Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-02-12
Trial of Steve Adams Begun at
Wallace, Idaho, For Kill
ing Settler
MAY .mpLIcATE MINERS UNION
Evidence at tho Trial May Show That
It Caused the Staying of Twenty
seven Men-Mysteries Promise to DO
Cleared by Confession Adams Has
Made-Other News.

Wallace, Idaho, Feb. 12-The trial
of Steve Adams, member of the West
ern Federation of Miners. began yes
terday. The direct charge against
Adams Is the murder of Fred Tyler, a
settler, who disappeared from his
timber claim on Marble creek August
TO- 1904.
Adams is supposed to be implicated
in various murders which. 1t IS
claimed. were committed at the instiga-
ton, of the Western Federation of Min
ers, and 1t is the hope of the prosecu-
ton during the trial to uncover PROOF
that the miners organization caused
the killing of at least twenty seven
men at various times.
The most prominent victim of the al
legged murderous band was former
Governor Steunenberg, who was killed
by bomb at the gate of his home in
Coldwell, Idaho, the evening December
30, 1905.
Adams has been under arrest for
long time and the authorities claim ne
has made confession giving away tine
whole story of the plot, In which the
Western Federation of Miners is said
to be involved. The latter organiza-
ton declares the charges against 1t are
false and an attempt by the mineown-'
ers to break up the union.
The murder OF Tyler remained a
mystery until after the death of Cow
ernor Steunenberg. Harry Orchards
graphic confession not only implicated
Steve Adams and other federation men
in the governors murder but declared
that Adams and aJck Simpkins also
killed Tyler because he had taken UP
the timber claim. Simpkins has never
been found.
Adams was arrested at Haines, Ore.
it is alleged he confessed the Tyler
murder. This confession he now de-
MES, and it is believed he will claim it
was wrung from him by force and is
false. Later he was spirited away
from Boise to Wallace, Sheriff Suther-
lond leaving the railway and Journey
ing by wagon to avoid the service Of
legal papers to get his prisoner from
him.
The preliminary fight over the selec-
ton Of a jury is expected to continue
for ten days or two weeks
While a person cannot be convicted
on the uncorroborated evidence of an
accomplice the prosecution asserts that
Orchards confession has been fully
confirmed, even to the most minute de-
tails, by that Of Steve Adams.
Adams, it is said, was the thug and
slugger for the Inner circle" Of the
federation. When it came to deeds de-
manding brute force and little brain
work, Adams was called into service.
Adams. the detective asserts, knows
more. about the secret workings of the
inner circle" than does Orchard. They
say his testimony will furnish the
larger sensation at the trial The
prosecution has bean extremely chary
of letting his confession become pub
lie, as he has implicated number of
men whom it is hoped to arrest.
Adams confession was secured in a
peculiar way. He was arrested soon
after Orchards confession A great hue
and cry was raised over the capture of
Meyer Haywood and Pettibone, and it
was e1iAiouiiSCu IudI %l,VVV,VUU WOulQ
be raised for their defense. Attorneys
were Immediately engaged in their be-
half and rushed to Boise, where every
thing was done to gain their release.
But Adams as a less important per-
son, was overlooked in the current talk,
and no attorney was sent to see him.
They can't make me the fall guy"
Adams said, and in a spirit of pique
called in the detectives and told them
everything he knew.
The detectives say that the confess
sions of Adams and Orchard clear up
at least twenty-four murders during
the last ten or fifteen years that have
so far remained mysteries