The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1907-06-29
Leader In Cripple Greek Strike
ContralictS Orchard.
DENIES ACTS OF VIOLENCE
Also Testifies That in the Fall of 1908
He Heard the States Star Witness
Threaten to Take the Life of For.

He Heard the States Star Witness
+ Threaten to Take the Life of For.
mer Governor Steunsnherg.
Boise, Ida: June 29.-William H.
Fasterly,~ who was one of the leaders
of the great Cripple Creek strike and
whom Orchard connects with some Of
the violence in the Cripple Creek dis
trict, was called to the stand on con-
vening of court and continued his tes-
timony In behalf of William D. Hay
wood. Easterly directly denied Or
chard's testimony rejecting on him
and testified that in the fall of 1903
he heard Orchard threaten to kill
Steunenberg.
In the cross.eXamination the state
strongly attacked Easterly for re-
naming silent after he had known
Orchard, as Thomas Hogan, had killed
Steunenberg and not speaking until
Orchard made confession implicat-
ing the Western Federation of Miners.
On taking the stand Easterly denied
positively that he had ever talked
with Harry Orchard az to the hide
pendencs depot explosion Orchard
was at Cripple Creek the latter part
Of 1908 and the first of 1904. "He
mined lttle," said the witness, but
he was quite a fend at cards. He
seldom worked more than a month at
a time" $50
Easterly asserted that during the
Cripple Creek strike days there was
never much talk of violence at the
meetings of the union except by
visiting member The visitor proved
afterward to be secret service man
In the employ Of the mine owners
The labor leaders always counseled
peace, saying that any disorders
which might occur would be attributed
to the union.
Easterly said he was arrested at
Cripple Creek, "as matter of mill.
tary necessity" and was thrown into
the bull pen" for violence. He said
he was at home in bed when the hide
pendence depot was destroyed. He
aid not know what had happened un-
Il. next morning. He then heard that
the soldiers we're coming and went to
Cripple Creek, whore, along with
many others, he went to Victor.
At Victor he went to the union head
quarters, where several hundred mem.
bers of the Western Federation Of
Miners we're gathered. The streets
some soldiers, some detectives and
some mine owners officials. Easterly
declared that tho soldiers IN passing
federation men would says s-
Soldiers Use Strong Language.
There's one that ought to be
hanged or have his head shot off,"
In the afternoon" said Easterly,
&c. C. Hamlin, secretary, Of the Mine
Owners association, made speech in
the streets In which he referred to the
Independence depot explosion and
said that fifty or more OF the leaders
ought to be hanged and the rest
driven out of the district. Then a
shot was fired and the fireworks be-
gan.
When the firing was over I went
up Third avenue and stayed there
until I saw the militia maneuverlng
around and apparently surrounding
the union hall. Then they began
shooting" -
Easterly then said he went home,
armed himself with a repeating shot
gun and went to Goldheld. but did not
remain there long, as the militia
drove all union men out of town. He
next went to Denver. There he saw
Haywood, Meyer and Pettibone Eas-
terly changed his name to Bill
Brown" The witness said he went
from place to place, working where
he could until 1905, when he once
more came back to Denver On his
way, at Pueblo, he met Orchard and
Vaughan. Orchard told him he had
been selling life and hail insurance
and had been making lots Of money
Easterly said that in Colorado he
once heard Orchard declare that he
iie1N ACot AAo AhSSl GOV III q CkuGUlS
mine through Steunenberg and would
get him"
Senator Borah here took up the
cross-examination OF the witness.
Easterly said he was in Colorado
during the Steunenberg troubles In
the Occur d'Alenes and as member
Of the union he contributed to the
support Of the Idaho miners. He also
felt with others that Governor Steun-
enberg was trying TO break up the
union. Orchards threat against the
governor after SO many years I'm
! pressed him, Easterly said. but he did
| not really know If the man intended
| to carry it out
c. A. Collins Of Leadville, Colo, a
| brakeman on the Colorado Midland
railroad, was next called to the stand.
! He lived 1875 feet from the 1ndepend.
| ence depot on the night Of the explo.
sion and said that the depot was aban.
doned before and after the explosion.
PREDICTS GENERAL STRIKE