The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1907-06-19
SAY PETT|BONE
WAS A SPY
STORY TOLD THAT PROSECU-
TON HAS LOST STRONGEST
CARD IN DETECTION OF AL.
LEGGED PINkERTON MAN.

BOISE, June 19.-W. A. Petit
bone, member of the executive
board of the Western Federation of
Miners, under indictment with
Messrs. Haywood and Meyer, for
alleged conspiracy to assassinate
former Governor Steunenberg, and
now confined in Idaho awaiting
trial, was to have been the chief
witness to corroborate the story of
Harry Orchard, according to the
highest state authority connected
with the Haywood case. He has, it
is alleged, within the past 8 days
refused to take the witness stand,
however, and the prosecution is in
state of practical helplessness,
and unless it can bring Pettibone
to again change his mind. 1t is be-
lieved that the case against Hay
wood will be allowed to go by the
board.
1t has come to light that the
member of the executive board of
the federation, concerning whom
the prosecution has at times boast
ed it could use against the prison
ers, is In reality one Of the prison
ers and that the reason they figured
on using him was that he was him
self a Pinkerton detective who had
wormed himself into the alleged
Inner circle" and secured the Sc
crets of the organization as McPar-
land secured the secrets of the
Molly McGuires in Pennsylvania.
For the past 2 or months it is
admitted by some of the counsel for
the defense that they knew that
Pettibone was a Pinkerton man at
least until 1903. Whether he had
been at any later date they will
not now commit themselves, but
from their reticence 1t is gathered
that some of the defendants attor-
neys have at least had their sus-
picions. These suspicious were
strengthened when during the di-
rect and cross examination of Orch.
ard 1t was noticed that in all cases
he referred to his particular con-
nections with Pettibone or "Pat
Bone" The work Of the prosecu.
tion was all along the line of con-
Meeting these 2 men for the alleged
purpose of giving the opportunity
for a striking confederation by Pet
tibone when the climax Of the case
should be reached.
Then one of counsel for the de-
Tense is alleged to have stepped in
and set all the work of the state
at naught at a remarkable confer
ence with Pettibone This attor-
ney, who it can be positively stated
is not Mr.. Richardson, chief coun-
sci for the defense. was able by
most powerful reasoning, to con-
vince Pettibone that he should not
go on the stand to swear away the
life of the men with whom he had
been indicted, but that he should
stand by them to the finish.
Not only was pressure brought to
bear by the attorneys in the case,
but 1t Is alleged that some clever
work was done by Mrs. Steve
Adams, who is also understood to
have played an important part In
connection with the possible use
of her husbands testimony. Mrs
Adams Is now and has been for
some time close personal friend OF
Mrs. Pettibone, and the latter is
supposed to have been active In
preventing her husband from TAX.
ing the stand to put Haywood s
neck In the moose.
The possible connection of Petit
bone with the prosecution was
partly corroborated by the boast
here today Of subordinate Pinker,
ton man, who was driven into max
ing his statement by the taunts OF
correspondent, who declared thai