The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-06-05
Organization Leaders Traded in Wholesale Murder for Years
 Says Prosecuting Attorney
CHARGES GREAT CONSPIRACY
 ORCHARD ON STAND TODAY
Attorneys Sharp Retorts-Eight Wit nesses Tell of Steunenberg Mur- der--Orchard VIII Repeat
 His Confession.

Boise, Idaho, June 4.-Through James H. Hawley, Jr., the senior of the group of prosecutors, the state of Idaho made the opening statement against William D. Haywood today whom 1t charges with tho murder of Frank steunenberg, and then began the presentation of testimony. by which 1t hopes to prove the indict- ment laid against him.
 The opening statement was broad and sweeping arraignment of the leaders of the Western Federation of Miners, who were charged with plotting whole sale murder and hiring assassins all in a giant conspiracy of vengeance upon those who obstructed their way to destroy opposition to control the political des- tinies of the communities covered by their organization and to perpetuate their own power within the organization.
 The attorney charged a widespread conspiracy, dating its inception from the North Idaho disturbance fifteen years ago, reaching down to the murder of Frank Steunenberg and whose murder victims by bullet and bomb, numbered scores. Hawley declared that whenever in the mining sections of the coast states the federation had been in control, there had been left a trail of blood to mark it's operation. Of the hired assassins, he cried: "To them murder became a trade ana a means Of living."
 General Conspiracy.
 AS to the general conspiracy, MT. flaw ley said:
 T have said, gentlemen, it has beeen part of their object and policy to trol the politics of the various sections where they have lived; where they have existed, where their organization, their subordinate lodges have had control. This conspiracy. this collusion these crimes and understandings between the leaders of this organization together with some more who were associated with them in subordinate role, together at other times with others that upon the outside played into their hands and who were necessarily brought into their confidence, has as I have stated before, caused the death and been the real cause of the death of Governor Steunenberg. It is well then for us to inquire as to the ob- iects of this collision and this under stcnding and this conspiracy. It is well to go into the objects of these leaders in accordance with the principles that actuated them in effecting this organiZa ton so far that. at last, it is necessary in order to enlighten as to this par ticular crime as charged. and on this gentlemen, I will say that we expect to prove that this was not the only object of this organization, that although the persons composing the executive com mittee so far as their personality was concerned have changed at various times theii objects, the ideas of the leaders of the body have never changed
 By mutual agreement and understand in of these leaders at the very incep- ti of this organization, certain objects were aimed at and it has always been the object of the inner circles of this organization to accomplish them. In fact, we will prove to you, gentlemen of the jury that at the inception of this or ganization a conspiracy was formed by the members of the inner circle. the ob- feet of which was to perpetuate their own powerful influence and control both of the federation itself and governmental matters of different mining sections; were ir control by employing desperate criminals to commit murders and other atrocious crimes; by unusual methods against those who in equal persons are refused to be influenced by their wishes anc those. who, in private life, run coun- ter to their interests
 ''lnner Circle"
 We will go farther, gentlemen of the jury. and prove as part of our case and showing who is responsible for the mur- der of Frank Steunenberg, as showing the circumstances surrounding that mur- der and who caused it to be committed, that the leaders of this federation, that the men who compose the inner circle have for more than eight years past made record of deeds of violence and that their chosen methods and course and custom has left a trail of blood in the mining sections of this entire coast where eTlar that the leaders who comprise the inner circle have traded in bloom, employed assassins to take life and destroy proper ty as their interests seemingly required, and as it Is part of their general pol. icy of protection, have raised by assess ment levied upon ne members of their order large amount of money an emergency fund and from it, not only squandered large sums for their own per bonal purpose and criminal methods, but have also from it retained the best legal talent to defend those of their number charged with crime"
 Hawley spoke for nearly an hour and half to a court room crowded but silent, to a jury which, sitting bolt upright, watched for every word, to a prisoner who with his family around him. was several times moved to deep emotion as the prosecutor pronounced his words. Counsel for the defense opened fire before the statement had proceeded ten minutes and the repetition of objections led to three or four sharp exchanges. They pro- tested against the charge that the federa- ton was guilty of scores of murders and the assertion that the conspiracy ex- tended back to the first trouble in North Idaho. which was years before the &C., .used a member of the organization.
 They dotted the record with exceptions sf overruled objections and finally got an agreement whereby they could protect