrown aoou1
himself with the first of jury selection
had been pierced.
Havwood's attorneys were fairly lift
Cd from their seats, and Judge WOOD
made no effort to restrain them' as
they surrounded him to snake his
Tb.nds and shout aloud their congra1u
| lations.
Senator Bcrah, who made the clos
ing nlea for conviction, was not pres
ent. -
Of the prisoners counsel, those IL
tho court room were: Clarence OAR
row Of Chicago, E. F. Richardson o.
Denver and John F. Nugent OF BOISE
No member Of the prisoners family
nor any of his friends among the so
cialist writer's and the labor jury
u.s IN the court room when the yer
| dict was read.