Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1907-10-12
BROKEN In HEALTH
But NOT IN SPIR. T
GEORGE PIT THRONE Will BI
PLACED ON TRIAL FOR MUIR
DER NEXT WEEK.

Boise. Idaho. Oct. 12.-Broken in
health BY his long confinement and
illness, George \. Pettibone, indicted
with Haywood and Meyer for the
murder of Ex-Governor Steunenbsrg
VIII be placed on trial next week
The date has been fixed for Tuesday.
and both prosecution and defense
have announces that they will be
ready at that time. Pettibone Is still
suffering from the effects OF the re-
cent Illness that at the time threat
ened to cause his death. but main
tains the hopeful and cheerful spirit
that has animated him since he was
brought TO Boise from Denver to
answer TO the charge of murder.
Naturally n humorist and an opti-
mist. he apparently does not realize
the gravity of the charge against
him, or dismisses II with a shrue OF
the shoulders and an airy witticism.
When the condition of his health al
lows. he spends his abundant leisure
IN making clever sketches and pyro-
graphic work. which he gravely as
sures his visitors will become highly
valuable as souvenirs after he has
been hanged
Little popular interest Is manifest
ed In the case. the general belief be-
ing that the prosecution will fail TO
prove It's case. Those who formerly
sympathized with the state officials
In their efforts to secure the conyic-
tion OF the Western Federation
leaders are critical Of The attitude
TIC State has taken toward Petit
bone, who was refused his liberty
despite the failLr" OF the HAYWOOD
prosecution and the release OF Meyer
on bail. Persons not intimately con-
nected with the administration who
are, nevertheless. against the de-
PENDANTS, think this action has sa-
vored of persecution toward Petit
bone, whose life has been endangered
by confinement, and who Is not 4
Socialist nor an active member OF
the Western Federation OF Miners.
Pettibone himself has been philo-
sophical. He says the state needed
a goat" and that he is IT,
Clarence Darrow. who defended
William ID. Haywood, will lead the
Pettibone defense, and will he assist
ed by several able attorneys. includ-
Ing II. |. Perky, former circuit Judge
OF Boise county, who has also been
retained by the miners. r. n. Rich
ardson, who played an important
part in the Haywood defense. will
not take part in the Pettlbone case.
The Denver attorney Is still en-
ployed by the Western Federation OF
Miners, but friction between him and
Darrow has caused him to decline to
take any part in the defense OF Petit
bone. James II. Hawley and Sena-
tor William f. Borah will again rep
resent the state.
AS in the trial of Haywood, Harry
Orchard will likely be the principal
witness for the prosecution, and will
again repeat his grisly story of mul-
tfudinous murders, committed, he
alleges, at the instigation of the
Western Federatlon's inner circle. %
Pettibone, Ochard alleges, was a
member OF this band OF conspirators
and took a prominent part in plan
ming the murders which he and 9TH
er hired assasslns committed 50
far as is known, the state has no
new evidence to introduce. and the
only hope for a conviction Is ap-
parently in securing a jury that will
be more inclined to believe the tale
told by Orchard than was the Hay.
wood jury.
Although It Is believed that the
finding OF a sufficient number OF