The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-05-05


wood, secretary and treasurer OF the
Western Federation of Miners, will on
Thursday next be placed on trial charged
with the murder of Ex-Governor Frank
Steunenberg of this state. In all four
men are in custody charged with the
same offense; they are William d. Hay
wood, Charles II Meyer. the president of
the Western Federation of Miners George
a. Pettibone. a former member of the
executive board Of the same organization,
and Harry Orchard. a member of the Mi
ners' federation. OF these men Orchard,
1t is alleged, has made a confession in
which he admits that he killed the former
governor and in the same confession IL is
alleged duplicates the other men under ar
rest, together with others, as being ac-
ceSsories before the fact. Under the law
Of the state of Idaho. while it is admit
ted that Haywood, Meyer and PettibOne
were not in the state of Idaho at the time
OF the murder, they are charged with
the actual murder. the contention under
the statute being that they were on the
spot in spirit, that they planned and
therefore comprised the death of Cover
nor SteunenbeTg.
Trouble in Occur d. Alene.
In it's main and lateral branches the
complete history of the case extends back
10 the early periOd of conflict between
the union and non-union miners in the
Occur d Aiene district or what is known
as the Panhandle country of Idaho-tnat
narrow strip of mountainous country, rich
in lead and silver ore, under the shadow
of the great divide between Idaho and
Montana.
The background to the Steunenberg case
is the momentous struggle in the Occur
'Alene, extending as it did over a period
of seven years and involving the calling
out of the state militia and finally the
dispatch of United States troops by Pres
Nzaaa~ ILL Ill = H..
centering around the mining towns OF
Wallace. Gem and Wardner. To the part
that the dead governor played in these
stirring days, furnishing as he did an
example followed later by the governors
Of Colorado. the prosecution goes for mo-
tive and theory charged against the ae-
cused.
Purpose of Revenge.
1t is alleged that for purposes of re-
Nenge, as evidence Of unrelenting deter
mination TO carry on a campaign of ter
rorism, to impress with their power, dsr-
ing and loyalty and retain the moral and
financial support and fealty of some 3D.
600 followers the members of an alleged
elmer circle of the Western Federation
of Miners planned and executed a long
series of murders and acts of violence,
medieval in conception and nihilistic in
execution 1t is charged that Harry Or
chard and Steve Adams, now under arrest
and charged with the commission of 9TH
er murders. were the hired agents and
actual executors of many of these male
VIOLENT plots.
These crimes. it is alleged. can be traced
down through the last fifteen years.
through the days of the dull pen" a
stockade in which several hundred union
miners were imprisoned in 1899 under
guard of United States troops, again to
the great Cripple Creek strike and the
more recent prolonged struggle in Colo
RADIO. Geographically the action is con-
fined chiefly to Colorado and Idaho but
were also STAGES on which were enacted
portions Of the tragedy.
Confession of Orchard.
Orchard has made a confession, ii is
stated. and lies in the Idaho penitentiary
ready to take the stand against Hay
wood. 1t is alleged that Orchard will
repeat his confession upon the stand and
as the chief witness for the state will
relate a story filled with plot and coun-
terplot startling in development and ex-
ecution.
Steve Adams also made confession and
for prosecution. though Adams later. IN
der pressure of relatives. it is said, repu-
dated portions of his statement.
Frank Steunenberg. who came from hum
BILE but masterful stock began life as a
printer. Joined the Typographical union
and throughout the greater part of his
life was in strong sympathy with the
cause and struggle Of union labor. This
ant contention of the case. Upon the one
hand ii was argued that because Steu-
nenberg ref0Sed to countenance or as gov
ernor, permit violence in behalf of union
labor he was stricken down as a traitor
TO his fellows by mind that never for
gets and arm that can reach through
years TO strike when least expected. ITp-
on the other hand it is cOntended that his
weil-knOwn advocacy of union principles
made it at once improbable that his
death was procured by union men
The murder Of Steunenberg is 2 pivotal
point In the history of this. the most re-
Inarkable case in American Jurisprudence,
for the events develop backward and for
ward from his assassination.
Killing of steunenburq.
steunenberg was blown to death on the
evening of December .. 1903. In the gath
ering gloom of a stormy evening he en-
tered the side gate of his residence at
Caidwl, where retired from politics, he
lived the simple life of sheep farmer.
A bomb of peculiar manufacture with a
string attached. was sunk in the snow be-
side the gate, the string-a piece Of fish
ing line-being fastened to- the gate As
Steunenbers entered. the opening of the
gate sprang the trigger of the bomb He
was terribly mangled being blown nearly
fifteen feet from the gate. He lived near
~ an hour. was conscious and spoke. but
his ruDtured ear drums were dead TO
sound and he died without knowing what |
hsd killed him.. He asked his wife who
had shot him and the mystification of his
eyes showed that he could not hear her
reply.
Orchard Suspected.
The explosion Of the bomb aroused not |
only the little town of Caldwell, but the |
whole stale Of Idaho. Before the day |
was over II was suspected Orchard |
had murdered Steunenberg. He had gone |
10 Caldwell from Denver as Thomas Ho- |
gan, and variously claimed to be an in |
suranee man. a buyer of sheep and a |
gambler. A search of |
his room in the hotel revealed the first
definite evidence and on Jan. l. 1906. he |
was placed under arrest Orchards TRUNK |
OF witnesses located him al various /
times. lurking about the Steunenberg
home. with Jack SimplIins, a member OF |
the executive board of the Western Fed |