The Elbert County tribune., 1907-07-25
DEFENSE TALKS
HAYWooD's LEADING ATTORNEY
BEGINS SPEECH.
INTENSE INTEREST SHOWN
The Lawyer Graphically Portrays Con.
ditions Leading UP to the
Foul Murder.

Boise, Idaho.-"The event of Decem-
Der 80, 1906, resulting in the death OF
Governor Frank Steunenberg, cast con-
sternation over the entire civilized
world"
In these words E. f. Richardson
began today the opening address for
the defense of the jury which holds the
fate of William ID. Haywood in its
hands. On account of the heat Judge
Wood announced that he had aban-
doned the idea OF holding three court
sessions a day. 1t was arranged TO
hold morning and evening sessions un-
til the case goes to the jury for final
decision.
MIR. Richardson plunged directly into
the death of Governor Steunenberg in
his opening sentence. He declared 1t
was Governor Steunenberg's fortune
during his administration to stand in
the forefront of a labor war in the
Occur d'Alenes Perhaps. he said, the
situation demanded all that governor
did; perhaps 1t did not.
Il do not know" declared Richard
son. "and l shall not attempt to say.
But, at any rate, for the first time in
the administration of American JUS
tice, the bull pen was called into being.
Men were put in this bull pen, per
haps as matter of necessity, but GER
tainly without due process of law. Gov
ernor Steunenberg's course was con
demned upon the one side and praised
upon the other.
when the death of Governor Steu-
nenberg was flashed TO the world there
was the Immediate conclusion In
noarly all quarters that there was some
! connection between the Coeur d'Alene
troubles and the bomb which was
placed at his gate.
Again hostile camps arose. On the
one side it was said the act must have
been done by some man in whose
breast personal hatred ranked. The
mine owners. however, We're strong in
their condemnation of the Western
Federation of Miners. 1t has been said
here that in some quarters there was
even an attempt to justify the deed.
81 want to say to you, gentlemen,
that we of the defense do not believe
there is any Justification for such an
act. We shall not attempt to justify
it; We do not believe it can be justi-
fed from any point of view"
Mr.. Richardson then reviewed the
event following the death of former
Governor Steunenberg, saying Harry
Orchard was caught almost red
handed in the act. A Pink.
erton detectice came to Idaho
and soon had a confession from
man, who, to save his own worthless
neck, was ready to place the blame
upon others. The matter was taken
up by that portion of the press which
depends upon the prosperous and cap
ftalistic classes and the leaders of the
Western Federation of Miners were
adjudged guilty without a hearing.
So far-reaching was this influence .
declared Mr.. Richardson. that it ex
tended even to the White House.
1T is my intention to carry out my
| argument, If I am not overcome by
heat, in the following order
First shall discuss the law as
applied to this case and to the prose
cutting witness.
"Second-I shall discuss the history
of the Western Federation of Miners
as shown here in the evidence.
Third shall discuss the general
conditions which prevailed in the
Occur d'Alenes at the time of the
Bunker Hill and Sullivan mill explo-
sion and at Cripple Creek prior to and
during the strike in that section.