Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1907-07-13

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Any Money for the Commission of
Any Crime.
Boise, Ida-Charles IT. Meyer,
president of the Western federation
of miners, testifylng in behalf Of
William d. Haywood, declared that
though he knew Harry Orchard. he
had never discussed with him the
assassination of ex-Gov. Frank Steu-
nenberg or any other person, nor had
he ever given him any money for the
commission of -nnV crime me-------
| MI Meyer said he had no personal
feeling against the ex-governor nor
had he any knowledge of any threats
against Steunenberg, even by Or
chard.
He denied every specific accusation
made against him by Orchard. Mr..
Meyer said he only saw Orchard a
few times, and the last occasion was
June 23 1905, six months before the
murder of the ex-governor.
At that time Mr.. Meyer said they
had dinner together. In Orchards
confession Meyer was not involved
in so many conversations concerning
proposed assassinations as were
Haywood and Pettibone. The first
allegation by Orchard was that Moy-
er in December, 1908, complimented
Orchard for the explosion in the Vim
dicator mine and paid him $500.
Mr.. Meyer said he never saw Or.
chard until January, 1904, and at
that time no mention was made Of
the Vindicator explosion or Or
chard's participation in it.
Orchard had asserted that during
the trial of alleged train wreckers in
February, 1904, Mr.. Meyer met him
on the street and gave him $100.
Mr.. Meyer testified that he saw
Orchard at the time of the trials, as
Orchard was helping get witnesses,
but he said he gave him no money.
Mr.. Meyer admitted that Orchard
his body-guard in March, 1904, as the
assassin had testified
Orchard came to see me in Den,
yer, to ask where he could get work,
and said he intended to go to Silver
ton, ColO.," said the president of the
Western federation. 81 told him l
was going to Ouray in a day or two,
and l asked, him to wait and go with
me. l told him some of the officers
of the United mine workers had been
done up down there and was afraid
might be attacked. got two take
down shotguns from Mr.. Pettibone,
put one in my grip, and gave the
other to Orchard.
1--WE went together, but Orchard
paid his own fare. | paid Orchards
expenses at the hotel, but gave him
no money. In few days | was ar
rested at Ouray and taken to Tellu-
ride"
Mr.. Meyer said he was taken to
Telluride on a charge Of desecrating
the American flag by using it on
poster to advertise the conditions in
the state, and he was detained in
the bullpen on various charges Of
murder until June.
He testified that after his arrest at
Ouray he did not see Harry Orchard
again until June %, 1905.
Orchard then came to his Office in
Denver and waited until he had fin
ished his correspondence, for Mr..
Meyer said he had arranged to leave
the next morning for Chicago TO at
tend a convention. At Orchards in
vitation they had a drink together,
Mr.. Meyer said and later they dined.
That was the last time | ever saw
him." said Mr.. Meyer
I'VE did not discuss any crime,
nothing was said about killing ex-
Gov. Steunenberg or any one else.
never met him in Pettlbones yard
with Mr. Haywood or Mr. Pettibone
in August, 1905, or at any other time"
Orchards testimony had been that
the assassination OF ex-Gov. Steunen.
berg was discussed by Moyer Hay.
wood and Pettibone in Pettibone's
yard, and on that occasion he said
Meyer proposed that Orchard kill
John Neville, because Neville had
threatened to expose the responsible
ity of the Western federation for the
independence railroad station horror
unless he was paid $1,000.
Mr. Meyer said that he never
spoke to Orchard about Neville. Mr..
Neville had made an appeal to Mr..
Meyer in October, 1904, for assist
ance, but was given none.
"Mr Neville came to my office,
said he had been brought back from
Wyoming because OF a suspicion
that he knew something about the In
dependence explosion, and wished
me to reimburse him for the expens.
es he had incurred" said Mr.. Meyer.
Il made an investigation and when
I found that he was not a member Of
the Western federation, told him
had no authority to give him any
money"