The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1916-11-23
ORCHARD WRITES TO MAN
HE TRIED TO MURDER
FAMOUS IDAHO PRISONER SENDS
SOUVENIR TO EX-GOVERNOR
PEABODY OF COLORADO.

letter from Harry Orchard to for
ner Governor James H. Peabody of
colorado, which is printed in the
Eanon City (Colo.) Record of recent
late, brings Idaho's much talked of
| 0 risoner again into the limelight.
Orchard is frequently busy at the
. enitentiary making hair brushes and
other trinkets, which he sells, but he
| ends ample time to write many let
ters.
The Register says
| Governor James H. Peabody re-
ceived a letter a few days ago from
the notorious Harry Orchard, now
serving a life sentence in the state
penitentiary at Boise, Ida that is ex-
tremely interesting, in view of the
events that prompted it. In 1908, 10
years ago, when Governor Peabody
was at the head of the state admins
tration here, labor war of unusual
bitterness and intensity was in prog
ress in this state. Harry Orchard,
acting as tool for the leaders of the
more anarchistic of the strikers trail
ed Governor Peabody all over the
state to kill him. but. was in every in
stance prevented from carrying out
his murderous plots by a combination
of circumstances that viewed in the
light Of subsequent happenings, seem
to have been a direct interposition of
providence.
Traled Peabody Everywhere.
"The story is too long to be told in
this connection; many people will re-
member it. Harry Orchard one night,
bomb on the window sill of Governor
Peabody's residence on River street in
this city, and waited on the outside Of
the house for two hours in order to
Peabody sat at the side of her hus-
band just inside the window, and Or
lchard did not set off the bomb be-
cause he had no desire to kill her,
Three or four times in Denver at
tempts were made by Orchard to
murder Governor Peabody by bombs,
and once by means of a sawed off
shotgun. BY a strange unity of things
J in his favor, Governor Peabody es-
capped the assassin and was afterwards
instrumental in his conviction for the
murder of Governor Steunenberg. He
was sentenced to be hung, but was
later committed to life Imprisonment
at the instance of those who had pros
ecuted him, Governor Peabody among
the number.
Five or six years ago Governor
} Peabody visited the pententiary at
Boise and had long talk with Or
chard, in the course of which he told
him that he had no enmty toward
him, and that it was the men that had
! employed him for the commission of
, crime that were most to blame. Gov
ernor Peabody found Orchard engaged
in making hair brushes while in pris-
! on, and purchased one of them from
him as souvenir, and it is to that
incident that Orchard refers in his
communication.
What Orchard Wrote.
Orchards letter follows:
Boise. Idaho, Oct 81, 1916.-Hon.
: James H, Peabody, Canon City, Colo,
Dear Sir and Friend: No doubt you
will be somewhat surprised to receive
a letter from me, but | have been
thinking of writing to you for years,
. and send you some little remembrance
in appreciation of your forgiveness to
one so unworthy of it, considering the
terrible wrong l contemplated against
; you. l am glad God in His, mercy
spared my life and led me to repen-
lance, and that / have made all of the
earthly restitution within my power
for my misdeeds and that He gave me
that desire to live, day by day, clean,
upright life, and, truly, it is the only
: life worth living.
"I have often thought of the little
brush you bought from me and the
price charged you for it, but they
charged me $3.50 for those bristles
and think l would be ashamed of the
workmanship now, although / thought
it very good at the time; but think
have improved some since then, so
am sending you a sample of my work
as little remembrance of an un-
worthy friend.
Hoping that this finds you well,
as it leaves me, and thanking you for
your generous forgiveness, l am very
sincerely yours