Arizona republican., 1907-05-17
NEITHER PAY
NOR PROMISE
Drew Confession From As.
SaSSin Harry Orchard
For the First Time Yes
terday He Granted an
Interview.

Boise. Id, May 16.-Harry orchard.
the prisoner witness upon whom the
state chiefly relies to prove the charge
that the inner circles of the Western
Federation of Miners planned the mur-
der of Steunenberg, broke his long 81
lence today and for over half an hour
discussed himself and his imprison-
ment with a representative of the As
sociated Press, whom he had expressed
4 desire to see. Orchard said he had
not been given mistreatment during
his confinement, denied that force had
been used to secure the statements
he had made. and denied that detec-
tive Mcfarland and the officers of the
state had promised him immunity
for his confessed crime as a reward
for the value of his alleged confession.
Orchards manner and conversation
during the interview tended to strongly
confirm the assertion that he had been
reconVerted to the Christian religion.
orchard is perfectly sound and healthy
in body. and clear and quick of brain.
If there was ever anything in the re-
ports that he has broken in health and
mind there is nothing now in his ap
pearance or manner to give them the
shadow of a suggestion.
one condition imposed upon the in
terview by Warden Whitney was that
there must be no discussion of the case
of the prisoner himself and when he
appeared for the meeting he asked that
the same condition be observed. The
prisoner was brought by a guard to
the warden's private Offices.
The prisoner might have gone in
any walk in life except the one his own
story says he travelled. He came in
quietly. smiling as he advanced. look
ing straight ahead out of a pair of
twinkling blue eyes. His greeting was
self-possessed and his manner court
eous. Orchard is somewhere about
five feet six inches in height. stocky
and plump build and weighs between
170 and 80 pounds
Il don't care to talk about the case
as it stands at this time" he said after
introductions: Il am a little leary
about talking to newspapermen. so if
you ask me anything l think / should
rot talk about. I'll tell YOU"
rs there anything as TO your treat
ment in general you'd care to say to
the public 90
Nothing special to be said. / have
been treated very well by everyone
since my arrest. The sheriff at Cald-
well was ver.r kind TO me. Since !
have been here my treatment has been
very fine-all could expect under the
circumstances | am given the great
est freedom. / have large room with
open windows to exercise in every
day. I attend religious services and
talk to some of the men in the hope
of doing them some good.
Il have ? number of works on the
reformation and something about the
history of England a hundred years
ago. Much of what I read has been
ecclesiastical and religious. |. used to
read 4 great deal of other literature
and a lot of novels
why did you change?" asked one
Of the interviewers.
Orchard hesitated a moment and
then in quiet tone. said:
''It is like the little boy who always
lied to his father about everything.
then suddenly decided to tell him the
truth about everything That is about
the best way can EXPRESS the idea.
used to like to read novels and all
pthei hiHuS VI DoOhS. out now L 90 not
care for such trash"
ut is like a man." he went on g
moment later in earnest tones. "who
has been doing wrong all his life and
suddenly decides to do right He can
not undo all the wrong he has done but
he can at Least do something TO clear
things uD.''
WAS am force or duress of any
kind used on you by Captain McPart-
land or anyone else in securing your
alleged confession or statements. Have
any promises of any kind been made
you in that connection"
81 have never admitted and do not
admit now that / ever made a confess
sion" said Orchard Mind that But
at no time was | ever subjected to
force or pressure of any kind. Any
thing | said TO Captain Mcfarland
was without force or threat of any
kind. Anything | said was of my own
free will and accord. Just as l talk to