Montana news., 1907-05-09
DEFENDANTS STATEMENT
Attorney Darrows Gives IL Pub
Iicity after Approval by Other
Attorneys for Defense


of the leading attorneys in the de-
Tense of Meyer, Haywood and Petit
bone yesterday made a statement for
the defendants The statement is
made as coming directly from the
three prisoners AID is made public
after being approved by all the at
torneys for the defense. The state
ment is as follows:
"We have been charged with killing
Ex-Governor Steunenberg with a dy-
Mantle bomb. Our trial is to begin
on the ninth of this month. The de-
tails of the assassination have been
published broadca,t throughout the
civilized world for more than year.
During all this time the press Of the
country, and especially of that section
of Idaho where we will be placed ON
trial, has bitterly denounced us and
the Western Federation of Miners to
which we belong. The most powerful
interests of the country are seeking to
take our lives.
"We were not in Idaho for years
before the crime was committed. I'm
der the law we could not be extra
dited from Colorado. But, in spite Of
this, we were arrested on a perjured
affidavit charging that we were in
Idaho at the time of the commission
of the crime and that we Immediately
fled from the state and on this per-
iured affidavit. known to be false, the
governors of the two states of Idaho
and Colorado kidnapped us in the
night time, refused us an interview
with family friends or counsel or a
chance to appeal to the courts and
brought us on a special train a thou
sand miles from home and into state
and community systematically poison
eel against us by newspaper and Of.
ieials. We have been confined in Jail
for II months against our protest, and
denied bail while constantly demand.
ing trial. Every effort has been
made to teach the farmers. business
men and working men of the commun-
ity that we are assassins and out
laws.
"After all this our ease is about to
be reached and the president of the
United States, in no way interested Of
ficially or otherwise, sends two letters
broadcast over the country, charging
US with guilt and crime, and these
are published in every paper in the
lanI and especially in every paper in
Idaho. The governor of Colorado, a
day or two later, adds his words Of
spite to the venom of the president
and says that we are not only guilty
of the crime charged but of many
others, too. While the president of
the United States, and the governor
of Colorado are sending out their
statement to compass our death, the
judge of the county has brought a
citizen before him for contempt on the
charge that he tried to influence the
mind of a prospective juror by saying
that 'the state administration was try
ing TO railroad u.s. On the appear.
ance of this man in court the Judge
promptly told the state s attorney that
he should have this obscure farmer in.
dicted for felony because he tried to
Influence the mind of a prospective
juror. The president knows how
much greater weight will be given to
his words than those of an obscure
private citizen.
''If we are to be tried in court ev-
cry law abiding citizen, however, great
or humble, should do everything, in
his power to end the passions of men,
rather than add fuel to the flame II
we are to be thrown to the mob the
officers should at least open our prison
doors and give us some chance to de.
fend ourselves.
Commenting on the above the States.
man says, Mr.. Darrow must have been
reading the socialist papers diligently
during the past year. IL then launch.
es into its accustomed TRADE against
the "Red Sheets" and says they
make no effort TO tell the truth in
connection with any feature of the
case.