The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-05-17
MURDERER GETS
PIUJS IN PRISON
Harry Orchard Submits to In
tervieW and Says He Is Be-
ing Well Treated.
READS RELIGIOUS BOOKS
DENIES THAT ALLEGED CONFESS
SION WAS FORCED.
READS RELIGIOUS BOOKS

SION WAS FORCED.
Boise, Ida, May 16.-Harry Orchard, the
Aprisoner-witness upon whom the state of
Idaho chiefly relies to prove its charge
that an inner circle of the Western Fed
Grafton Of Miners planned in conspiracy
the murder OF Governor Steunenberg.
broke his long silence today and for over
half an hour discussed himself and his
imprisonment with representatives OF the
Associated Press whom he had expressed
q desire to see.
united to any mistreatment during his
long confinement. denied that duress or
force had been used upon him 10 secure
the statements he has made ana denled
that Detective MCFARLAND and the -offl-
GERS of the state have promised nm I'M
munity for his confessed crime as reward
Tor the value of his alleged confession
ia the hands of The state
A PROGRESSED Christian.
Orchards manner and conversation du-
confirm the assertion that he rs been
re-conyerted TO and is deep in the zeal
of the Christian religion.
Two illustrations used by him to ex
plain a change in the kinds of books
he reads were Christian-like in character
and religious in tone.
orchard Is peT1eClly SOUND ana nedUHN
: in body; clear and quick of brain. If
there was ever anything in the reports
that he was breaking in health and mind.
there is nothing now in his appearance
or manner to give them shadow of sug-
sestiOn.
The one condition imposed upon today's
inteI view by Warden Whitney of the
Idaho pententiary was that there must
prisoner himself when he appeared for
The meeting asked that the same cOndi-
ton be observed
Does Not Look Like d Criminal.
No exception of the make-and-manner
of the man known to have confessed
that he committed a series of revolving
murders, including that OF Frank Steu-
nenberg, was realized in the prisoner
brought by guard to Warden Whitney's
private offices AS far as appearances
Eo, the prisoner might have gone any
walk in life except the one his own story
says he travelled. He came in quietly,
smiling a little as he advanced. and look
ing straight ahead out of pair of twink
ling blue eyes.
His greeting was possessed and his
manner courteous Orchard is somewhere
about five feet in height and of stocky,
plump build that would send the beam
of a scales lifting somewhere between
the 10 and $50 marks. His hair is dark
brown, brushed down to a polish: his
mustache is light cOloTed and fails to
s conceal rather prominent teeth and a
good sized mouth. His head is a little
roundish, but well formed. and there are
crow 'S-feet at his eye-SideS to tell of his
years and life The mans complexion is
clear and his face bronzed. He is quick
and certain in movement, of easy man
ner-a man toned down-and smiles a
little nearly all the time he is talking
He wore a neat-fitting, well-made suit Of
gray, pair OF highly polished lace shoes
and his general appearance and figure
were good-anything but the expected
one.
Would Not Talk About the ~ase.
II don't care TO talk about the case
it stands at this time" he said. after
the intrCductions and the cOmmOnplaces
had been passed. Il am a little leary
about talking TO newspaper men, so if
you ask me anything that L think 1
should not talk about, I'll not tell you;
] know you'll understand"
rs there anything to your treat
ment in general that you care to say
10 the public at this time?" he was
asked.
NO. there is nothing special to be said.
J have been treated very we'll by every
one since my arrest. The sheriff at
Caldwell was very kind to me. and since
] have been here my treatment has been
<Very fine-all that / could expect under
THE circumstances I have been treated
with the utmost courtesy by everybody
] am given the greatest freedom. / have
p large room with open windows and l
exercise every day. 1 walk, but take no
other form of exercise
Reads Religious Works.
DO yen read much?"
Yes, / have done an immense amount
of reading. l see the newspapers. but
read books the most | have been read
ing Rowland and Romaines History"
the lives Of John Wesley and George
Whitfield. a number of works on the
Reformation and something about the
history of England a hundred years ago.
Much OF II has been ecclesiastical and
religious. ! used to read a great deal
of other literature and a lot of novels
why dio you changer asked one Of
the interviewers
Orchard hesitated for a moment and
then IN quiet tone, said 1t is like p |
little boy who always lied TO his father
about everything That is about the best
way that can express the idea I used
10 like novels and all the other kind of |
books. but now 1 do not care for such
trash.
1T is like a man." he went on a mo-
Inent later in earnest tones. who has
been doing wrong all his life and SUI
denly decides to do right. He cannot I'M
do all the wrong he has done but he car,
a. least do something to clear things up
Given Great Liberty.
The question OF the confinement and
treatment Of the prisoner was reverted to
talked TO any newspaper man since l have
been here. I felt that I did not have
anything to say and / did not want too
much prominence before the public
could have seen the newspaper men il / |
had wanted to- I am free to go anywhere
in the yard and to speak to anyone that
Continued on Page 2.