Montana news. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-191?, 1907-07-18
Meyer on
Witness Stand
Explains Workings of the Western
Federation and How They Pro.
teCt Their Members

could have had no conversation with
him in regard to the blowing up of the
Vindicator mine. Asked il he gave
Orchard money during the Cripple
Creek trial for his good Offices in con-
nection with the Federation, he fatty
denied it. He told of how Orchard
came to go as body guard with him
to Auray. Orchard had asked about
the advisability of going down into
the San Juan camps for work. Such
violence had been shown to the union
men in that part of the country that
he had intended employing some one
to accompany him when he went over
there. A number of the Federation
members were talking of going over
there about that time, but when he
got ready Orchard was going away in
few days, and said he would just as
soon wait and go with Mr.. Meyer as
matter of precaution. The recent beat
ing up the coal miners organizers had
made prudent considerations necessary.
They asked Mr.. Pettibone to procure
the guns for them. Mr.. Meyer let Or
ehard keep the one he carried. His
own had never been fred and there
fore could not have killed Lyte Greg
ory.
At Aurey Mr.. Meyer was arrested
at the request of the sheriff of San
Miguel county, where the strike was
on without any charge He told of
his arrest for desecrating the flag be-
cause of poster issued from Fedora
tion headquarters, of his arrest at
Telluride and incarceration in the bull.
pen, and the indignities heaped upon
him, and how he refused to clean the
streets.
While he was giving this testimony,
Riddell, the exposed Telluride Pinker.
ton, came in and Mr.. Meyer identified
as the man who was in the bull-pen
with him.
The w. +. N. was the only organi-
alton that has offered any reward for
the apprehension of the perpetrators
of the Independence depot crime. Five
thousand dollars being the amount Of
fered.
No money was given to Orchard for
crimes or any other purpose by the W.
F. M. except for strike benefits.
Mr.. Meyer testified that il was com.
mon for blaeklisted men to change
their names at different points in order
to get work.
The W. F, N. ritual with its cipher
and pass word code was put on exhib-
ition. After che Steunenberg murder
, cipher telegram was received from
Simpkins at the Federation headquar-
tiers, looking towards counsel for Or
I ehard, or Hogan as he called himself,
which was in the possession of the
3 attorneys for the state. They were
a amazed to see the defense forestall
n them with this telegram, which proved
= very innocent when explained. II was
dated from Spokane and read:
I "Cannot get lawyer to defend
. Hogan"
!. Tho correspondence between Hay
wood and the Silver City union, rela-
q tive TO employing Mr.. Nugcnt to de-
;. fend the interests Of the Federation,
,. as it looked as though there were an.
s other conspiracy to connect the organi-
4 cation with grave crimes, was also Of
n fered in evidence. The testimony then
moved into the extradition Of the ne.
Z cused Federation officials. Borah
il fought hard to rule this testimony out.
A stiff argument ensucd.
Mr.. Darrow said that a part Of the
conspiracy of the mine owners against
n the Federation was to get rid of the
!. officials. Mr.. Borah said the men were
n brought here through a perfectly legal
!. process.
|. The erossexamination was very sew.
!. ere, and very close regarding Simpkins.
q Mr.. Meyer said that legal support was
"a given TO the members of the Fedora.
3 tion when they were accused because
of their connection with the w. +. NJ.
!. He was asked IL the w. F.. NJ. was
o defnding Adams in the charge against
|. him for killing Tyler, and replied that
1t was, as il was believed that Adams
"a arrest grew out of circumstances con,
" nectcd with the Steunenbcrg matter.
G Borah questioned closely as to why
the Federation undertook to defend
d Orchard at hrst. Mr.. Meyer said the