Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1907-06-07
SCORES OF CRIMES LAID TO
MOYER, HAYWOOD, PETT|BONE
Opening Statement of James n. Hsw.-
ley, Senior Attorney for the State
in the Steunenberg Case.

Boise, Idaho-Through James III
Hawley, senior of the group of prose
cutors, the state of Idaho on Tues
day made the opening statement
against William C. Haywood, whom
1t charges with the murder of Frank
Steunenberg. and then began the pre-
sentation of the testimony by which
it hopes to prove the indictment laid
against him.
The opening statement was broad,
sweeping arraignment of the leaders
| Of the Western Federation of Miners
who were charged with plotting
wholesale murder and hiring assas
sins, all in a giant conspiracy of ven
geance upon those who obstructed
their sway, to destroy opposition by
| terrorism, to control the political des
TIMES of the communities covered by
their organization, and to perpetuate
their own power within the organiza.
ton.
1t charged widespread conspiracy
dating in inception from the north
Idaho disturbances fifteen years ago,
reaching down to the murder of
Frank Steunenberg, and whose muir
dered victims by bullet and bomb
numbered scores. Hawley declared
that wherever in the mining sections
of the coast states the federation had
been in control there had been left a
trail of blood to mark it's operations.
Of the hired assassins he cried: ITO
them murder became a trade and as
sassination a means of living"
Mr.. Hawley told the jury that
while Haywood, Pettibone and Meyer
are specifically charged in the in.
dictment with having thrown or ex-
ploded the bomb, it is not the pur
pose of the prosecution to prove that
they were even in the state of Idaho
at the time of the crime. Under the
laws of the state, however, acces.
series before the fact are not recog
nized as such, but must be charged
with the crime as principals. Those
who aid, advise, abet or assist in
crime are recognized under the laws
of Idaho, whether present or not, as
principals in the crime.
1T is our purpose" the leading at.
,orney for the state went on, "to
show that the death of Steunenberg
vas the result of a conspiracy, an
understanding and collision between
he leaders of the Western Fedora.
ion of Miners and other persons.
AS to the general conspiracy, Mr..
iawley said:
Il have said, gentlemen. it has been
'art of their object and policy to con-
rol the politics of the various sec.
ions where they have lived, where
hey have existed, where their organ
zation, their subordinate lodges have
ad control. This conspiracy, this
these crimes, this under
landing between the leaders of this
rganization, together with some that
'ere associated with them in a subor
mate role, together at other times
nth others that upon the outside
layed into their hands, who were
ecessarily brought into their conf
ence, has, as | have stated before,
aused the death, and been the real
ause of the death of Governor Steun
nberg.
Hawley spoke for nearly an hour
nd half to a court room crowded.
ut silent; to a jury which, sitting
DIT upright, watched for every word:
} prisoner who, with his family
'ound him, was several times moved
deep emotion as the prosecutor
onounced the charges Counsel for
e defense opened fire before the
atement had proceeded ten minutes,
I'd the repetition of objections from
EN- led to three or four sharp ex-
anges.
Eight witnesses were examined.
d there would have been time for
rec or four more if the available
pply of the state had not unexpcct-
ly run out enforcing an adjourn
snt soon after O'clock The wit
sses were all from Caldwell, and
ose who did not tell of the crime
elf were called to locate Harry
chard, who went to the town as
omas Hogan at various local hotels
d around the Steunenberg home.
to show that two months before
crime John l.. Simpkins, a mem
: OF the executive board of the
sstern Federation of Miners. had
ned Orchard and had lived with
q for several days in The same
I'M.
Net Death vvhifa vv,4eh; r.;