Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1909-07-03
FEDERATION AS
SISTS MATHEWS
Prisoner Held as Train RobbeP
Supposed to Have knowledge
Of Brown Assassination.

BOISE, Idaho. July 3.-That the
Western Federation of Miners is con-
tributing to the defense OF William
Matthews, alias n. M. Marvin, alleged
Omaha train robber, now held in Boz
Sc, and that the prisoner has some
knowledge of or was connected with
the assassination OF Harvey Brown at
Baker City September 0,s19O7, is the
theory upon which detectives Of the
Pinkerton agency in southern Idaho
are proceeding. SIS ff&
Asher Rossiter, chief OF detectives
for the division embracing St. Louis,
Omaha and New Orleans, has given
his whole time to the case ever since
Marvin, or Notorious Bill Mat
thews. as he is known to the police,
was taken into custody, and is said
to have made important discoveries.
While the prisoner was in jail at
Twin Falls, just before the trial,
Bill" Easterly, conspicuous in Boise
throughout the dynamite trials as a
Western Federation worker, together
with "old Man" Dimond, father-in-
law of Steve Adams, appeared. Di-
mond left Twin Falls Saturday after
noon, but Easterly remained two
days. 1t is believed he made several
attempts to see the prisoner.
Matthews. the detectives declare,
is an expert safe blower. and a past
master in the art of extracting and
handling nitro-glycerine. He Is ma
tive of Oregon.
bob" spIain on Stage.
When arrested he and compan-
ion, Bob Splain, who was also held
as a train robbery suspect on hold
up on the Northern Pacific near
Spokane, were driving a stage be-
tween Buhl and Three Forks. A
postal inspector recognized driver
as Matthews, and caused his arrest
as fugitive A week later the
Omaha indictment was served. He
was given a preliminary hearing be-
fore United States Commissioner
Frazer, at Twin Falls, and held to
trial in the federal district co''rt, be-
ing removed to Boise Friday night
Matthews was placed in the county
jail under instructions to the sher-
id to allow him 10 see no one except
his attorneys. The prisoner profes-
ses to have friends who win furnish
plenty of money and the officers ae-
cept his statements. for when SplaiT
was released, Matthews, who had
only $50. gave him $25. saying h
could get plenty of money.
sheriff stamps Tale raise.
Detectives are trying to connec'
the prisoner with the Baker City dy
namiting. Eastery was first observed
on the streets by Assistant United
States District Attorney s. L. Upton
He called Deputy Marshal Beemer''
attention to the man. and Beemer
crossing the street. engaged him il
Conversation.
Easteriy said he had been iRTwir
Falls more than a year, having qui
the mines on account of his lungs
and was working on a bank buildint
being erected.
Easterly was later pointed out Il
Sheriff Dryer by a detective, WHIT
told the sherih Easterly had beef
connected with the Haywood trial
and that he had been in Twin FAIL
Tor more than a year The sheriff
declared that this was not so, ans
nat he knew every man in the towi
and that he was 4 stranger Dwye
h'er called the attention Of the dePu
nes to Easterly. inquiring what the.
Knew Of his presence, when two o
ne men positively Identified him q
me man who had twice gone dow
ne alley Saturday night at the rea
OF the jail. Not knowing him. IN
second time they held him up and in
Saired what he wanted. He replied