The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1908-03-21

Wednesday being the day an !,
nounced by Judge Wood, when he
would pass sentence on Harry Or
chard for the murder of ex-governor
Frank Steunenberg, caused the court
room to be crowded to its utmost
capacity, altho the hour for the open
ing of court was set for 10 a. M, yet |
long before that time arrived the
people came in crowds so that when
Judge Wood instructed Sheriff Thorp |
to open court there was not foot OF
vacant space in the room. The first
question the judge asked is the de-
PENDANT in the court room? In less
than three minutes the answer was
in the affirmative, when Orchard was
seated facing the judge who told him
to stand up. When Orchard arose
there was not a perceptable tremor
to be observed excepting a slight
twitching of the muscles of his face
as tho he was trying to keep from
swallowing a lump in his throat,
otherwise his appearance was about
as usual when in court. 1t was 10
minutes past ten when the judge
commenced reading his opinion and
it was five minutes of eleven when
he finished, all of which time was
consumed by the judge with perhaps
a minute or two in which Orchard
in response to question by the judge
if he knew of any legal reason why
Judgment should not at this time be
pronounced. When he spoke as fol-
lows, but before he finished he broke
down completely and the tears rolled
down his cheeks.
The Court: The court will now
hear anything you have to say, Mr.
Orchard.
Mr.. Orchard: If your honor
please, l don't know as can say what
| would like to say, but l want to
thank you. You have gone thru all
these things so fully that I want to
thank you, and I want to thank every
body I have been connected with, and
say that my motive for doing what
have done, withdrawing my plea, has
been done perhaps against the wishes
of some 1 know are my friends, bu
under the conditions or circumstances
1t was the only thing that I could d.
what was right; my only objec
has been ever since have been try
ing to do what was right, to tell tn
whole truth and 1 have told that.
have tried to tell it and not spar
myself. While it implicated others
that was not my purpose, nor coul
l have been induced to have don
this from any earthly motive o
promise; for I was promised nothin
for my testimony. I gave 1t as vo
UNFAIRLY as 1 am making this state
thank the kind, loving Providene
who has given me strength to 6
thru this. That was my only motiv
to make all the amends I could fe
my wrong-doing. That Is all l ha,
to say"
During all the time the legal for
was being gone thru with, the be
of order was maintained by the lars
crowd, altho the officers had take
precautions to prevent any unexpec
ed interference. Warden Whitn'
and two guards were in positions
protect the prisoner IL 1t BEGAN
necessary. 1t was quite evident tn
the recommendation of the Judge
the pardoning board for a commut
ton of sentence was unexpected,
tho not glance of Joy was to be G
served on Orchards countenan'
the only manifestation was the 81
tening tear that treakled down
cheek.
The sentence of Judge Wood "
that the prisoner pay the penalty
the scaffold on the 18th OF May. I
prisoner was then remanded to
custody of the officers to be ag'
returned to the penitentiary and
Judge announced recess, when
people quietly fled out of the but
ing to their respective homes
places of business.
It Is generally understood that