Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-28
ADAMS TELLS
Of EXPERIENCE
WITH OFFICER
Prisoner Declares He
Is Innocent
Man Accused Of Killing Fred Tyler
Says Sheriff Promised Him Pro-
lection If He Would
Confess
BY Associated Press.

BY Associated Press.
SPOKANE, Wash, Feb. 27.-A Wal
lace, Idaho, special to the Spokesman
Review says:
The courthouse was packed to the
doors this afternoon when Steve Ad-
ans, defendant in the murder trial
which involves the approaching trial
of Meyer, Haywood and Pettibone for
the murder of former Governor Steun-
enburg, went on the witness stand in
his own behalf.
Adams was examined with the great
est detail regarding his past life. Wit
ness testified that he had Joined the
Altman Miners union No. 10, branch
of the Western Federation, while at In
dependence in 1901. He had married
Mrs. Adams at Telluride and immedi-
ately after marriage went back to In
dependence, where he was arrested for
dynamiting the shaft of the Indicator
mine.
He was thrown into Jail for ninety
three days, but no charge was proffered
and he was released. Adams described
the means by which he got to Denver
and changed his name to Steve Dixon,
and came to Idaho from Denver, fear
ing to be thrown into Jail, and went to
the Marble Creek district for the pur-
pose of hiding.
While in Denver he met Jack Simp-
kins, who was then member of the
executive board of the Western Fede-
ration. While on his way to Marble
Creek he met Vincent St. John and
t~.tn y,,Na,N N1rty
Wardner.
Went Well Armed
When he went into the Marble Creek
district he was armed with an old
black powder Winchester rifle and an
automatic revolver. He shot quite a
lot in the district, but denied the Incl
dent of shooting over Tylers cabin
while Tyler and Phillips sat in front.
Adams corroborated the attendance at
Mason's birthday party and his leav-
| Ing there on August for the head Of
naYtsat,9nfr Ky acto,1fred fe testimony Of Eli
Laird regarding his riding in the pilot
house on the boat and other witnesses
regarding his visit to Spokane and
staying with his uncle there. He de-
MED that he was at Prices hotel at
Mica Meadows on August "a.
Had Glover, Simpkins and yourself
anything to do with the killing of Ty-
Ter or Boule?"
mo"
He described the manner of his ar
rest on February 20, 1906. at his uncle's
ranch near Baker City by Detective
Dorel and Sheriff Brown on warrant
charging completely in the Steunen-
berg assassination. He was thrown
into Jail over night at Baker City and
demanded that Brown get him an at
torney.
Brown refused, but next morning he
demanded again, and Brown went out
and the witness saw Attorney Moore.
Adams feared being taken to Colorado.
Offered Protection
While at the depot waiting for the
train Brown told him that he was on
the inside and that if Adams would do
what was wanted he would come out
all right. Thiele reiterated this state
ment a number of times on the way to
Boise.
At Boise he was taken straight to the
penitentiary and thrown into a solid
steel cell on the second tier with Harry
Orchard and confined six or seven
days.
While in the cell Orchard told Adams
that he had made a confession impli-
eating officers of the Western Fedora
tion and Adams, and that he (Orchard)
was to get off without prosecution, and
that he was to get piece of money,
and he intended to put pond between
himself and members of the Western
Federation.
Orchard warned Adams that the best
thing he could do was to help convict
the officers of the Western Federation
and corroborate Orchards confession
and save himself and think of his
family and If Adams failed to do this
and went back to Colorado he would
be mobbed or hanged.
Adams testimony will be resumed
tomorrow.
Mrs. Adams on Stand
Immediately before Adams testified
Mrs. Adams was on the witness stand
and stated that on March 2, 1906, she
had been taken from Baker City to
Boise by Thiele.
On the way to Boise Thiele told her
Steve had made a confession and had
been promised immunity and would be
back on the ranch. Mcfarland came
to see her the second day after her ar
rival in Boise and reiterated Thiele's
statement.
At the penitentiary Warden Whitney
told her to cheer up Steve, that he had
gone through terrible ordeal and felt
very badly.
She was locked in the womans ward
in the penitentiary along with women
prisoners, and while there Governor
Gooding had once called on her and
kissed her baby two or three times.
Mrs. Adams denied that Steve ever
referred to the cartridge that killed
Boule.
Amusement was caused when Henry
p. Knight of the prosecution tried to
get Mrs. Adams to admit that Gov
ernor Gooding had kissed the baby two
or three times on account of the politi-
cal campaign then in progress.
4SS