Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1922-11-23
Deny Pardon to
Harry lOrchard;;
MANY Protests
STATE UP IN ARMS OVER POSI-
BILITY CRIMINAL WOULD
BE FREED

Boise, Nov. 22t-Harry Orchard has
been denied a pardon. The board OF
pardons has forestalled the presenta
ton of further protests against the
possible release from the state peni
Tertiary of the internationally notori
GUS slayer of Coy. Frank Steunenberg
On Wednesday at noon, Immediately
after the return Of Secretary of State
Robert Jones from ten days absence
in the east, special meeting of the
board was held in the governors Of
fee and final action was taken on
the case.
Members of Thea board voted unani-
mously against = Orchards application.
Gov. James H.AHaYley and U. s.
Senator Sens, c e R9a2g together Sni; with
ma dc IS senSat ion ~ Gr the re- re-
by him at theatfi!1E of Haywood,
Pettibone and Meyer, protests have
poured in upon the board by letter,
wire, telephone and newspaper ar
ticles.
Having no further requests for ap-
pearance on behalf of Orchard, and
deeming it unnecessary to hear fur
Their protests, the members of the
board met and took action at the
earliest possible moment after the re,
turn of Mr.. Jones.
RESOLUTION BY BLACK
The resolution by which the action
pUo falxa,a praoanfn1 hv ftnrnoU
General Roy l.. Black and was Sec
onded by Robert o. Jones.
Members of the board frankly con-
fessed that the special meeting was
called at this time to enable the
board to escape from the weight of
innumerable protests and from harsh
criticism which has not been lacking
from some of the protests, but which
they feel has been unmerited.
All the board has done in the
Orchard case,' said Governor Davis,
"was merely to accord his constitu-
tional rights which any prisoner has.
We were absolutely bound TO con-
slider his application and we could
not deny hearings upon it. AS in
every other case, the proceedings of
the board have been open and
above board.
General Black declared that he
felt the board was being publicly
criticised without grounds.
"Orchard s application" he said
" was given due publicity, as was the
October meeting of the board. The
case would have been disposed of at
that time but for the request of
Governor Hawley to appear later. We
have been ready to hear and consider
every argument"
WHILE HE WAS AWAY
Secretary of state Jones declared
he had been put in bad light by
reason of the Hawley -Gooding- Sulli- |
van hearing called without notice and
'nring his absence.
" AS secretary of the board" he
said, ct had agreed to notify certain
persons interested in the case of dates
On which the board would meet on
which hearing would be had. Gov
ernor Hawley and Senator Gooding |
appeared at a recess session and I had |
no opportunity to send notice.
~ hate to have the impression 90 |
put that the board would hold an |
important hearing without due pup
ic notice or that the right to appear
before the board would be withheld |
from anyone. !"
Board members further declared
that at no time during the present
has a pardon been
granted in the face of honest and
protests. In the Orch
lrd case they say every statement or
communication has been received for
consideration, and that if further
appearances had been asked for on
he part of Orchard they would have
'een granted. Orchard himself, they
positively stated, had never spoken to
my member of the board in his own
,ehalf.
HISTORY OF CASE
Harry Orchard, Tdaho's most no
otius penitentiaHty prisoner, pleaded
utility to the murder of former Gov.
frank Steunenberg by means
f a dynamite bomb attached to the
ate in front of the Stetinenberp
ome at Caldwell on Dec. 30, 1908.
His sentence of death was com
1uted at the pardon board meeting
his trial in 1908. TO life i'm.
rlsonment in consideration of his
aying turned states evidence ami
estified against Secretary Bill Hay
yood, President Meyer and Charles
'ettibone of the Western Federation
t Miners, charged with completely
the crime. They were acquitted
espite Orcahrd's repeated testimony.
For fourteen years Orchard has been
model prisoner, of late years mapag-
ne shoe factory in the prison. He
said to have become deeply re-
gious.
SuRPRISE PARTY