The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1907-05-16
IDAHO TRIAL BEGINS,
GREAT DRAMA ENACTED IN
SMALL COURT ROOM.
Opening of Case Against Western
Miners officials, Which Has
Aroused Much Passion and Which
Is VariOusly Viewed.

spectators that ever attended trial
In Idaho witnessed the opening Of one
of the greatest legal battles ever fought
In America. Some would have us be-
lieve that it is an epoch-making drama,
fraught with dangerous possibilities to
the social and industrial fabric Of our
nation; Others insist that it Is but q
trial for murder, cold-blooded murder
with admittedly extraordinary phases.
The State of Idaho, through it's Gov
ernor and its prosecuting officers, de.
clares that here the equity of American
justice is to be put to it's supreme test !;
that capital is not concerned, but that
the power of State to protect the lives
OF its citizens must assert itself, by
furnishing those who are guilty Of TAX
Ing human life; that as prejudice will
not be permitted to take the place of
proof neither shall passion be permit
ted to stand in the way of penalty. The
question of whether William ID. Hey
wood, Secretary-treasurer of the West
ern Federation Of Miners, orator, or
ganizer and writer, and one of the
abiest eXponents of the cause of union
ism in this country, was Jointly respOn-
Sible for the murder of eX-Gov. Frank
Steunenberg, is to be debated The de-
clslon in his case will be fair guide
to decision in the cases Of his prison
colleagues, Charles Meyer, president Of
the same organization, and George A.
Pettibone, chairman of its Executive
Committee. When these cases have been
passed upon the public will learn what
disposition the prosecution intends to
make of the real perpetrator of the
crime, Harry Orchard, who confessed
that he was hired by these men not only
to slay the giant Ex-Governor at the
portals of his home in Caldwell on the
last night Of 1905, but to murder about
a score Of working men and their su-
perintendents.
When 10000 men can be induced to
parade the streets of New York in pro-
test against trial about to take place
In State nearly 5000 miles distant
States can be drawn into the contro-
versy, 1t must be admitted that there Is
unusual interest in this case, whether
1t be a mere murder trial or an enter
Ing wedge in an Industrial redivision
Of the country. This interest Is Ell
hanced by the unique features in the
case. The right of State practically
to kidnap three citizens Of another
State and try them for a crime perpe-
trated In the former State while they
were absent therefrom, has been de-
clared by the highest court in the land
as unquestionable, but it Is a departure
from precedent and involves the set
ting aside of habeas corpus. Further
more, the Indictment of Meyer, Hey
wood and Pettibone does not accuse
them of being accessories, but Of being
the actual perpetrators Of the crime,
although the State acknowledges that
they were not in Caldwell, not even in
Idaho, at the time the murder was COM
mitted. But as the State of Idaho does
not recognize the crime Of accessory it
was necessary to indict them as princi-
pals In order to bring them to trial.
This phase Of the case has also been
passed upon in the highest court Of the
land and the correctness Of Idaho's po-
sition has been sustained.
Unusual as are these conditions, the
State declares that extraordinary
means were necessary, as the State was
dealing with an extraordinary condi-
ton. The State asserts that the as
sassination Of Steunenberg was but the
climax Of series Of dastardly crimes
inspired by Meyer, Haywood and Pet
tibone, aided by Jack Simpkins, who
belonged to the Executive Committee
and who was with Orchard on his ter
rible errand to Caldwell, after which
he escaped and has never been appre-
hended. The State does not claim that
the Western Federation Of Miners was
implicated as a body in these crimes,
but that the indicted officers were re-
spOnsible. How much proof the State
can adduce is question. 1t has Or
chard's confession and Mcfarland, the
detective, asserts that he has proof in
corroboration Of the details Of that
confession. 1t also has the confession
of Steve Adams, since repudiated, yet
corroborated in many details, the State
claims, by subsequent investigation.
The defense will meet this case of the
prosecution with an alibi, proving that
the indicted men We're not in Idaho
when the crime was committed. They
will also present what they claim is
proof that the assassination of Steu-
nenberg was brought tbout by the Mine
Owners Association, through Orchard,
for the sole purpose Of throwing the
responsibility therefor upon the West
ern Federation officials and thus Great.
Ing a sentiment against them.