The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-07-10
President Of the Western Fed
Grafton of Miners
TestifieS on Behalf of the Hay
wood Defense.
EVIDENCE RULED OUT
By Which Attorney Clarence
DarrOw Sought to Show
That There Was Plot Against
the Miners Organization.

Boise, July 1O.-Charles H Meyer
president of the Western Federation
of Miners and fellow defendant OF
William D. Haywood in the indfct-
ment charging him with the muir
der of Frank Steunenberg, was sworn
today as a witness in behalf of his
comrade. He was called by the de-
Tense this morning and was escorted
into court by a deputy sheriff He
seemed quite self possessed and as he
walked to the stand looked around the
court room, apparently seeking a
glimpse of his wife. who occupied an
inconspicuous chair behind one of the
press tables. He displayed some nerv-
BUSINESS as his examination began but
within a few minutes was going very
steadily in a recital of his connection
with the Western Federation of
Miners.
During the review of the Coeur
D'Alene strike of 1899. the witness
SAID ne was in sympathy with the
strikers in their struggle and he never
had any personal hostility toward
Frank Steunenberg.
In describing his duties Meyer de-
ciaTed that they required that he be
absent from Denver-plotting ground
Of the conspiracy alleged by the state
more than half the time.
Shortly before noon the witness en-
to the Cripple Creek strike of 10000.
Proceedings in Detail
When the Haywood trial opened this
informing Senator Borah read the cross
examination in the deposition of W.
a. Abernathy, contractor and former
miner in the Occur D'Alenes, who de-
clared he heard Harry Orchard say he
would get Governor Steunenberg
some time. This was the last of the
dispositions which had occupied the
court since Monday.
When the reading of the dispositions
was concluded John L. Tierney. a
newspaper correspondent of Denver,
was called by the defense. He testified
regarding the political situation in Col
orado in 1904 and 1905. when 1t was
alleged attempts were made on the life
of Governor Peabody and-SupFeme
Court Justices Goddard and Gabbert
Tierney said he was candidate for
the legislature in 1904. Asked If he was
elected on the face of the returns but
an objection from the state and the
witness was not allowed to reply. Tier
ney next was asked what the public
feeling in the city of Denver was as
against Governor Peabody and the su-
pIeme court in 1904 and 1905. Again
there came an objection from the state
and a long argument ensued-
Mr.. Darrow declared it was the pur-
pose of the defense to show that there
We're others whose feelings and motives
were stronger than any that could be
CIdTSeQ dSdlHSl lIS WSSlCIA Il 60CA a
tion of Miners.
Are you going to show that some
body other than Orchard committed the
crimes?" queried Judge Wood.
Would Not Rob Orchard.
mo. your honor" replied Darrow.
1--WE will presume that Orchard did
those things, but we propose to show
that he was acting as agent for those
who must have had stronger feeling
than the Western Federation of Miners.
We propose to show that these defend
ants had absolutely nothing to do with
Orchard in connection with these incl
dents. We want to show motive pure
and simple. We want to show that
among a great class of people in the
city of Denver was a feeling infinitely
stronger than has been charged against
the Western Federation of Miners as
result of the eight hour decision"
Senator Borah started to reply to
Mr.. Darrow when Judge Wood inter
rupted saying it was not necessary to |
take up any more time.
THE court is satisfied he said, that |
this testimony on the statement of
counsel. is not admissible"
Mr.. DarrOw here. said he desired to l
go into the matter in detail and state |
facts expected to. be proved by the wit
ness. The jury was sent out Of the /
room while the argument proceeded.
Mr.. Darrow then went at length into |
the matter of the Peabody-Adams |
Hgubernatorial contest and the attempt |
to unseat Democratic members of the |
court elected as Populists and Demo- |
Gratis sided with the Republicans, he !
declared, and the feeling grew so strong
that flags were displayed at half mast |
and nooses hung in windows, for the |
supreme court
Senator Borah entered formal objec-
ticn to any such testimony on the
ground that it had no connection with
the case as it would simply establish
threats by these parties and by hear
say evidence. The objection was sus-
tanned Tierney left the stand and the
Jury returned to the room.
1Ioyer Is Called.
Charles H. Meyer was then called to
the stand. MIS-. Meyer was in the
court room when her husband took the
stand. She occupied a seat inside the
railing and Immediately behind coun-
sci for the state. She was dressed in
white. Her sister sat beside her. AZ
ter being escorted to the witness chair
by a bailin and sworn, Meyer was
questioned by Attorney Darrow as to
some of the details of his early life. He
said he had been miner since 1888.
He Joined the Western Federation
Of Miners in 1897 and was first elected
president in June, 1902. having been
re-elected annually since that.
Meyer said he had worked in a
smelter for three years and half of
his life. He first came into promin-
ence in the national organization of !
the federation in 1899. when at the
Salt Lake convention he was elected
a member of the executive board un-
der President Ed Boyce. For nine
prior to his election as presi- .
dent Meyer acted as an organizer for !
the union. He first met William d.
at the 1900 convention in ,
Denver Haywood was chosen secre-
ta-y-trea surer in 1901. The witness
aid he was an cd Fellow and also a