The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1907-06-22
ORCHARD ONCE TAuchT II
SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS
Was Also a Leader in the Epworth
League and Comes From
$50. Good People.
Something of His Early Life as
Told by Canadian News
paper Writers.

paper Writers.
/ l.
From Toronto, Can, comes a char
acterization of Harry Orchard as the
people of that part Of North Amer
lea see him: He Us referred to as
Alfred Horsley, his freal name, as he
was born near Torento
The following is from the Toronto
Globe:
The north breeds strong men-men
who In physique and in mental equip
ment can hold their own anywhere.
1t seems that the north can breed also
a species of human wolf, at which the
whole world wonders-a man with the
treachery of Mana Sahib and the
callousness of a Nero. The present
generation has seen no such criminal
as Alfred Horsley, who eleven years
ago was living in a peaceful little VIII
lage of Northumberland county, with
but one bad mark against him in pub
lie estimation; that he was tricky in
his dealings.
The wolf nature was there, no
doubt, but Horsley had still a grip of
himself. He had loving wife, whom
he had wooed while both worked in
the neighborhood cheese factory. He
had a bright little girl baby. He had
been Sunday school teacher and
president Of the local Epworth
league. He came of Quaker stock.
and his family connections were un-
impeachable.
Early Life Promising.
If ever outward circumstances indi-
Gated peaceful, uneventful existence
Alfred Horsley seemed destined to
leave the world an honored citizen
after a useful life. Yet one day this
man rose up, and, looking around him,
said, Luciferlike: "Evil, b. thou my
good" He deserted his wife and stole
another mans. He Is alleged to have
burned his cheese factory for the in
surance-less than 5000. Then he
went west, and with the wolf nature
waxing strong begankto seek his prey.
He asserts that he became the sala-
ried assassin Of the finer circle Of the
Western Miners Federation, and that
in this capacity he compassed the
death Of eighteen persons. That he
slew them is beyonA question. The
Jury At Boise must s4ttle thearesponsi-
bility. - g. faszsss,s SIS. SIS.
He is said to have repented and
become a changed man. Does the
wolf become q lamb in captivity? The
latest example of the wolf nature in
Horsley is his revelation o. his real
name and relationships. The sisters
and the brother who played with him
In the happy day: Of childhood might
well have been spared this shame. No
one In Canada knew who "Orchard"
was. Yet with the cruelty that only
a human wolf could know he says:
"Yes, I'm the greatest murderer of the
age; these are my sisters and this is
my brother"
That last infamy of Horsley is as
vulgar as the bomb at Steunenberg's
gate. It is to be hoped the people of
Northumberland and the press of On
tario will spare the feelings of the
relatives of. this greatest Of GRIMM
ais, and not pursue them with the
searchlight Of publicity.
About His Home Town.
WOOLER, Ont, June 20-Not SO
bad as those he admits on the stand
at" Boise, but still bad enough, are
those crimes with which his former
neighbors in this place charge Harr y
Orchard. Arson, theft from creditors
and desertion Of three women, two Of
whom he had married, are among. the
accusations. Beside these, it is
charged that he caused the death of
his Quaker parents from broken
hearts.
This was the birthplace of, Orchard,
or Alfred Horsley, which is his real
name. Alfred was brought up in the
Quaker faith. He achieved local
prominence in the Methodist church,
which he later Joined, and became su-
perintendent. of The Sunday school,
which position he held until he lett
here in 1895.
Horsley adopted the cheesemaking
business for the employment of his
energies outside the church and Sun
day school, and owned a small. fac
tory, subject to some incumbrances.
His reputation was the best, especial
~ among whom he had large ac-
quaintance. E..
He earned the reputation of being
the best dresser about Wooler, drove
a fast horse and did not disdatn to
fiirt with the rosy checked daughters
of the farmers with whom he dealt.
However, in the spring Of 1895 Hor-
sley found himself involved in finan-
cial difficulties, with. the probability
OF embarrassment on account of his
intimacy with one of the women of
his congregation.
TEAnED0 nrs DpTanN