Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-07-29

pens into existence. In one Of them at
one time there were 500 prisoners, who
We're compelled to sleep on the ground,
each of them with only a pile OF straw
for q bed. Some of these prisoners, on
obtaining their freedom, vowed VEN
geance on Governor Steunenberg, hold
ing him to account for the treatment
they had received.
Governor Steunenberg also stirred up
the hatred of labor leaders throughout
the Rocky Mountains by issuing proc
lamation forbidding mine owners Of his
district from employing unien men, and
requiring every man who entered the
mines to obtain permit from General
Merriam. The affair became the subject
Of an investigation OF the House commit
tee on military affairs at Washington In
the spring Of 1900 ss
The Republican members reported In
favor Of the governors action. The DEM
ocrats, under the leadership of Repre-
sentative SulZer, made minority report
censrring both the state and national ad-
ministrations.
Steunenbcrg served out his term and re-
entered private life.
On the night of Dec. 30, 1895, as he
swung open his garden gate, a mine that
had been set for him exploded and tore
his body to pieces
The first persons arrested in connection
with the crime were Harry Orchard and
Steve Adams. Detective Mcfarland IA
nous for his work in breaking UP the
Mollie Maeuires, was summoned and sue
ceeded In securing from the men in Gus
| xx,,sft T. i.l~
declared that they had murdered the ex-
governor but that they were the tools of
the officials of the Western Federation of
Miners.
Armed with the Orchard confession, the
Sheriff Of Canyon county. Idaho. arrived
In Denver Feb. &c. 1906. with requisition
from Governor Gooding for Meyer. Hay
wood and Pettibone. l.. ]. Simpkins, an
other member of the executive board of
the Federation, was also implicated, but
ne escaped and a reward for him is still
standing. Governor Mcdonald read the
confession and instantly granted the re-
QUESTION. He issued warrants for the
three lnen.
Meyer was arrested on a sleeping car
as he was starting for Lead, S. ID. Hay
wood and Pettibone were taken at their
homes. They were not allowed to COM
municate with their families or legal
counsel. Early the next morning they
were put on special train under heavy
guard and started for Idaho.
This action. their friends assert, was
virtual kidnapping. The excuse offered
by the officials fs that they wanted to
evade haheas corpus proceedings On
reaching Boise the prisoners were put
in separate cells in the state peniten-
;iary ard not allowed to converse with
each other or see counsel.
After solitary confinement for several
weeks, threats by counsel to proceed
against the Governor brought about a
modification of the rigors of confine-
nent. The prisoners were allowed to see
their lawyers. The supreme court of
Idaho granted writ of habeas corpus
on petition of the prisoners attorneys,
but before it was returnable the grand
jury of Canyon City indicted the trio.
Then, on account of alleged irregular
tiles in the conduct of the police who
arrested them they applied to the init,
ell States courts for writs OF habeas
corpus. These being refused, they APP
pealed to the United States supreme
court. That court, on April "a Of last
year. refused to hear their argument.
until Oct. 9. On Dec. the deciaiun of
court was announced. Habeas Epfpus
writs were denied and trial by law of
the accused men made certain. 49,
Haywood being selected as the first TO
undergo the court ordeal, his trial opened
on Thursday, May 9 last. The state based
it's case largely upon the so-cailed con-
fcssicn Of Harry Orchard, which had been
made to Detective MCFARLAND of the
Pinkerton force. Steve Adams mad also
made a so-called confession. but this he
afterwards retracted and upon his trial
the jury disagreed. He is now awaiting
a new trial.
Orchard retracted nothing When put
on the stand by the Haywood prosecu-
ton he not only reiterated everything he
had told Detective Mcfarland, but added
many remarkable details that made him
out to be not only a murderer many
times over, but an expert in other lines
Of crime
He placed the responsibility for some
80 murders in Colorado and other states
In connection with labor troubles upon
the Inner circle of the Western Feder-
alton of Miners.
Speaking of the Steunenberg murder.
Orchard said he made all the bombs. The
explosive, he said. consisted Of two
pounds Of dynamite, with 100 Illuminating
caps placed around the dynamite Over
these cotton saturated with cyanide Of
potassium and sugar was placed. Slant
ing over the cotton was a bottle filled
with sulphuric acid. Attached to the
cork In the bottle was a pin ia which
was attached q thin wire that led to the
gate. When Steunenberg was on his way
nome the wire was fastened to the gate.
When he opened the gate the action
nrew the cork from the bottle. The acid
mixed with the cotton, ignited the cans
and exploded the dynamite. Orchard. in
Ills confession. said he had been given
''soo Tor the killing Of Steunenberg.
1t was upon Orchards stories that
the state based it's contention of COLI
spiracy on the part of tho Western
federation to make away with men
whom 1t considered inimical, among
them being Steunenberg.
lnfa