The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1907-07-13
hOYEH DENIES ALL
President of Western Miners
On the Stand.
NEVER GAVE ORCHARDACENT
Declares He Never Discussed Any
Criminal Act With Any One and
Had No Personal Hostility For
Steunenbero.

Boise Idaho. July II. - President
Charles II. Meyer. Of the Western
Federation of Miners. went to the
stand as a witness for Secretary VIII
lam u. Haywood. charged with murder
ing Frank Steunenberg. as IS also
Meyer. and besides making positive
denial OF all the crimes attributed to
him and the other federation leaders
by Harry Orchard. Meyer offered an
explanation OF the unsolicited appear
ance of the Western Federation OF
Miners as the defender OF Harry Or
Chard Immediately after Orchards ar
rest for the murder OF Steunenhcrg
Meyer swore that IL was Jack Simp
kins VINO engaged Attorney Fred
Miller al Spokane TO so to Caldwell 20
represent Orchard, then known as
Thomas Hogan. and that it was at the
request OF Simpkins that Meyer and
Haywood subsequently advanced $500
from the funds of the federation TO
meet the expense Of defending Or
chard.
Mover said he got his first knovl-
edge Of the crime from the Denver
newspapers and that on the evening OF
January 4. Eve DAYS after che crime. n
telegram in the federations cipher
came to Haywood from spokane It
was long and the translation was difh-
cult and uncertain but he and Hay
wood figured the next day that It was
signed by Simpkins and read.
Cannot get a lawyer to defend Ho-
gan Answer"
Mover testified that he was suspic-
ious about the message. the ncwspa-
pers having already charged the crime
TO the federation. and that he decided
10 consult John Murphy. general conn
sci for the federation. before he took
any steps.
Mover denied that he had ever dis
GUESSED any kind OF criminal act with
Orchard. or any one else. or that h
had ever given Orchard a cent. except
for expenses on the trip Orchard made
to Ouray as a hodyEuard for Mover.
The witness said that he had no per-
sonal feelings Of hostility for Stouncn-
berg. and there were no circumstau es
that would make him desire tn life
of John Neville. whom Orchar1 testi-
fed Meyer wanted killed Mover said
that Neville came 20 him a.ter his ar
rest for alleged completely in the Indie
pendcnce Station AFFAIR and asked that
the federation give him 5000 TO rcirl-
hurse him for the expense that he had
incurred In clearing himself but this
request was refused.
Meyer denied that he participated In
a conference In Pettibone's back yard.
where Orchard said Meyer. Haywood
and Pcttihone had discussed with him
various acts Of violence. denied knowl-
edge Of the subsequent meeting at
federation headquarters. where Orch
ard swore that the killing Of Steunen-
berg and Neville as planned. and de-
MED in detail every material state
ment in all Of Orchards testimony.
Meyer explained that Orchard ac-
companied him 10 Ouray because Orch
ard was going TO Silyerton and they
made the journey together for conve-
nience. Representatives, of the m NJ
workers had been beaten by thugs
employed by the mine owners. and the
witness and Orchard took along shot
guns for protection
Meyer swore that HIS gun was not
subsequently used 20 XIII Lyle Gregory.
bat that Orchard returned IL 10 Mover
after they got back 90 Denver. and the
weapon had never been discharged up
TO the time Meyer was arrested.