Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-01-05
MOYER GETS OFF AT LAST
Two of the Jury Were Anxious to
Convict, But Yielded.
DENVER TAKES NEWS CALMLY
Attorney Clarence Darrow, Though
Ill, Sends Message of Congratu-
lation to Defendant.

BOISE, Idaho, January 4.-After four
teen hours deliberation a verdict of not
guilty was reached today by the jury
trying George y, Pettibone, charged with
completely in the murder of ex-Gov.
Frank A. Steunenberg. The verdict was
brought into court at Ills this morning.
No demonstration of any kind marked
the reading of the verdict which made
Pettibone free man after two years
awaiting trial.
emaciated because of his long illness,
merely smiled as he heard of his free
dom, and a moment later he was sur
rounded by his attorneys and friends
His wife, who has been by his side at
every session of the court during the
trial, wept for joy.
Expressions from members of the jury
after their discharge showed that from
the start ten of them maintained that
the state had failed to prove the defend
ant guilty of the crime charged. The
verdict caused little surprise in Boise, in
view of the verdict in the Haywood case
simpkins a Fugitive.
The defense introduced practically no
evidence and did not argue the case
simply maintaining that the state had en-
tirely failed to connect the defendant with
the killing of Steunenberg.
The indictment against Jack Simp-
kins, who is a fugitive. will stand. Petit
Jic n ic
in such a state that his physicians fear
he will never recover.
All night the balloting of the jury stood
ten for acquittal and two for conviction
There was no change until the final bal
lot was reached, both of the men who
had been holding out giving way at the
same time.
Western Federation's View.
DENVER, Col. January 4.-There were
but few persons in the office of the West
ern Federation of Miners in this city to-
day when news of Pettibone's acquitta
was received, and no demonstration was
made. Ernest Mills, acting secretary, is
the only one of the federation in the
city.
I'VE have been confident that Pettibone
would be found not guilty" said Mr.
Mills. There was not a particle of evil
dence to connect him either with con-
spiracy to kill Gov. Steunenberg or of a
general conspiracy against the fees of the
miners union.
1--WE hope this will end the conspiracy
cases in Idaho and that Charles
Meyer, president of the Federation, viii
never be brought to trial. Now We shall
see what will be done with Harry Or.
chard, on whose unsupported word the
cases against Meyer, Haywood and Pet
tibone rested.
Darrow Is Delighted.
LOS ANGELES, January 4.-Clarence
rected the defense of Haywood and Pet
tibone. received the news of the verdict
with great pleasure. Mr.. Darrow is in q
hospital recovering from abscess of tn:
ear.
at is unnecessary for me to say he
said, that | am delighted. [ had, Of
course expected an acquittal"
Mr.. Darrow then dictated the following
message to Pettbone:
"Congratulations Come here. | have
flowers enough for two funerals"
Meyer Case Dismissed.
BOISE, Idaho, January 1.-The case
against Charles Meyer, president o.
the Western Federation of Miners. who
with w. D. Haywood and George A. Pet
tibone vas charged with completely in
the assassination of former Gov. Steu.
nenberg of Idaho, was dismissed late
this afternoon.