The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1907-03-01
Practically Admits That Ills Former
Confession Was True.
MURDER OF TYLER
Prosecution Seeks TO Break AIibi---Wit-
ness Makes Poor Showing on Stand.

Wallace, Idaho, Feb. 2S-That a de-
liberate conspiracy was formed
among the officers Of the penitentiary
and the detectives to implicate the
leaders of the Western Federation
Of Miners in the assassination of ex-
Governor stuenenberg and that this
conspiracy was to be backed by false
evidence, obtained by threats and
bribes, Is in effect the charge made
by Steve Adams before the court this
morning.
Adams story was in substance as
follows:
ION the sixth day after l was taken
to Boise and put in the cell with Har-
ry Orchard, l was taken to the Of
flee of the penitentiary and intro
Quoted to Detective Mcfarland. He
told me about kelly, the Bum" and
other men who had turned states
evidence and had been set free. He
told me some Bible stories, too, but
I cannot remember what they were
as am not familiar with the Bible.
He kept me there until or o'clock
i'm the morning, trying to get me to
confess.
"McPartland told me that he want
ed to convict Meyer, Haywood, Petit
bone, st. John and Simpkins whom
he called cut-throats. If would
not help to convict them he said !
would be taken back to Colorado and
either hung or mobbed. If did
help I would be taken to Colorado as
a witness only. About 2 o'clock in
the morning they served us a nice
luncheon and when we parted about
4 o'clock Mcfarland told me he was
my friend and told me to think Of
my family.
..They put me back in the cell with
Harry Orchard who talked to me
about the need of backing UP his
story. l was somewhat frightened.
The next day Mcfarland called again
and as he was leaving me I called
him back and said would do what
he wanted me to do. He told me to
think well what was doing, to think
OF my family and save myself. He
said he would see that my family
was cared for. He told me that If |
was still obstinate would be taken
back to Colorado.
ssWhen the confession was made
Mcfarland led me step by step and
showed me all that he wanted me to
say. He told me that what | said
about the Tyler and Boule murders
was only taken with the idea OF
making a strong chain of evidence to
convict the officers Of the Western
Federation Of Miners. He wanted
the names of the officers of the feder-
alton used as much as possible all
through the confession. Mcfarland
asked me if knew Ed Boyce. !
told him I did not and knew nothing
of any money being sent to him. All
the statements regarding money
were made with the idea Of implicat-
ing the Western Federation. Two
or three days later Warden Whitney
brought the confession to me to
sign"
Adams confirmed all the early part
of the confession as to his family and
past history, but denied that part re-
lating to the plot to kill steunenberg
and as to his life in the Marble Creek
country. He will be cross-examined
by the state this AFTERNOON.
Steve Adams testified that when
the copy of his confession was
brought to him to sign by the Warder.
he told Notary Public Hueber 1t was
not the same as what he had stated,
but supposed that he would have to
sign it and did SO. He denied the
testimony of Detective Thiele regard
ing the relic alleged to be buried on
the Oregon ranch also the testimony
Of Bulkeley Wells, as to his oral
confession, while enroute to Colora-
do. The witness stated that he had
at different times been visited by
w. q. Borah, Governor Gooding and
Attorney Hawley. but was not allow
ed to detail the conversation. Adams
stated that when he was arrested I'M