Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-06-06


ceeded to watch him for some time at
the capitol and at his home.
II reported to Haywood and Petit
bone that there was stone wall near
Peabody's house from behind which he
could be easily shot Haywood said he
thought Steve Adams was the best
man he knew of for the work. l went
to Cripple Creek and saw Adams
about it, He said he was ready for
twas ready for any old thing. I gave
Adams some money and came away.
Adams followed me to Denver. l saw
Adams in q room over Pettibone's
store and at headquarters. | told him
Haywood and Pettbonc were coming.
When Steve came they gave him some
money, and Pettibone bought him a
new suit of clothes and fixed him up.
| PCttihOne gave us the guns. He got
them from federation headquarters.
I'VE watched for Peabody every
night for week, but did not see him.
We kept after him for three weeks. One
night we saw a hack come along and
turn into his residence. We stole up be-
| hind il with our guns. Only two wo-
men alighted, however. After this we
were afraid to go around there, for the
wrmcn watched US closely that night.
We decided that we would try to use a
mountaineering a hole in the sidewalk
and burying it,
did you talk to Haywood about
| thiS?"
| eyes. Pettbore said all right, but
| Haywood said he did not want this
done because the executive board was
il session and he did not want anything
to occur at that time. He told us to lay
off for q while. We remained in the
city, but did not go to headquarters
much"
"Wbat next did you do?"
1--WE were to assassinate Lyle Greg
Dry, deputy sheriff. who had been in
the mines. He had also been in Gold
field and was against us"
| "Who suggested this?"
'Pettibonc. He told Adams and N.Y.
self he wanted the thing done. Petit
bone, Adams and myself went down
town to a saloon where we found
| Gregory in n rear room, drunk. Mel
drim, who was a mine owner, was
| with Gregory. We watched them and
followed them across the street. Pet
tibone then made some excuse and left
Us. Gregory left the place about mid
night. He saw US. 7 think, and made
a reach as l thought for a gun. l then
shot him three times with a sawed off
shot gun"
Did you kill him."
eyes, sir, l believe | did,
Orchard then told of running away
and hiding his gun. Next day he saw
Haywood, Pettibonc and Jack Simp-
kins
"Thcy all expressed themselves as
wcll pleased with the job. They said it
was all right, and whoever bumped
Gregory off had done a good job
"Wherc was Meyer at this time?"
"He was in Jail at Telluride"
Orchard said there was no specific
arrangement as to the amount of
money to ne paid for the taking off of
Gregory. He received 500 the next
day. and had been getting money from
headquarters right along. Orchard said
Haywood, Pettibone. Simpkins and
sherman Parker next wanted some
thing pulled off, in Cripple Creek.
Orchard told his story in low. hum
drum tone, displaying not the slightest
feeling whatsoever.
'IIaywoo and the others said they
!
and there threatened to be q split up
continued Orchard. "Thev thought tina
if something was pulled off in Cripple
Creek the excitement would make CIV
crything all right in the convention
We planned then to blow up the indie
pcnGcnce depot in Colorado. I asked
Steve Adams if he wanted to help and
he said he did. gave him the money
to get the powder and we took the pow
der 10 q cabin near the depot at nde-
l,ondcncc. The next day Sherman Par
kcr told me that some of the men from
the convention were coming to nde-
Tcndcncc to investigate conditions and
told us not 10 pull the thing off until
th"y went away. They went away Sun
DAY morning, and the same night we
placed the powder under the station
platform, attached Wire to it and
then awaited for the train to come in.
I'll" train brought non-union men to
Independence. We used 100 pounds of
the powder.
'':itovc Adams and both pulled the
string which upset several bottles Of
sulphuric acid. This acid ran to a boz
Of giant caps ana these set the powder
off The depot was wrecked and from
l. to IA men were killed.
eve went to Colorado Springs and
camrcd there one night. We then
campcd near Palmer Lake for one
night. Then we went to Denver In
Denver we met Haywood and Petit
bone Kirwan. now acting secretary of
the Western Federation Of Miners. was
also there. Our conversation had to DO
with the blowing up Of the depot. Petit
bone spoke first and said he was well
pleased with the job. Haywood also
said it was a good thing"
After telling of payment to himself
and Adams. witness continued:
after buying a few things left for
Cheyenne. | saw in the papers there
that We We're accused of blowing np the
INDEPENDENCE DEPOT. 50 | thought we
had better get along.
INSTEAD Of going to the tall timber
| went straight back to Denver and
saw P1ttibonc and Haywood. They told
me at first l had better get out of the