Washington State journal and Adams County news. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1906-1907, 1907-07-31
HAYWOOD
FREE MAN
GREAT TRIAL OF UNION
MINER IS ENDED.
FREEING OF THE FIRST DEFEND.
ANT At BOISE THE CAUSE
OF MUCH REJOICING.

Boise, Idaho, July SO.-Into the
bright sunlight of a beautiful Sab
bath morning into the stiffness Of a
city drowsy with the lazy slumber
of summer Sunday, William D. Hay
wood, the defendant in one Of the most
noted trials involving conspiracy and
murder that the country has ever
known, walked today free man, &C.
quilted of the murder of former Gov
ernor Frank Steunenberg.
The probability Of verdict of &C.
Quittal in the case Of the secretary
treasurer and acknowledged leader Of
the Western Federation of Miners had
been freely predicted since Saturday.
when Judge Fremont Wood read his
charge, which was regarded as strong
1y favoring the defense in its interpre.
tation of the laws Of conspiracy, cir
cumstantial evidence and the corrobo-
ration Of an accomplice who confesses.
1t was also freely predicted that in
the event Of Haywood's acQuittal the
state would abondon the prosecution
of his associates, Charles H. Meyer,
president of the federation, and George
A. Pettibone of Denver.
Application has been made to Judge
Wood to admit Meyer and Pettibone
to bail, and it was said that in the
case of Meyer, against whom the state
is admitted to have it's weakest case,
favorable consideration would not
be unexpected.
Not the least interesting of the COM
ments made upon the verdict was that
of Harry Orchard, the self-confessed
murderer Of Governor Steunenberg,
and the witness upon whom the state
chiefly relied to prove its claim of a
sinister conspiracy by the Western
Federation of Miners. When told at
the state penitentiary that Haywood
had been acquitted, Orchard said:
well, have done my duty. I have
told the truth. I could do no more
am ready to take any punishment
that may be melted out to me for
my crime, and the sooner it comes
the better"
It was after being out for 81 hours
that the jury which at first had been
divided eight to four, and then seemed
'deadlocked at ten to two, finally came
to an agreement shortly after the first
faint streaks of the coming day
showed gray above the giant hills
which wall Boise to the north and
east. The weary, snow-bearded old
bailiff, who had kept an all-night vigil
before the door of the juryroom, was
startled into action by an imperative
knock from within. Events moved
rapidly after this, and when at last
the principal actors in the trial had
been gathered into the courtroom at a
few minutes before o'clock the white
envelope handed by the foreman to
the judge was torn open and the YER
dict read.
Butte Unions In Big Parade.
Butte, Mont, July 30.-Seven thou.
sand ,sta1wart miners and other union
workers of Butte paraded the streets
In this city Sunday evening as an
expression of their qualification at the
:acquittal of William D. Haywood.
Preceded by pictures Of Haywood, BAN
ners on which were inscribed the SEN
timents of the marching thousands
and by big American flags and with
the Boston G. Montana band playing
stirring march music, the great pro-
'cession started. four abreast, from in
front of Miners Union hall, and ira
versed all the principal thoroughfares
of the city.