The Colorado statesman., 1907-06-08
TRAIL OF BLOOD
HARRY ORCHARD TAKES STAND
IN HAYWOOD CASE.
TRUTH OR PR0DIGI0Us LIAR !?
confesses to Committing Wholesale
Murder at Instigation of "Inner
Circle" of Western Federation
of Miners

June 5th, and then there fell silence
maintained for fully five minutes.
Judge, jury, bar and public waited un-
Senator Borah.
Our next witness will be Harry Or
chard," said the senator, quickly, ad-
dressing the court.
Then the man who for eighteen
months has been closely guarded, al
most incommunicado, in the Idaho Pen
itentiary, the murderer, who, repent
ing, has confessed, entered through the
side door leading to the judges room.
He walked with a quick, springy
step, preceded and followed by depu-
ties and detectives. They passed
through the bar inclosure out into the
audience along the outer rail, again
entering the inclosure at the center
gate. Orchard was sworn and directed
to the witness chair Immediately in
front of the jury. At once every eye
was upon the remarkable man who
was there to place his own neck in the
moose and whose story as told upon the
stand reveals an almost endless chain
of fearful leeds done by him and his
fellows.
Where do you live?" asked Mr..
Hawley.
Orchard did not seem prepared for
just this question, and hesitated a mo-
ment. Finally, in an almost inaudible
tone he said he was confined in the
State Penitentiary.
Speak up, Mr.. Orchard" said Sena-
tor Borah, 1.-The court must hear you"
Are you charged with any crime?"
asked Hawley.
The prisoner turned his glance for a
moment at Haywood and then said:
81 am charged with the murder of
Frank Steunenberg and am awaiting
trial
IL was born in Northumberland
county, Canada, in 1866, and am, there
fore, forty-one years old" went on the
witness in answer to Hawley's ques-
tions.
Harry Orchard is not my true name.
/ have gone by that name for about
eleven years. My true name is Alfred
Horseley. / came to the United States
in 1896, first to Spokane, where | re-
manned a week. / went to Wallace,
Idaho, in March or April, 1896 i first
worked for Markell Brothers, driving a
milk wagon, and remained there until
about Christmas, 1896. / then went to
a wood and coal yard in Burke, Idaho.
and was engaged in that business until
the spring of 1899, on my own account
for two years. In 1898 / sold half
interest in the business to Mr.. Meal
pine. My business in Canada was
making cheese.
Joined w. r. M. in 1899.
II sold all my interests in the wood
yard and went to work in the mines
in March, 1899. / went to work at
'mucking' and continued at it for a
month. / became a member of the
Western Federation of Miners as soon
as l went to work in the mines"
state what unusual occurrence
there was at Burke upon the morning
of April 20, 1S99," commanded Hawley
from the witness.
"On the morning of April 20, 1899,
when l got through breakfast l was
told there was a special meeting of
the union and everybody was expected
to be present. i went to the meet
ing.
"The meeting was called to ORDER"
continued Orchard, "by the secretary,
who said it had been decided that day
to go to Wardner to blow up the mill
at the Sullivan and Bunker Hill mines
and hang the superintendent.
Arrangements had been made to
cut the wires along the railroad and
take pOSSeSSlOn Ol II I-dClllC
train. At Gem we were to be joined
by the Gem union, and together we
were to proceed to Wardner.. While
the secretary was telling us what was
planned by the central union, the pres
ident of our local union came in and
said he had not been informed of the
meeting. When told of the purpose he
objected to 1t, and there was a discus
sion. The motion to go to Wardner
was finally carried by small major
ity. After the vote nearly every man
decided to go.
Took Plenty of Dynamite.
Paul Cochran and six other men,
bers of the union took charge of the
train We went to Gem and took forty
boxes of giant powder.
There were about 1000 men upon
the train. most of them armed. At
Wardner we were told by w. F. Davis,
who was in command, to line up. The
men with long guns were told to take
the front ranks followed by men with
six-shooters. We were told to fire
upon the mill as we approached. This
we did and the fire was returned by
the guards. 1t soon developed, how
ever, that there were no men in the
mill. and we took possession. Powder
was placed at three places about the
mill and ii was blown up"
Orchard Lit One Fuse.
who set fire to the fuse?"
Il lit one; I don't know who lit the
Others"
Orchard said two men were killed
In the affair.
who was governor of the state at
this timo?" asked Hawley.
Governor Steunenbery
WAS his name mentioned at the
meeting you have described"
Yes, sir.
"Mr. Cochran said he did not be-