Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1907-07-13
ENDS HIS TESTIMONY
President Meyer in States Hands
for CrOSS=ExaminatiOn.
QUESTIONED ON MANY POINTS

Tending Members Under Arrest and
Denies Sending Draft to simpkns
Just Before steunenberg's Murder.
Boise, Ida., July 12.-Charles H.
Meyer returned to the witness chair
at the Steunenberg murder trial dur
ing the morning and after the defense
had secured the Introduction as evi.
dence of portions of the ritual and
constitution Of the Western Fedora
lion Of Miners the witness passed into
the hands of the prosecution for
cross-examination. Senator Borah be-
gan searching inQuisition OF the wit
ness. An important statement Of the
witness was a denial of any knowl-
edge of the draft for S100 sent to Jack
Stmpkins nine days before Steunen-
berg was killed. Meyer concluded his
testimony shortly before noon.
+ before the cross-examination OF
Meyer was begun Mr.. Darrow, of the
defense. offered in evidence letter
written by John Murphy Of Denver.
general counsel of the federation, to
the local union at Silver City, Ida, at
the time the matter of securing coun-
sci for Harry Orchard was under con-
sideration. The state objected and
was sustained Mr.. Darrow then read
several extracts from the constitution
of the Western Federation of Miners
Senator Borah cross-Examines.
Taking I'D his cross-examination of
the witness Senator Borah first In
guired as to where the real power Of
the organization, between conven-
tions, existed. Meyer said it rested
in the executive board, the president
and the secretary treasurer. He has
been an active or ex-officio member of
the executive board ever since 1899.
Moyer was very deliberate in his
replies, evidently weighing his an
swers carefully over in his mind be
fore gaaking them. He said he was
living at Deadwood, S. D.. during the
Coeur d'Alene troubles Of 1899, but
became acquainted with many of the
members from that district at the
Salt Lake convention of that year. He
also learned Of Governor Steunen'
berg's part in the strike. Jack Simp.
kins was one of the men Meyer met
at the convention. He heard S1mp-
kins tell of the indignities he suffered
In the Idaho "bullpen" and knew what
his feelings were.
Senator Borah questioned the wit.
ness closely as to the extent of the
rule of the federation to defend any
of it's members accused Of crime.
Meyer declared that no man was de-
Tended unless the executive board de-
cided his arrest was due to his con-
nection with the Western Federation.
Senator Borah next inquired as to
Pettibone's relations to the Western
Federation of Miners. Pettibone was
not an active member, but when his
business permitted would attend the
conventions and would come to head
quarters. He was good friend OF
the organization.
Orchards Enmity to steunenberg.
Meyer declared he had never heard
Of Orchards enmity toward Governor
Steunenberg until the present trial
started. Senator Borah had the wit
ness tell again of Orchards activities
In helping the federation officials and
attorneys in the alleged train wreck
ing case at Cripple Creek.
AS to Orchards accompanying him
to Ouray Meyer said he had intended
hiring bodyguard until Orchard hap
pened to drop in and say that he was
going to Ouray on his way to Silver
ton. The two we're on the train to-
gether for day and a night and
talked very generally about their ex-
periences in different mining dis
tricts. There was some discussion Of
Steunenberg, Orchard comparing the
acts of, Idaho's governor to those of
Governor Peabody of Colorado. Or
chard also told OF having had an in
terest in the Hercules mine, but did
not say he had lost that interest be-
cause of Governor Steunenberg. He
always said it was because Of "trou-
bles in the Occur d'Alenes."
Meyer repeated his statement that
from the time of his arrest in Ouray
In April. 1904, until June %, 1905, he
had not seen Orchard.
Independence Depot Affair.
Meyer said when Orchard went to
dinner with him year later the mat
ter of the Independence depot explo-
sion was discussed Orchard declared
that he had nothing to do with 1t and
that he and Neville had left the Grip
pie Creek district before the explosion
occurred.
Meyer declared he knew nothing OF
a draft being sent by Haywood to
Jack simpkins ON Dec. 21, 1908. The
first he ever heard of the draft was in
the evidence produced in court week
or so ago.
Senator Borah asked Moyer il he
had had any previous communication
b..,2 jack s.mL ,ins prior to receivii..s
& On Lin Jan. 4, 1906, the telegram