The new era. (Walden, Colo.) 1906-19??, 1907-07-04
DAVIS ON stan 3
SAYS HE DID NOT HIRE ORCHARD
TO KILL.
NO IMPORTANCE IN UNION
in Cripple Creek 10 Charged
UP Against the State
Soldiers.

tHe morning session OF the haywood
murder trial, June 9th. was used in
completing the examination of w. f.
Davis who, Orchard swore, inspired
several Of the principal acts OF yio-
lence committed at Cripple Creek dur-
ing the strike. Senator Borah search
ingly questioned him as to the Grippe
Creek strike and it's principal events,
the meeting at Denver after the hide
penGence station was blown up, and
the subsequent journey to Wyoming.
Attorney Darrow interviewed several
times to protect the witness, and hs
end Senator Borah Interested and
amused the crowd with some cleA
court strategy. Borah drove Davis
very hard on conditions at Cripple
Creek and his action in changing his
name, but the witness held to his de-
mails of misconduct on the part of
himself and his associates
w. F. Davis, called to the stand. said
he was now a resident of Goldfied, Ne
vada, mining and prospecting He be-
gan mining seventeen years aga
in the Occur d'Alene district OF
Idaho. He Joined the miners
union in 1899. He went to work at
the Bunker Hill and Sullivan mine IN
1891. In 1898, Davis said, he went 10
Alaska to prospect some claims He
came back to Idaho thirteen months
later. The Bunker Hill mill explosion
occurred April 20, 1899. Davis said he
joined the Western Federation of Min.
ers in September. 1899; before this ne
belonged to the Western Labor Union.
Davis said he knew Fred Bradley of
the Bunker Hill and Sullivan mine, bu,
never had any trouble with him
did you have anything to do with
the blowing up of the Bunker Hill and
Sullivan mill?" asked barrow.
No, sir"
Did you lead body of 1000 mea
down to blow it up?"
Were you member of the union at
that time?"
No, sir"
Orchard declared on the stand that
Davis was one of the leaders of the
party which went to blow up the mill.
Davis said he first met Harry Or.
chard in May. 1902, in Altman. at the
miners union Office. Orchard asked
for admittance to the union. saying he
had belonged in Burke. Idaho. The
man had no withdrawal card, and when
n transfer was sent for none came.
When the strike came in 1903 u
Cripple Creek, Davis said that he al
Parker were on the strike committS5
Bill Easterly was never a member The
militia came into the district when al.
solute quiet prevailed. Davis declared
that up to this time there had been no
disorder.
Davis said he knew absolutely moth
ing about the attempt TO wreck IA train
on the Florence & Cripple Creek rail
road He denied that he had ever Of
fered Orchard 5000 or any other sum
TO set off carload of powder in the
Nindicator mine. Orchard had testified
that Davis made such proposition
Davis said he was arrested for al
legged completely in the railroad wreck
and the Vindicator mine, but was dis
charged by the judge after the ev.
dence was all in. The witness fatty
denied that he ever offered Orchard
money to wreck train or to place
bomb in the Vindicator mine. AS pres
ident of the Altman union, Davis dc.
clared he publicly and privately advo.
Gated peace and never at any time
counseled any sort of violence.
DdElS lOlu Vi tIe COHulllOn Oh ln6
union in Cripple Creek before the
strike. He said there were commodi-
Gus halls. libraries for the men and
many benefits available.
The witness said Orchard was not
close acquaintance and was not man
Of any importance in the union, Davis
was in Denver at the time of the indie
nendence explosion. He first read Of
IL III the newspapers and knew of no
plan to wreck the place.
He was married Christmas day, 1902.
but his wife and baby died during the
strike days in Cripple Creek. At tkS
point the witness showed evidences W
emotion. but quickly rallied.
He eventually landed in Goldfeld in
January, 1905, and has resided there
ever since.
While at Altman Davis said he had
a conversation with Orchard as to the
reason for his leaving the Occur
d'Alenes. Parker and Easterly were
also present Orchard said II he had
not been driven out OF the Occur
diA,enes he would have been rich
man He intended to get even with
Sieunenberg.
Senator Borah then cross-examined
the witness.
He went into the Hercules mine. He
was not hiding bu. was keeping out
OF tine way of the troops. Davis was at
the Hercules mine for two weeks He
knew the soldiers were looking for
but did not know that
placords had been posted calling for
his arrest. From Wallace Davis went
tc Butte. He again took the name of
Jones. He did this so as to get JOB,
bnt he had not seen his name black
listed anywhere.
Butte was a. federation camp and it
was not necessary for union man tn
charge his name to get employment
thnra Dayis said one reason for the
was that he did not care about
IL hiIllnnD y