The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1907-07-06
CHICAGO LAWYER COT
STEVE ADAMS To HELP
Clever Trick Played by Dickson
to Reach Imprisoned
Union Men.
Detectives Were Misled and False
Moves Made to Head
Them Off.

prosecution OF Wlludm l.. dayWOou
for the murder of Ex-Governor Steu-
nenberg in Boise, Idaho, is revealed for
the first time. Unless Adams should
corroborate the story told by Harry
Orchard. the state. according to Chi
cago lawyers, would fail to make out
it's case.
Realizing this to be the crux OF the
whole trial. the defense succeeded,
after a year Of endeavor, in penetrat-
ing all the multitude of guards thrown
around Adams in his cell and secured
from him a pledge that he would not
turn against his friends
1t was this which caused Adams to
repudiate his former alleged confess
sion.
George E. Dickson, who has offices
at 153 La Sale street, for year has
been working for the defense of Hay
wood, Moyer and Pettibone, and dur
ing that time he has engineered plot
and counterplot In a gigantic game of
hide-and- with the detectives Of
three states.
With six calico broncos and squad
of grinning Mexlcans, Mr.. Dickson
romped across the alkali plains and
rocky hills of the region between Den
yer, Boise and The Nevada line. He
organized mock raids, riots and as
saults in force, none Of which ever
materialized.
Under Idaho law the confession Of
Harry Orchard had no weight unless
corroborated by other evidence which
would stand alone on it's own value.
Jack Simpkins is dead. Therefore, the
only man who could furnish this COR
roborative evidence is Steve Adams.
Mr. Dickson, whose work has ac-
complished this, was retained in April,
1906. He was called into the case by
Clarence Darrow:
First came the discovery" said Mr..
Dickson, that no one among the
friends of Adams, in any locality, was
ready to believe he had voluntarily
made a confession bearing upon the
case now at trial. But the problem
was to reach him, ascertain his atti-
tude, and then convince him that the
defense would stand by him If he in
turn told the truth. 49,; -,.s,,,. -.
a 'visitsto one j, o.
bore no fruit, for the relative did not
want to mix in the case and resorted
to subterfuge to avoid doing so. But
after months of travel I located Joe
Adams, brother of Steve, at Creede,
COL
Joe didn't know a great deal, but
he was willing, at least, so I persuad-
ed him to make the trip to Boise. At
that time Adams, his wife and three
children were held in the Jail there,
with no charge against them. They
could easily have been released on
habeas corpus proceedings: but I did
MT want to until I could ascertain
whether I was helping friend or foe.
$50 Joe was started on trips to the
Jail with instructions to get Steve's
ideas in the matter but they were
never allowed to talk alone. Six visits
were thus made in two weeks without
a chance for communication. Then a
note was concealed in plug of to-
bacco.
1.-The federation will stick by you if
you stay with your friends it read.
Joe got it to the prisoner. Then there
'were several more uneventful trips.
"One day the guard was called away
for a minute to assist in moving a
desk in the sheriff's office.
"Tell that lawyer that I'm with the
federation and my friends to the last
ditch whispered Steve"
While all of this was going on the
real fun was on the outside. Dickson
was trailed by detectives from the
hi !,
was at that time in the heat of a
campaign for a senatorial toga, so he
hardly appreciated the fact that man
had come all the way from Chicago
to steal the biggest shot from his
locker.
Then came aid for the Chicago man
from an unexpected source. Innocent
ly enough, a partner of Haywood S
father-in-law came to Boise and
bought six horses, with complete out
fits of saddles and brides.
Instantly Detective MCFARLAND. who
has gathered the evidence for the
prosecution, was alert. Plots to hurry
the accused men across the Nevada
border, fifty miles away, after a raid
by allies on the Jail, had long been
suspected. At last a real attempt was
to be made. argued the sleuths. Sc
they left Dickson alone and watched
the horses.
"They had plenty to do," laughed
Mr.. Dickson. Il organized all sorts OF
raids with that bunch Of horses. But
ler-that was the owner-would get q
couple Of friends or squad Of Mex
leans and ride away, leading the ami
mails which were without riders. I'M
mediately the alarm would be sound.
ed. They doubled the Jail guards and
travelled nearly every foot of countr,
around Boise after those pseuuo raid.
ers."
After Adams friendship for the
defense was shown in the message te
his brother, he was quickly released
upon a writ of habeas corpus HI
was Immediately rearrester and taker
to Wallace, Idaho, where he was tried
for the Tyler murder, which was 6
mort ~ Tho jCoo,,r 1,AIor~ %.o,,A1>.