The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-07-11

that under no circumstances would l clean
the streets and no attempt was made ia
force me to do So" The president Of the
federation went over the history of the
habeas corpus proceedings in his case.
10 Is an old tale 80 many times told hat IL
need not be repeated here.
The witness went on to tell of other
charges on which he was arrested, includ-
ing murder and melting to riot, on none of
which he was ever tried.
did you ever murder any one?" asked
the sarcastic barrow.
No, sir" replied Meyer, absolutely with
out hesitation.
Meyer said he gave Sheriff Bell 500 to
take him to Denver to arrange for bonds.
Was that a tip?" asked the examiner.
Il don't know how the Sheriff regarded
IT,, was ali Meyer would say.
He said as o q IA he heard of the blowing
up of the Independence depot he sent a
telegram TO the federation convention, then
in session in Denver. to offer a reward for
the discovery of the criminal. The con-
vention voted to offer a reward Of SIS. 600.
That offer ever been withdrawn" Meyer
was asked.
No, sir.
Was that reward ever claimed?"
Never heard that anybody had claimed
Meyer said Johnny Neville came TO his
office in October, 1904. HE came TO head
quarters. " said Meyer. and said he had
left the Cripple Creek district for Wyoming.
and bad been brought back by the authori-
ties for examination 8bou the Indepen-
dence affair. He had been put to great
expense and asked me il the federation
could not reimburse him. He added that
he knew nothing about the Independence
matter and he did not believe Orchard did.
He said his loss amounted to about $3.50.
| told him | would inquire about him. l
did so and when he came again l told him
that he vas never a member Of the union
and had no authority to help him. but
would lay the matter before the executive
board. / did 40, but they took no action.
| never saw Neville again.
Did ne ever make any threats in con-
nection with this matter?"
mo, sir; non at ALL"
The relevancy of this testimony depends
entirely upon the fact that Orchard testi-
fed that Meyer told him that Neville had
come 10 him and threatened to tell all he
knew about the Independence explosion
if he did not get sl,500.
Meyer went on to say that he next saw
Orchard on June %, 1905, when Orchard
came into his office and asked him to go
out and have a drink. This Meyer con-
scented to do after he had finished his days
work. They had only a couple OF glasses
of beer, though after that they went to a
place called Charley's restaurant, where
they had dinner. He never saw him after
that night.
Q. Did You ever at any time or place have
any agreement or understanding with Orchard
regarding killing anybody or committing any
crime? A. No, sir; never.
.. Did you ever give him any money or
Of any money being given him by per
sons connected with the federation on ac-
count OF the commission of any crime? 4.
No. sir; never.
Mover denied that he had ever been in
Petitioners back yard with Haywood.
Pettibone and Orchard IN August. zoos.
ward meeting. Orchard testified. that the
killing of Steunenberg was plotted and
ordered.
The federation president denied all
and each of Orchards discriminating charges
regarding himself. en- masse and severally.
generally and categorically.
Coming a little closer to the S~teunenberg
affair, Meyer said that Jack Simpkins left
Denver on December IA, on his way To
Idaho and Washington. The first he knew
Of Steunrnberg's death wa when he read
Of il in the newspapers.
Right here came the sensation OF the day,
and here it is:
Darrow-Did you ever hear anybody
threaten Steunenberg's life?
Moyer-No, sir. l never did.
Meyer il about he only member Of the
federation who has thus far testified that
he never heard Harry Orchard threaten
to kill Idaho's Ex-Governor. and yet the
federation has just reelected him president.
There followed a lot of testimony about q
cipher telegram received by Haywood
from Spokane on january Z. six days after
Steunenberg was killed. 1t was hard to
translate, and he and Haywood worked
over it a long time, and finally the witness
said he took it home and did the best he
could to figure it out. So FAR a. he could
translate il, it read as follows:
Cannot get a lawyer to defend Hogan.
Answer. L.. j..
The original OF this telegram was pro-
duced. 1t was a string Of numbers mean
ing nothing whatever without the aid OF
the cipher code. Meyer said he didn't
know whether Smpkins sent. the telegram
whether somebody else had sent 2 fake
telegram put into cipher by the aid OF a
stolen ritual book. A good many Of these
books had been stolen, and some OF the
union halls had been raided and the books
stolen. Anyhow. he took no action toward
having anybody defend Hogan. but Hay.
wood did. On January he ~telegraphed
the financial secretary OF the local union
at Silver Civ Idaho. 10 engage John X.