Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-05-06
Alleged That He, With Others Of the
Federation Chiefs, con.pired to Kill
OK oovernor-Bom Cause Of Death
Damaging coStes.'on-s story Of
The Crime.

1 II. Meyer, president of the Western
4 Federation of Miners; George "A. Petit
bone, and Harry Orchard, members OF
4 the Miners Federation. OF these men,
Orchard, It is alleged, has made a con-
] fession in which he admits he killed
i Steunenberg, and in the same confess
n sion,s it is alleged, duplicates those un-
der arrest, together with others, as be-
& ing accessories before the fact, Under
{ the law OF Idaho, while it is admitted
8 that Haywood, Meyer and Pettibone
were rot in Idaho at the time of, the
h murder they are charged with the ac-
tual murder, the contention under the
statute being that they were on the
spot III spirit s that they planned and
< therefore comprised Steunenberg IS
4 death. S
The history OF. the case extends back
= 70 the conflict between the union and
/ non-union miners in the Couer d Alene
! district. IN &
Story Of the Case.
The background to the Steunenberg
Z case Iii the struggle in the Couer
& d yAlenes, extending over period Of
1 seven yeans and involving the calling
& out Of the state militia and finally the
dispatch of limited States troops by
! President Mckinley to the scenesof the
! conflict centering around the towns of
4 FHNallafe, Gem and Wardner. To the
1 part the dead governor played In these
stirring days the prosecution goes for
{ the motive and theory charged against
! the accused. II IL alleged that for pur-
poses oftrevenge, as an evidence Of UNI
! relenting determination to carry on a
camp aign Of terrorism, to impress their
! power, daring and loyalty on and retain
The, moral and financial support and
Efealty Of their 81 600 followers, the
members Of the elmer circle bf the
Western Federation Of Miners planned
and executed along series Of murders
and acts OF violence. 4
1t is charged that Orchard and Steve
Adams. now under arrest and charged
with the commission OF other muir
'ders were the hired agents and actual
executors of many Of these plots. These
seffnrse, il is alleged can be traced thru
the last fifteen years, thru the days of
the bull PEN" stockade in which
sseverdl union. miners were imprisoned
I'D 1899 under the guard 6f United
States troops, again to the Cripple
Greek strike, and the more recent pro-
longsd struggle In Colorado.
Frank Steulfenberg began life as a
printer, Joined the Typographical union
and turnout the greater part Of his
life was in strong sympathy with union
labor. This circumstance gives the
ground for the important contention of
the case. Upon one hand 1t was argued
that because Steunenberg refused to
1countenance, or, as governor, to permit
violence In behalf Of union labor, he
was stricken down as aetraitor. Upon
4 the other hand it Is contended that his
/ well known advocacy Of union prin-
ciples made It at once improbable that
his death was procured by union men.
The murder of Steunenberg is the
pivotal point In the history of this
i case.
Bomb Cause Of Death.
Steunenberg was blown to death on
the evening OF December 80, 1906, as
; he was passing thru the gate of
NAis residence at Caldwell. "A bomb
Nh string attached. was sunk in
the snow beside the gate, and as Steu-
nenberg entered the opening Of the
gate. he sprung the trigger of the
bomb. He was terribly mangled, eliv-
ing less than an hour.
The explosion OF the bomb aroused
not only the town of Caldwell, but the
whole state of Idaho. Orchard had
murdered Steunenberg, and before the
{ day was over, was suspected. He had
/ gone to Caldwell from Denver as Thos,
Hogan. The search of his room in the
hotel revealed the first definite. evil
dence and on January l.. 1906. he was
arrested. Orchards trunk revealed
more evidence and thena score of wit
nesses located him at various times,
lurking around the Steunenberg home,
with Jack iSimpkins, a member of the
executive board Of the Western Fed
Grafton Of Miners. who has not been
caught. 3.
Subsequently Hogan" was identified
by the Colorado police as Harry Or.
chard, wanted on q charge of blowing
up the Independe depot.
Damaging Confession.
Meantime the case had passed into
tho hands OF a detective agency and.
James MCFARLAND, famous for his part
dn the Molly Mcclure affair, assumed
charge and secured what is claimed to
be a full confession from Orchard. It
IS said this confession contains the all
legged admission of participation in
nearly, thirty murders and that Orchard
charges Haywood Meyer and Pettibone
with having induced him to commit
the crimes and having paid him in
money an agreed sum for each. 1t is
alleged that Orchards confession has,
been amply confirmed, that he will go
upon the stand and repeat 1t with the
full knowledge that when his turn
comes for trial he will be convicted
and executed.
& February II last year. Haywood,
Meyer and Pettibone were arrested in
Colorado and Immediately brought to
Idaho The governor of Colorado hon
ored the requisition of the governor of
Idaho, but there was no judicial pro-
ceeding in Idaho. The affidavit charge
ing that the men were in Idaho at the
time of the murder being admittedly
false in fact, tho true as compliance
with the letter and spirit of the atti-
tude. according to officers of the state, |
save rise to widespread discussion as to