The Elbert County tribune., 1907-08-01
IN OF c U ILTY'
WILLIAM D. HAYWOOD, ACCUSED
MURDERER, A FREE MAN.
THE FAMOUS TRIAL CLOSES
Judge Wood Gave straightforward In
struetions to the Jury and Begged
Careful Deliberations,


is a free man.
Into the bright sunlight Of a beauti-
full Sabbath morning. into the STILL
ness OF a city drowsy with the lazy
slumber of summer day. William D.
Haywood. defendant IN one of the most
noted trials involving conspiracy and
murder that the country has ever
known, walked, q free man, ac-
quilted of the murder of former Gov
ernor Frank Steunenberg.
The probability Of verdict of ac-
Quittal in the case of the secretary
treasurer and acknowledged leader of
the Western Federation of Miners had
been freely predicted when Judge
Fremont Woods charge was regarded
as strongly favoring the defense in its
Interpretation of the laws of con-
epiracy, circumstantial evidence and
the corroboration Of an accomplice
who confesses.
1t was also freely predicted that in
the event of Haywocd's acquittal the
state would abandon the prosecution
of his associates. Charles H. Meyer.
the president of the federation, and
George A. Pettibone of Denver
Statements from counsel and from
Governor Gooding dispel this view of
the situation. Governor Gooding said:
THE verdict is great surprise to
me and, l believe, TO all citizens of
Idaho who have heard or read the evi-
dence in the case.
81 have done my duty and my con
science is clear AS long as God gives
strength shall continue my effort for
government by law and for organized
society.
THE state will continue a vigorous
prosecution of Meyer and Pettibone
and Adams and of Simpkins when ap-
pretended. There will be neither hes
itation nor retraction."
To Ask Bail for Others.
Application will he made to Judge
Wood to admit Meyer and Pettibone
to bail, and it is said that in the case
of Meyer, against whom the state is
admitted to have its weakest case, a
favorable consideration would not be
unexpected.
Not the least interesting OF the COM
ments made upon the verdict was that
of Harry Orchard, the self-confessed
murdered of Governor Steunenberg
and the witness upon whom the state
chiefly relied to prove its claim of a
sinister conspiracy against the West
ern Federation of Miners When told
at the State Penitentiary that Hay
wood had been acquitted, Orchard
said
well, have done my duty. 1 have
told the truth. l could do no more
/ am ready to take any punishment
that may be meted out to me for the
crime, and the sooner the better"
1t was after the jury had been out
twenty-one hours that the jury
which at first had been divided eight
to four and then seemed deadloclted at
ten to two. finally came to an agree
ment shortly after the first faint
streaks of the coming day showed
gray above the giant hills which wall
Boise to the NORTH and east. The
weary, snow-bearded old bailiff, who
had kept an all-night vigil before the
door of the jury room, was startled
into action by an imperative knock
from within. Events moved rapidly
enough after this, and when at last
the principal actors in the trial had
been gathered into the court room at
few moments before 8 o'clock the
white envelope handed by the foreman
to the Judge was torn open and the
verdict read.
Electric Thrill to Prisoner.
1t came as an electric thrill to the
prisoner, to his counsel, to the attor-
neys for the state and to the small
group of heavy-eyed newspaper men
and court officials who had been sum-
moned from beds but lately sought, or
from Offices where sleepless waiting
had marked the night.
Tears welled to the eyes of the man
who, during the eighty days of his
trial, had set with stolid Indifference
written upon his every feature-at last
the icy armor he had thrown about
himself with the first day of jury Sc
lectoi nhad been pierced and whatever
of pentup feeling had been contained
within was loosed. Haywood's attor-
neys were fairly lifted from their seats
and Judge Wood made no effort to re-
strain them as they surrounded him to
shake his hand shout aolud their
congratulations. James H. Hawley,
leading counsel for the state, and o. NJ.
Vanduyn, the prosecuting attorney of
the county in which former Governor
Steunenberg was assassinated, sat,
gloomy and unspeaking, in their places.
Senator Borah, who made the closing
plea for conviction, was not present.
OF the prisoners counsel, those in the
courtroom were Clarence Darrow of
Chicago, E. F. Richardson OF Denver
and John F. Nugent of Boise. The alb
sentees from the defendants table in
cluded Edgar Wilson. the former law
partner of Judge Wood. who presided
at the trial.
Family Not Present.
No members of the prisoners family
nor any of his friends among the So
cialist writer's and the so-called labor
jury" who have been attending the
trial. was in the courtroom at the early
hour the verdict was returned. The
spectators benches were empty, but
in the doorway stood Governor Frank
Gooding, who has taken an active part
In pressing the prosecution of Hay
wood and his associates. There was
no demonstration other than that made