The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1907-05-04
MINERS STATE
THEIR CASE
Fear Prejudice in the Idaho
Proceedings
POWERFUL INFLUENCES
Want Their conyiction--Appeal for Fair
Play in Coming Trial--Score Pres
ident for His Connection
With the Case.
POWERFUL INFLUENCES.

Boise Idaho, May 4--Clarence Darraw
Of counsel for Messrs. Haywood, Meyer
and Pettibone of the Western Fedora
ton Of Miners, who was charged with
completely IN the murder Of former
Governor Steunenberg has issued a for
nal statement in behalf Of the prison
ers. Il was anticipated. that the state
ment would be direct reply to Pres
ident Roosevelt's undesirable citizsnss
letter, but the statement is in reality a
general one, and references TO the Presi-
dent are to the former letters Of the Ex-
ecaitive The statement follows;
We have been charged with killing ex&
Governor Steunenberg with 4 dynamite
bomb Our trial II tn begin On the 9th
Of this month. The details 81 the AT
sassination have been published broad
east throughout The civilized world for
more than a year. During all this time
the press of the country especially Of
that section OF Idaho where we will be
Elaced on trial, has bitterly denounced
us and the Western Federation of
Miners, TO which we belong. The most
powerful influences of the country are
seeking to take our lives.
We were not in Idaho for years be-
fore the crime was committed Under
the law we could not be extradited from
Colorado. But in spite Of this we were
arrested on a periured affidavit charg-
ing that we were in Idaho at the time
81 the commission Of the crime and that
b immediately fled from the state, and
on this perjnred affidavit, known to be
false, the governors Of two states of
Idaho and Colorado Kidnapped us in the
night time, refused us an interview with
family, friends or counsel or a chance
Of appeal to the courts and brought US
on a special train a thousand miles from
home and into a state and community
systematically poisoned against us by
newspapers and officials We have been
confined in Jail for fourteen months
against our protest, and denied bail
while constantly demanding a trial.
Every effort has been made to teach the
farmers, business men and working men
of the community that we are assassins
and outlaws.
After All this time our Gaze Is about
To be reached and the President Of the
United States. in no way interested, Of
ticially or otherwise, sends two letters
broadcast over the country charging us
with guilt and crime. These are repub-
lished in every paper in the land, and es-
peeially every paper in Idaho. The gov
ernor of Colorado. day or two later,
adds his words Of spite and venom TO
those OF the President and says tina we
are not only guilty Of the crime charged
but many others too While the Presi-
dent OF the United States and the gov
ernor of Colorado are sending out their
statement to compass our death, the
Judges of this county has brought ci-
tixen before him for contempt on the
charge that he tried to influence the
mind Of prospective juror by saying
that "the state administration was try
ing to railroad u.s. On the appearance
Of this man in court the Judge promptly
told the states Attorney that he should
have this obscure farmer indicted for
felony because he tried TO influence the
mind Of a prospective Juror. The Presi-
dent knows how much greater weight
will be given to his words than those Of
an obscure private citizen.
IF we are about to be tried in open
court. every law-abiding citizen. how
ever great or humble. should do every
thing in his power TO cool the passions
OF men, rather than add fuel TO the
flames. If We are TO be thrown to the
mob. the officers should at least open
our prison doors and give US some
chance to defend ourselves.