IDAHO MURDER TRIAL.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 11128, 30 July 1907, Page 4

IDAHO MURDER TRIAL.

VERDICT OF ACQUITTAL. (Press Assn. — By Telegraph— Copyright). NEW YORK, July 29. Hay*wood was acquitted bf the murder of Steunenberg. The jury deliberated for 21 hours. In the first ballot eight supported acquittal, and four favored a verdict involving some degree of murder, but the minority was won over during the night. Haywood, on leaving the dock, thanked each of the jurymen. No demonstration was made. It is understood that the cases against Moyer and Pettibone will be abandoned. LONDON, July 29. The Times New York correspondent says that doubtless Orchard will be tried and made to pay the penalty of his crimes. He adds that Haywood's exoneration implies the exoneration of the entire inner circle of the Western Miners' Federation. The verdict was a complete surprise, equally to the public as to the newspaper correspondents at Denver, who declared that a disagreement was the utmost Haywood's friends expected. (Received July 30, 8.20 a.m.) LONDON, July^ 29. The Times' New York correspondent declares tliat Haywotfd's_ trial cost the State of Idaho £18,000, and £30,000 was spent on tlie defence. The Times' New York correspondent further states that many labor unionists will regard the verdict m Haywood's case as the result of the agitation m New York for his acquittal. The .correspondent adds that citizens were interrogated at random, half a dozen demonstrators being asked as to what the demonstration was about, and not one understood English. These ignorant foreigners througnout the .'ountry will believe the Labor unionists have won a great struggle against their enemies, and against the Government, and that the law was arrayed on the side of their enemies.

The London Times New York correspondent telegraphed on June 15: — Tlie story told by Harry Orchard on the wit-ness-stand is the most amazing and most terrible ever heard m an American Court of Justice. ***• That the State has evidence to support it m every detail is regarded as certain. It is pointed out that the prosecution would not liave dared to let Orchard tell his story unless it believed it was able to corroborate it. That Orchard is telling the truth and nothing- but the truth is the opinion freely expressed m print by the journalists who are attending the trial. What makes his recital the more amazing is the .fact that no sort of immunity has been promised him. He fully expects to be hanged for his crimes. This extraordinary man gave his evidence with as much unconcern aa though he were describing the proceedings of -religious conference. He told of one frightful crime after another m a soft, purring voice. He showed no fear, no contrition, no elation. "And then I shot him," he would say m as matter-of-fact a tone as if the words had been "and then I bought a drink." >' One of the orders Orchard obtained was for the assassination of a detective employed by the mine-owners. This, Orchard said, was carried out to the complete satisfaction of Haywood, Moyer, and Pettibone. Then came the ghastly outrage at Independence, Colorado, where the railway station was blown up and 14 nonunion minors were killed. Orchard described minutely how tliis was accomplished, telling of an ingenious contrivance whereby, by the pulling of 'a wire, bottles containing chemicals were overturned into a great quantity of gunpowder under the station. Asked what was the, effect of the explosion, Orchard remarked pleasantly : "It blew; up the depot and killed 12 or 14 men, I believe." Orchard received 700 dollars (£140) for this job. .Afterwards Orchard was' sent to San Francisco, where he made two unsuccessful attempts to kill a mine superintendent named Bradley, first. by* poison, secondly* by a bomb. Pettibone, when he was informed that Bradley was not killed, but would probably be blind and deaf for life as a result of the explosion of the bomb, remarked that it was better than if he had been killed outright; he would now be- a living example. Orchard then described 1 attempts to kill Judge Gabert, of the Colorado Supreme Court, Mr Peabody, ' Governor of Colodado, Mr Hearne, of the Colorado Fuel and; Iron Company, and Mr Moffatt, .Pre.side'nt of the First National Bank: Orchard made a bombj which he intended to place under Mr Peabodyfs window. At tliis point, a sensation .was caused m Court by the production ofl the bomb m question, which was identified by Orchard, who said that Pettibone helped to fill it, adding : "He said he wanted something pulled off before the convention ; tliat we must have something to show for the money we iiad spent." A bomb was j also prepared for Judge Gabbert m the. j shape of a purse, and was laid m his path. Instead of killing, him it killed a man named Wally, who picked it up. Orchard's story was completed with an account of the assassination of Mr Frank Steunenberg, the former Governor of Idaho. According) to Orchard, the chiefs of the Western Federation were agreed that the murder of Mr Steiunenberg so long after liis offences against the* Fede^ ration liad been committed would have an excellent effect ; it would serve as a ; warning that the Federation" never forgot its ,enemies. The manner m wliich Mr Steunenberg was to be removed was left to Orchards judgment. He described iii minute detail . how, after two or three failures, a bomb was placed at the front gate of Mr iiteunenberg'6 house m j such a way that when the gate was open- ! ed the bomb exploded and did the work for wliich it was intended and Mr Steunenberg was killed. After the explosion Orchard -hurried to his room m his hotel. "Then I went downstairs and went into dinner." he said, and his dreadful recital was ended.. Harry Orchard was cross-examined at great length by counsel for. the. defence, whose questions appeared to be directed to show that the wrecking of Independence Railway Station and other outrages were planned, not by the Western Federation of Miners, as alleged, but by the enemies of that organisation. The cross-examination on Tuesday turned largely upon his attempts to murder the mine-manager, Fred Bradley, by shoot- j ing, poisoning, and finally by means of a bomb. He declared that his object m j continuing his career of crime was to j get a ranch which the leaders of the Western Federation of Miners had promised him. On Wednesday Orchard admitted that .Moyer, president of . the Federation, had nothing to do with the Independence station outrage. A New York corerspondent describes the attitude of organised labor with regard to the Idaho trial as amounting practically to a refusal to believe the accused) guilty, and a determination to stand by I them. The' apprehension is entertained j that, if the accused are convicted and sentenced to death, there will be a struggle between organised labor and! forces of the law.