The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-07-24
Declares Governor Peabody
Would not be Alive if
Union Sought Death.
FORSAKES OLD THEORY
Lawyer Richardson Springs Surprise
In Argument and Charges
Plot.

Boise, Idaho. July 23.-The most ex-
ltraordinary thing that has occurred in
all the eleven weeks Of the Haywood
trial took place this morning when At
torney Richardson senior counsel for
the defense. In the course OF his argu-
ment to the jury, declared the fact that
| Gov Peabody, Judges Gabbert and
Goddard. Gen. Sherman Bell, and other
opponents of the Western Federation
of Miners are still alive is conclusive
proof that the federation leaders never
marked them for death
So, too, he declared the fact that
Steunenberg lived for six years after
Jack Simpkins suffered in the Occur
d'Alene bull pen was complete proof
that Simpkins had no motive for kill
ing him, because Simkins was a deter
mined man, who would have accom-
plished his purpose long before the
| close of 1905 if he had ever intended
to murder the former governor
The whole courtroom listened to this
amazing argument with establishment.
and there was plenty of indication that
it did not sit at all well with either
! Haywood or Richardson's associates in
the defense.
Even Jurors Betray Surprise.
| The jurors looked at the lawyer with
weird attention, and for once there was
! an expression of surprise, even on
some of those ordinarily inscrutable
faces. AS the crowd filed out of the
room at adjournment there was plenty
Of comment that the defense must be
getting desperate to make such plea
and declare thus OPENLY how sure and
unfailing was the vengeance of the
federation.
Can you believe" cried Richardson,
that if these men had been as muir
derous and as implacable against their
| enemies as Orchard has described them
that Sherman Bell would be alive and
about his business in Denver today
and all those bitter enemies of organ
lied labor. Peabody and Goddard and
Gabbert.
1T is just as certain as that you and
are here today that not one of these
men would be alive today If these de
PENDANTS had been tl4e.s murderers that
lOrchard charges them with being"
Curious Defense OF simpkins.
In other words. the fact that they
were not murdered was proof that
their murder never was attempted, for
if it had been tried it would have been
|
nection of Jack Simpkins with the
Steunenberg case.
Il never heard" said Richardson,
that Simpkins was not a man of some
resolution If he ever had intended to
kill Steunenberg he would have ac-
complished his purpose. Steunenberg
never would have lived from 1899 to
1905 They were in the same state
Simpkins had plenty of opportunities
He met Steunenberg at political meet
ings.
He had no trouble in getting at the
governor at any time. He could have
got him whenever he wanted. But
that was not why Simpkins went t.
Caldwell with Orchard believe he
was inveighled there by Orchard or
some preteXt of a hunting or fishing
trip or to look at a ranch Orchard.
scheme was to get Simpkins there, JUS
as he tried to get Bill Easterly there
: for purpose which he made appear
innocent, but which was in reality t
have some member Of the federation
: implicated with him in the murder"
! Lawyer COntradietS Himself.
Richardson apparently forgot. in tn,
enthusiasm of his argument, the pie;
he had made yesterday with referenc,
: to Jack Simpkins. Then he justified tn
I fugitive member of the federation ex
: ecutive board for harboring the desir
for revenge against Steunenberg, an,
told the jury that they. too if the.
had suffered in the bullpen as Simp
kins did. would have felt a hatred 70
Steunenberg
Today Richardson went farther i
/ his disagreement with himself H
declared that not only did Simpkin
T have no motive for killing Steunen
Is berg, but that the hatred inspired b
: his buupen experience had died wit
the lapse Of years. And there he differ
entiated peculiarly between Orchar
= and Simpkins. Simpkins had endure
Q terrible indignities in the bulIper
$ while Orchard had merely felt com
PEELED to leave the Occur d'Alenes. Ye
q Simpkins' hatred melted away wit
e years, while Orchards grew and be
came more bitter. so that in the en-
=. Orchard borrowed $500 from Paulse
ard set out on his own motion to tax
the long road of revenge for his per
sonaI grievance.
: Richardson also justified the flight c
= Simpkins today.
= Justifies Flight of Simpkins.
l. II am frank to say that If I ha
n been IN the buIIpen that summer" h
le said. and had been inveigled by Oh
+ chard into stopping at Caldwell wit
st him, and were q member of the execJ
II tive board Of the federation. I shoul
De have gone into hiding myself on heal
ing Of the murder of Steunenberg. I
l. matter how innocent might haS
" been.
ID ANY one of you would have done
tn to. And If I had known that I'll
er murder would be attributed TO Il
be leaders Of the Western Federation
10 Miners I would have advised them
f. co the same thing"
ID It was the plea of confession ar
r avoidance again. as Hawley describe
Id IT the other day. The jurors watche