New-York tribune., 1907-02-24
MURDER OF GOVERNOR.
ADAMS CONFESSION READ.
His Version Of Miners Share in
SteuHeRberg ASSASSINATION.

version of the alleged share Of the Western Fed
Grafton of Miners in the assassinat ton in 1905 of
Ex-Governor Frank Steunenberg of Idaho. was
read to-day to the jury that is trying Adams for
the murder of Fred Tyler. Adams. who is
member of the Western Federation Of Miners.
made a confession, denied by him. to the
murder of Tyler, following a confession of Harry
Orchard. duplicating Adams in the assassination
of Steunenberg. and also in the murder of Tyler.
Adams was arrested in oregon and taken TO
the Idaho penitentary at Boise, where on No
vember -, 1906 he confessed it is said. to
James mcfarland, the detective in the presence
Of George Hubner, a stenographer and Mr..
Whitney, warden of the pententiary. The con-
fession was read to the jury by McPartand.
Adamss confession. states that he joined the
Western Federation of Miners at Cripple Creek;
that he knew Charles Meyer, president; William
T. Haywood. secretary, and George Pettibone,
Committeeman of the Western Federation Of
Miners; that Pettibone told him to go to Idaho
and see Joe Simpkins, now charged with mur-
der, but at large; that they wanted to get
Steuuenberg; that Pettboue went to Haywood
and got 5000 for Adams's expenses; that the
manner Of getting" Steunenberg was left TO
him; that he went to Idaho, met Sinpkins and
there planned the crime that resulted in Steun-
euberg's death.
Adamss confession. as read by MCFARLAND.
rectes that he was born in Jackson County, No.
in 1867 that he worked In mines at Cripple
Creek near Telluride, and above SiIyert0n (Col).
reaching Telluride in March 1899, or 1900; that
he joined the Western Federation Of Miners
above seven years ago. and had a card of 1906,
that he became acquainted with Moyer, Hay
wood and Petubone before the Arthur Collins
assassination. and was intimately acquainted
with them right along after that up to the time
he left for Oregon in 1905. The confession con-
tinues, the questions being by Mcfarland:
Q.--During the time you were acquainted did
you ever hold any conversation with Meyer.
Haywood and Pettibone about the assassna-
tiou Of former Governor Steuuenberg? A-They
told me to so to Idaho and see Jack Simpkins.
that he wanted 10 see me about some business
connected with Steunenberg, and that I would
find him at Wallace. 1 believe.
Q.-I want you to be particular possible.
When did YOU talk with them about the assas-
sination OF former Governor SJeunenberg? A
Shortly after saw SimpkIns. II was shortly
after the dynamtiuz of The depot (where sew
eral men were killed.. at Independence. Col, in
July. 1904 I think
OF Steuncnberg? A.-GeOrge Petubone. He
told me that Smpkns wanted to see me, and
when l went to see Simpkins he told me about
the Steunenberg matter. He said they wanted
to get Steunenberg.
Q.-They said they wanted to get" him? Did
they say Kill? A.-They said get" him
o.-You mean. Simpkins said they wanted to
get" him2 Meyer not present, was he?
Al don't know where he was. but think he
to Wallace with, from George Pettibone- Petit
bone went TO Haywood TO get II.
Q-How did you know that he did? A.-He
told me that he did. lie asked me 10 walt until
no went and got II. He said nothing as 70 the
manner in which We're TO remove Steunen-
berg. He gave directions. 1t was under
stood that / was 10 use my own judgment. and
Pettiboue told about Simpkins wanting to
see me before I received the money. l did not
see Haywood after l received the money. Simp-
kinS told that he wanted me 10 go 70 his
timber claim In the morning. Stmpktns said
that he would write back that day for money
ana then he would begin on the Steunenoerg
case. lie wrote 10 Denver, but do not know II
he got the money or not. Pettibone told me
afterward that the money was sent TO the wrong
address. After l got TO the timber claim 1
met some settlers. one named Mason and an
other named Rale, He is tho one known as
wall Eye" I also met d man by the uame
Of Glover. There were some claim jumpers
there. Simpkins told me that he wanted 10 get
rid OF these fellows, and that If I did so he
would give me $500. TWO men got killed Meut
Glover Simpkins and myself assisted in the
killing. Tyler was the first man killed and
killed him with n Winchester. We went down
to the miners cabin and he was not there. We
stayed around all day. and then went out on
the trail We stopped at a spring. and heard
some one coming. I said: "AlI right. ! am
glad OF it." We hid behind some trees and
saw that II Tyler coming. He had a big
gun buckled on. and I told him TO hold up his
hands. one OF the boys took his gun, and we
took him to Simpkins's cabin and kept him TIL
morning, and then took him three miles out on
The trail, and 1 killed him. Three Of US were to-
gethor all the time. After the killing the body
fused 10 say where he came from, but said that a
man by the name OF Lewis. Spokane man, had
placed him on the claim.
After the killing I went down to Harrison and
met Simpkns, and I told him what I had done
and said thar he did not have any more claim
jumpers on his claim. He said that we would
rest around Harrison for while and then go
back and Set the rest Of the fellows the
other claims
In about a week or thercabouts we went back
up there and net fellow by the name OF Boulc
There vas Jack Simpkins, Mcut Glover and my
self. There was another man, whose name 7 do
not remember We met the man on the trail
and Simpkins and Glover knew him. Mason
was not there We shot at the man with Roule.
but missed him. After that went back TO
Glover's cabin and Simpklns went to Nason's
cabin. We finally got out by going to Glover's
cabin and got canoe and went by way Of the
st. Joe River. We landed above the Glover
ranch and let the canoe drift We waited
around there until the sheriff came UP to i'm
Vestigate the death of Boulc Then we went
back up to the place and blew up the cabins.
do not remember how many or whether IT was
all Of them, or not. There We're two or three at
least. The sheriff did not find both bodies only
the body OF Boule which close To Smpkins's
cabin. | do not think that tie sheriff asked
Smpkins about the body I did not get the $500
promised. Smpkius said that the settlers
promised 10 pay, but that they were slow. Mason
gave me 800 aud Smpkins $40 and left there
suppose Mason Is there Yet. He Is married
man with large family
/ viii say this thing about these people There
was a rich man in Spokane by the name OF
+. r. Lewis, who was sending men up there 10
jump these claims and trying to get them away
from the settlers. Tyler said that Lewis had fur
nished the money for theui to come up and hold
the claims until they could take them away
from the settlers. They were to get half for
doing SO, and Lewis the other half. The claims
timber claims, and had good timber on
them.
After the affair was over l left Simpkins and
went back to Denver. There had been no money
sent mo 10 attend to the Steunenbers matter.