The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-05-02
GIVE THEIR SIDE.
Meyer, Haywood and PettibOne
Issue a Statement
Through Their Attorney, Clar-
ance barrow of Chicago.
ASK FOR SQUARE DEAL
Say President, Two Governors
and the Newspapers
Are in League to Secure Their
Condemnation.
ASK FOR SQUARE DEAL

Boise, Idaho, May 2.-Clarence
Darrow of counsel for Messrs. Hay
wood, Meyer and Pettibone of the
Western Federation of Miners, who
are charged with completely in the
murder of former Governor Steunen-
berg has issued a formal statement
in behalf of the prisoners. 1t was an
ticipated that the statement would be
a direct reply to President Roose-
velt's Undesirable citizen" letter, but
the statement is in reality a general
order and the references to the presi-
dent are to the former letters of the
executive.
The statement fellows:
1--WE have been charged with kill
ing Ex-Governor Steunenberg with a
dynamite bomb. Our trial is to be-
gin on the ninth of this month. The
details of the assassination have been
published broadcast throughout the
civilized world for more than year
During all this time the press of the
country and especially of that section
of Idaho where We will be placed on
trial has bitterly denounced us and
the Western Federation of Miners to
full interests of the country are seek
ing to take our lives.
1--WE were not in Idaho for years
before the crime was committed IN
from Colorado. But. in spite of this,
we were arrested on a perjured af-
f1davit charging that we were in Idaho
at the time of the commission of the
crime and that we Immediately fed
from the state and OF this perjured
affidavit. known to be false. the gov
ernors of the 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 COM
munity systematically poisoned against
US by newspapers and officials. We
have been confined in Jail for four
teen months against our protest and
denied bail while constantly demand
made to teach the farmers. business
men and working men of the country
that we are assassins and outlaws.
after all this time our case is
about to be reached and the president
of the United States in no way inter-
ested officially or otherwise sends two
letters broadcast over the country
charging us with guilt and crime
These are re-published in every paper
in the land especially in every paper
of Idaho. The governor of Colorado a
day or two later. adds his words of
spite to the venom of the president
and says that we are not only guilty
OF the crime. charged but of many
others. too.
while the president of the United
States and the governor of Colorado
are sending out their statement to
compass our death the judge of this
county has brought a citizen before
him for contempt on the charge that he
tried to influence the mind of a pros
pective juror by saying that The state
administration was trying to railroad
us On the appearance of this man in
court the judge promptly told the states
attorney that he should have this OBJ
scure farmer indicted for felony be-
cause he tried to influence the mind
of a prospective juror.
THE president knows how much
greater weight will be given to his
words than those of an obscure private
court every lawabiding citizen. how
ever great or humble. should do ev-
erything in his power to cool the pas
sions of men. rather than add fuel to
the flames. If we are to be thrown. to
the mog the officers should at least
chance to defend ourselves
Barring the pallor inseparable from
confinement Haywood Meyer and Pet
tibone show no mark of long confine-
ment nor apparent trepidation at TIE
close approach Of trial so high in con-
Ing at story told by one of their
counsel when they received a CORES
pondent of the Associated Press and
the laughter went on until the discus
sion of the old battle of capital and
labor gravened the general conversa-
ton.
Pettibone, whom they used to call
Happy Hooligan" down in Denver, is
the funmaker of the trio He has
marked native wit, and a droll quaint
manner of expressing himself and even