The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-06-10


break In Harry Orchards tales OF blood
and crime and treaohery which have no
parallel In the criminal history of the
country. everybody here is weighing his
words with a care and thought htfulness
whboh wre not possible during his cold
biooded ,cital.
Whatf IT the belief as to the implica-
tior OF atwood and his co-defendants
In the Z eds OF Orchard. whether they
planned them and made Orchard their
tool In their execution. there is nothing
but unanimity in the belief that Orchard
did the things he has sworn that he did
There are several theories. and one is
that Orchard Is trying to save himself.
This is the notion advanced by those who
sympathize with the defence. The prose
cution and Orchard himself deny abso-
lutely that there has been any promise
OF immunity. and at least one of the
counsel for the state has stated that If
he can accomplish it Harry Orchard will
assuredly swing for the murder of ex-
Gov. Steunenburg
II is equally true that public sentiment
would forbid any attempt TO spare his
life. but that Orchards testimony gives
him a new lease of life cannot be dis
puted. His testimony duplicates too
many people 10 admit OF his being
hanged out of hand.
Should Haywood and Meyer and Pet
tibone be convicted, their cases will be
fought to finish with every legal re-
source known TO the courts. When their
cases are finally disposed OF, one way or
the other, there are others with whom
Orchard has been intimately associated
stiH to face trial. IT is within the
bounds of probability to say that Or
chard's confession has prolonged his hfe
five or six years.
DEAD TO MORAL SENSE
second theory is THAI the man is dead
20 all moral sense and that he feels in
his criminal achievements a satanic pride;
elated at contemplation OF prospect OF
going down in listory as the greatest
homicide monster on record.
This theory Is not borne out by his
manner on the witness stand. There is
no posing, no accent OF pride in the mans
gentle voice. AS he tells his story he dis
plays neither exultation nor shame. and
the only suspicion of emotion he has
manifested was when he told how he
brought about Steunenberg's death. There
was just a little twitching OF the thront
muscles then, and his voice sank some
what lower. but that was all
He was so far from breaking down that
nenbergs death and the court room was
shuddering with quiet horror and the
lawyers whispered a moment before go
ing on. Orchard spoke up 10 correct n
trihlng detail of his story.
Excuse me-" he said. blandly, 'I want
20 take back something. l said / was
arrested the next day. Sunday. was
not arrested until Monday"
RELIGION A MOTIVE
The third theory. and the one that will
be maintained by the state, Is THAI Or
chards motive in making a clean breast
OF his life is religious one. In talking
in the state penitentiary some weeks be-
fore he appeared in court. Orchard ex-
planned his devotion TO the reading OF
ecclesiastical history by The saints In
these words
IT'S like a man who has done wicked
things all his life who turns around and
does ether things. He can't undo all the
evil he has done, but he can do the best
ne can TO clear things up"
As Orchard said II, his little cloudy
blue eyes shone with something of the
serene fervor OF the religious fanatic.
He had the air of a man who has bal
anced the books OF his life ani has made
UP his mind TO pay his creditors, even IL
Il bankrupts him. This theory seems 10
be not altogether unlikely, and II does
not entirely exclude the theory OF per-
oonal pride In evil doing.
Most persons who have attended revival
services where they heard converts testi-
flying to the evil deeds of their unregener-
ate dnys will remember having seen that
some of these converts seemed To take
holy delight in describing the depths of
utter infamy TO which they had sunk be-
Orchard. but nobody knows. Today TITS
monster Is the riddle Spf the age
ADAMS CONFESSION.
Steve Adams another prisoner witness
of the state in the Haywood case. is
now on the way TO Boise, coming from
the jail at Wallace, Idaho, where he is
held pending trisl on the charge of muir
der. Adams. according to Harry
Orchard. was a partner OF the assassin
in many dumping of expeditions" sue
cessful and unsuccessful to which Or
chard has confessed
Adams also confessed last year but
he repudiated the document when he
faced the galluws The confession Is,
however. sworn 20 and in writing 1t
shows careful correction and interlinea-
ton in Adams own handwriting.
Astounding though II may seem. those
who have seen Adams confession say
II surpasses Orchards story OF murder.
The list of Adams alleged victims is
not as long as that with which Orchard
credits himself. but this Is said to be
because Steve stillhunted a single quarry,
while Harry. 10 use his own words did
not care whether he killed one man or
fifty" as he "felt at that time"
There arrived In Boise yesterday Mrs.
Ida Toney Orchard. a widow with three
children. whom Orchard took to be his
wbse Notwithstanding the existence of an
other wife living In Canada and known
There under Orchards true ma me. .Horsley.
Mrs. Toney will testify. II is said. that
Orchard while he lived at Cripple Creek.
was In the employ OF the mine owners
II is expected by the defence that she
Will be able to throw light on the mo-
tives of Orchard. and she will be relied
on IN SIR, tho &c the IL