Hellraisers Journal: Prosecutor in Adams Trial Makes Issue of Socialism, Calls Ida Crouch-Hazlett to Testify

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There are no limits to which
powers of privilege will not go
to keep the workers in slavery.
-Mother Jones
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hellraisers Journal, Monday November 11, 1907
Rathdrum, Idaho – Socialist Editor Called to Testify at Adams Trial

The second trial of Steve Adams is proceeding in Rathdrum, Idaho, where Ida Crouch-Hazlett, editor of the Socialist Montana News was called to testify during the Adams trial and grilled on her Bible reading, speech making, etc., see below.

In Rathdrum, Mrs. Hazlett is the sole correspondent representing the American Socialist press. That situation was much different during the Haywood trial in Boise when the Socialist press was well represented, demonstrated by the photograph below from Wilshire’s Magazine of August 1907:

HMP, Socialist Press, Wilshires p10, Aug 1907

From the Montana News of November 7, 1907:

SPA, Montana News, Nov 7, 1907

NEWS EDITOR ON WITNESS STAND
—–
Explains Socialist Party Methods to
the Court and Jury

Special Correspondence.

Rathdrum, Ida., Oct. 31.

Montana News, ed Ida Crouch-Hazlett, Nov 7, 1907

One peculiar feature of the present prosecution of the Federation cases is the ferocious attacks Prosecuting Attorney Knight thinks he has to make on everything that smacks of socialism. And his zeal falls as flat as the echo of a last year’s bird’s nest. For instance, he asks every prospective juror if he ever belonged to any organization, opposed to government; and he says it in connection with other remarks in such a way as to show he is making a direct slap at the socialists. Nothing could be more malicious and unjust.

That socialists should be classed as opposed to government, is the height of ignorant bigotry , with the socialist ticket appearing on the official ballots at every election, under the direct protection of the government. Such unfair slurs do no credit to those who represent an opposing political organization. It is simply the persistence in a policy of poisoning the public against the socialists.

The defense has had to put up a big fight against Willes, the news paper man from Coeur d’Alenes City. It is evident to all that he is intensely prejudiced against the defendant and bis paper has been most vicious in publishing every lie and slander current against the Federation men. Still he evaded all questioning so cleverly that it took a peremptory challenge to get rid of him. It was proven that when Wade Parks was delivering a speech on the streets of Coeur d’Alenes city on the cost of the trials to the state of Idaho, that Willis had said, he ought to be driven out of town. When questioned as to why he made this remark be said the man was making a tirade against government, law and order and established society, and he said to a policeman that he ought not to be permitted to remain in town. He admitted that he had only heard the speaker for five minutes, and then got on his wheel and rode away. And yet this is the sort of an ignoramus that is poisoning the mind of the public against truth and science through the avenues of the capitalist press. Continue reading “Hellraisers Journal: Prosecutor in Adams Trial Makes Issue of Socialism, Calls Ida Crouch-Hazlett to Testify”

Hellraisers Journal: Ida Crouch-Hazlett Reports from Rathdrum, Idaho: Jury Selection Completed in Adams Trial

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There are no limits to which
powers of privilege will not go
to keep the workers in slavery.
-Mother Jones
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hellraisers Journal, Sunday November 10, 1907
Rathdrum, Idaho – Jury Will Decide Life or Death for Adams

With one jury already unable to decide the guilt or innocence of Steve Adams, Clarence Darrow is once again front and center of this, the second battle, in the fight to save the man’s life. Ida Crouch-Hazlett is also on scene where she is the sole member of the Socialist press reporting on the progress of the trial.

From the Socialist Montana News of November 7, 1907:

STEVE ADAMS JURY COMPLETED
—–
Another Battle in the Class Struggle
Begins at Rathdrum

Special Correspondence.

Rathdrum, Ida., Nov. 5.

Ida Crouch-Hazlett, Socialist, Montana News, Aug 3, 1904

The special venire of 80 men summoned for the Adams trial was exhausted yesterday afternoon, and the judge ordered a second venire of 20 men, which the sheriff engaged to deliver in court this afternoon at 2 o’clock. There are but three peremptories that can be used, one for the state and two for the defense. A number will undoubtedly disqualify as opposed to capital punishment, and still others for prejudice, but even taking this into consideration it was thought that 20 men would be ample from which to complete the jury. The opposition to returning a verdict of guilty where the punishment is death, is more marked in this case than in ordinary ones because of the circumstantial evidence feature in the case. Many jurors lay especial stress on this and say that nothing but direct evidence would induce them to return a verdict that would lead to death penalty.

Opinions Formed.

A great number have been dismissed because of opinions already formed and the admission of prejudice. The venire makes a total of 122 men called on this case. The forming of the jury has been almost as difficult as at Boise. The questions asked are about the same as those at Boise on the part of the defense. Knight makes himself ridiculous by asking local questions that have no bearing on the case whatever, and only show that he thinks he is bound to be suspicious and vents his suspicions in the most foolish and irrelevant ways.

Darrow Shows Ability.

Darrow is evidencing much more mastery in this case than he was able to bring to the front at Boise, and he has done some particularly clever work in a number of instances with jury men. This was particularly noticeable in the case of S. Young, a hotel keeper from Post Falls. This man had acted in the capacity of a minister, was an Englishman, a smooth talker, and gave most quiet, guarded and unobjectionable answers to all questions. After most persistent and penetrating questioning that failed to reveal any attitude of mind that was objectionable, Mr. Darrow turned around and said the man was a puzzle. He asked all interested in the defense what they thought about him. Adams didn’t like the man, and Darrow turned around and went at his questioning in a different manner this time, showing open opposition to the juror. The plan worked to a nicety, and in a few moments Darrow drew from the man that he thought Steve guilty. It was an admirable piece of tactical work.

Continue reading “Hellraisers Journal: Ida Crouch-Hazlett Reports from Rathdrum, Idaho: Jury Selection Completed in Adams Trial”

Hellraisers Journal: Editorial from the International Socialist Review: “The Panic” by A. M. Simons

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Quote Panic, ISR, Nov 1907

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hellraisers Journal, Thursday November 7, 1907
From the International Socialist Review: “The Panic”

ISR Nov 1917

[…..]

ISR Editorial, Nov 1907

The Panic.

[By A. M. Simons]

Panic on Wall Street, Wiki, Oct 1907

By far the most important event of the month has been the financial disturbance. It is rather interesting that the ink was scarcely dry on the editorial in this magazine last month, questioning whether there would ever be another panic than we seemed to be launched full into the midst of one.

To be sure there is still some question of whether all the phenomena of an industrial crisis will follow, or whether, after a brief period of financial upheaval, there will be only a steady industrial depression, or possibly a revival. It is certain that never before has there been such a conscious control of affairs by great industry as has been shown during the past few weeks, but it still remains to be seen just how effective that control is in the deeper industrial phases of the subject.

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Hellraisers Journal: News from Montana: Pettibone Trial Delayed, Adams Trial Proceeding, Darrow in Idaho

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To advocate peace with things as they are
is treason to humanity.
This is a class struggle and on class lines
it must be fought out to a finish.
-Ida Crouch-Hazlett

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hellraisers Journal, Monday November 4, 1907
Rathdrum, Idaho – Jury Selection in Adams Trial

In Boise, the Pettibone trial is delayed until November 18th; and from Rathdrum, we find reporting on jury selection from The Labor World and from the Montana News.

From the Duluth Labor World of November 2, 1907:

George A Pettibone, Darrow Collection

PETTIBONE TRIAL DELAYED.
—–
Hearing Set for Monday Is Postponed
Until Nov. 18 by Stipulation.

BOISE, Idaho, Oct. 31-Attorneys for state and defense in the case of complicity in the murder of former Governor Steunenberg, today signed a stipulation that the trial, which was set for next Monday shall be continued until Nov. 18.

———-

[Photograph added.]

More from The Labor World:

Steve Adams, Haywood-Moyer-Pettibone Case of 1906-07, Darrow Collection


EDITOR OBJECTIONALBLE TO
ADAMS DEFENSE
—–

RATHDRUM, Idaho, Oct. 30.-The work of securing jurors to try Steve Adams progresses slowly. Most of today was taken up in the examination of L. G. Willis, one of the editors of the Coeur d’Alene Journal. The defense appears to be making a strong effort to get him off the jury. Attorney Clarence Darrow arrived yesterday and has taken charge of the examination of jurors. There are still 63 jurors in the box who have not been called.

———-

[Photograph added.]

Continue reading “Hellraisers Journal: News from Montana: Pettibone Trial Delayed, Adams Trial Proceeding, Darrow in Idaho”