The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-06-11

IDicl 14ldF anu
ton of Defense to Prove That He
Was Agent Of Mine Owners.
Boise City, Idaho, June 8.-Cross
examination of Harry Orchard by his
own confession the slayer Of Is men
with bullet and bomb, is likely to
last through Monday and Tuesday of
next week and possibly longer. Or
Chard has now been on the stand for
IA hours. The state had him in hand
for nearly hours. III that time he
told horrible tale of crime that
spread over the last II years Of his life
the first thirty years being the COM
mon place story of 4 Canadian farm
hand. But beginning with 1897 he
unfolded a career in which to use the
language of the leading counsel for the
state assassination was a trade and
murder a means of livelihood"
Orchard spared no incident of his
more recent life, under the question:
ing of the state, that might prove to
the jury his readiness to slaughter for
low wage and how Indifferent he hal
been as to the number or condition
of his victims.
The story brought out by the state
was, however, merely Il synopsis of the
play whose acts cover the years since
1899 In every act the climax sent a
Shudder through crowded court
room
Under cross examination by E. F.
Richardson, counsel for w D. Hay
wood, Orchard has so far developed
this series of tragedies up to the year
M04. Three more years and many
murders are vet to be analyzed For
purposes Of its own not so far re-
vealed, the defense is determined that
Orchard shall re-tell his life to the
most diabolical or the most squalid
detail before the men who are to pass
on the question whether w D. Hay
wood is guilty Of hiring Orchard to
murder former Governor Frank
Steuenberg at Caldwell, Idaho, on De-
cember 20. 1905
Slowly but surely the defense in
developing the lines by which it is
hoped to break down the story of
Harry Orchard so far as it affects
Haywood. 1t is is possible to heap
further obloquy on the witness they
have done so by proving him capable
of petty crimes.
BY his own admission. Orchard is
q bigamist, thief. liar and an incen
diary. He has played the traitor to
his employers. He has deserted tive
wives and his children All Of these
offenses he has been forced to confess
but under a gruel!ing examination
by Richardson, he has stuck to his
story and given chapter and verse.
BY questions the defense has plain
ly indicated the intention to prove
that Orchard was TIE hired agent of
the mine owners, who harassed by the
Western Federation Of Miners and
determined to wipe out union labor
the mines of Idaho and Colorado,
planned assassination. train wrecks.
and mine explosions that could be laid
1G ShAC oool vi ILC anu Keep
militia on the ground while non-un-
ion men worked the mines.
It has been shown under cross ex-
animation that Orchard trafficked
with railroad detectives in the min
ing region of Cripple Creek during
the great strike there. while almost
at the same time he was in the conf
deuce Of the leaders of the Western
Federation of Miners Led on by Mr.
Richardson. Orchard has stated that
he was hired by Moyer. president of
the federation. to act as his guard
AGAINST alleged thugs said to be hir-
ed by the mine owners to attack and
terrorize Meyer.
From half a dozen states witnesses
VIII be called to deny or confirm Or
rbard's assertions Already two men,
accused by Orchard of completely in
the plots he saws were hatched with
thn elmer circle" Of the Western Fed
Grafton of Miners. have been called
T" stand in open court. Orchard has
identified as the men he named as
William Easterly and Owney Barnes