Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1906-1908, 1907-07-12
MOYER UNDER FIRE
OF PROSECUTION
HEAD OF MINERS FEDERATION
CROSS-EXAMINE BY COUN-
Sci FOR STATE.
DENIES KNOWLEDGE
OF SIMPKINS' DRAFT
Part of Ritual and Constitution Of
Union Introduced as Evidence in
Haywood TriaI-Witness DeIiber-
ate in His Statements.

Boise, Idaho, July 12.-Charles H.
Moyer, president of the Western Fed
GRAFTON of Miners, returned to the Wit
ness chair in the Steunenberg murder
trial Thursday morning, and after the
defense had secured the introduction
as evidence of portions of the ritua!
and constitution of the Western Fed.
GRAFTON of Miners, the witness passed
into the hands of the prosecution for
cross-examinatiOn. Senator Borah be-
gan a searching inquisition of the wit
ness. An important statement OF the
witness was a denial of any knOwl-
edge of the draft for 500 sent to Jack
Simphins nine days before Steunen-
berg was killed. The cross -examina-
tion of Meyer was concluded at 11:45
and Clarence Darrow commenced the
redirect examination, which was con
cluded at 11:55, when the court took a
recess.
Real Power of Miners Union.
In taking up his cross examination
of the witness Senator Borah first in
quiTed as to where the real power OF
the organization, between conventions
existed. Meyer said it rested in the
executive board, the president and the
secretary-treasurer. He has been an
active or ex-officio member Of the eX
ecutive board ever since 1899 At the
recent convention of the federation in
Denver Meyer said Jack Simpkins, the
alleged accomplice of Harry Orchard
who has never been apprehended, was
continued in Office as member of the
executive board for Idaho, an alter
nate being appointed to take UP his
duties.
Meyer was very deliberate in his re
plies again Thursday, evidently weigh
ing his answers carefully over in his
mind before making them. He said
he was living at Deadwood, S. D., dur
ing the Occur d'Alene troubles OF
1899, but became acquainted with
many of the members from that dis
trict at the Salt Lake convention OF
that year. He also learned of Gov
Steunenberg's part in the strike. Jack
Simpkins was one of the men Moy er
met at the convention. He heard
Simpkins tell of the indignities he suf
fered in the Idaho bull pen and
knew what his feelings were.
Federation Defended Members.
Senator Borah questioned the wit
ness closely as to the extent of the
rule of the federation to defend any
of it's members accused of crime
Meyer declared that no man was de,
Tended unless the executive board de-
cided his arrest had some connection
with the Western Federation of Min
ers
If a member of the federation
should kill a man on the streets OF
Boise you would not defend him un,
less you felt the federation was in
some way involved in the AFFAIR."" sug
gested Borah.
THAT is my understanding. We
would defend any one whose act grew
out of a strike or whose arrest We felt
was due to his connection with the
Western Federation of Miners
You don't hold it out as an induce
ment to members that the federation
will defend them for any crime com
mitted, do you?"
mo, sir"
Mr.. Borah next inquired as to Pet
tibone's relations to the Western Fed
Grafton of Miners. Pettibone was not
an active member, but when his bust
ness permitted would attend the con
ventions and would come to head
quarters. He was a good friend OF
the organization and ready to assist
in any way he could. He has often
bought furniture and other supplies
for the organization and for its mem
bers.
Meyer declared he had never heard
of Orchards enmity toward Governor
Steuenberg until the present trial
started. Senator Borah had the wit
ness tell again of Orchards activities
in helping the federation officials and
attorneys in the alleged train wreck
ing case at Cripple Greek.