Tag: Steve Adams

Hellraisers Journal: Hung Jury Fails to Convict Steve Adams in Murder Trial at Rathdrum, Idaho

Janet RayeHellraisers Journal
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You ought to be out raising hell.
This is the fighting age.
Put on your fighting clothes.
-Mother Jones
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hellraisers Journal, Saturday November 30, 1907
Rathdrum, Idaho – Jury Fails to Convict Steve Adams

The second trial of Steve Adams for the murder of Fred Tyler has ended with a second jury hung. Ida Crouch-Hazlett reports the trial’s outcome in the November 28th edition of the Socialist Montana News:

Ad Darrow to Adams Jury, MTNs, Nov 28, 1907

STATE FAILS TO CONVICT

Rathdrum Ida., Nov. 24.

The jury in the Steve Adams case disagreed to-night at 5:45 after being out 21 hours. The case was given to the jury last night at 8.30. The result was 8 for acquittal and 4 for conviction. Gorwood, House Dittemore and Varnim were the men that hung out for conviction. Varnim leading the fight against Adams.

Papers were on hand to rearrest Adams in case of an acquittal and take him in one case to Telluride, Col., to be tied for the murder of Arthur Collin, and in the other to Wallace to be tried for the murder of Boulier, a notorious claim jumper and land stealer.

Adams was indicted last week in Telluride for killing Arthur Collins, the superintendent of the Smuggle Union mine, who was shot through a window.

It is said to-night, however, that Adams is to be retried on the Tyler charge, and will be held here at Rathdrum till the next term of court.

The intention is evidently to pursue Adams to the utmost, to break down his constitution and will if possible, and use him as a means to break down the Federation. The policy of the capitalist prosecution is to exhaust the treasuries of the unions through continuous attacks by the courts.

Pettibone’s trial at Boise has been postponed till Friday, Nov. 29.

Ida Crouch-Hazlett.

Continue reading “Hellraisers Journal: Hung Jury Fails to Convict Steve Adams in Murder Trial at Rathdrum, Idaho” →

Hellraisers Journal: From the Montana News: Report from Ida Crouch-Hazlett on the Adams Trial at Rathdrum, Idaho

Janet RayeHellraisers Journal
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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, Friday November 15, 1907
Rathdrum, Idaho – Clarence Darrow Fights for Life of Steve Adams

Three long articles cover most all of the front page of this weeks edition of the Montana News, the subject of all three being the ongoing trial of Steve Adams. Clarence Darrow is on the scene taking the lead in the fight to save the life of Adams, former member of the Western Federation of Miners

From the Socialist Montana News of November 14, 1907:

HMP, Adams Trial, Montana News, Nov 14, 1907

—–

Of the three front-page articles, we found this description of the the uncle of Steve Adams to be of particular interest. Unfortunately, the name of the uncle needs correcting from Mr. Millard to Mr. Lillard.

LATEST FROM SCENE OF BATTLE

Rathdrum, Nov. 10.

Mr. Millard [James W. Lillard], the uncle of Steve Adams, is an interesting figure at the trial. Steve was arrested on his ranch at Haines, Oregon, a short distance out from Baker City. The kind-hearted old gentleman is a fine specimen of the old soldier, having served through the civil war on the confederate side. He is 71 years of age but straight and vigorous with hair and beard yet dark. His mind has been so agitated by the shocking injustices he has perceived in connection with the arrest of his nephew that he has lost all faith in any justice or rectitude under this government. He has become entirely devoted to the progress of this case, and says he means to see it through no matter what it costs. He says his wife is equally determined to stay with the sad and tragic situation till its final issue.

As an instance of the kind heart of the old gentleman he not only has reared eight children of his own but besides these has provided and cared for ten orphan children till they were grown. He raised Steve and his two brothers, although they were fairly well grown when their mother died.

Continue reading “Hellraisers Journal: From the Montana News: Report from Ida Crouch-Hazlett on the Adams Trial at Rathdrum, Idaho” →

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

Janet RayeHellraisers Journal
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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

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

Janet RayeHellraisers Journal
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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” →

Hellraisers Journal: Clarence Darrow: “Haywood can die, if die he must, but..others..will come to take his place.”

Janet RayeHellraisers Journal
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I plead for the poor
and the weak and the weary.
-Clarence Darrow

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

Hellraisers Journal, Saturday July 27, 1907
Boise, Idaho – Darrow Pleads for Life of Big Bill Haywood

HMP, Clarence Darrow, Cresco IA Pln Dlr, July 2, 1907

The defense placed the life of Big Bill Haywood in the hands of the jury as Clarence Darrow sat down next to the defendant at 4:20 p. m. on the afternoon of July 25th.

Having begun his closing argument on the evening of July 24th, Clarence Darrow continued the next day, speaking throughout the morning and afternoon sessions of the court. He concluded his address to the jury with an eloquent appeal for the life of William D. Haywood, Secretary-Treasurer of the Western Federation of Miners:

Mr. Hawley says that he believes in this case. I believe in it as I believe in my life. I’ve given 30 years of my life to the poor. I have pleaded cases for them, but never before have I pleaded a cause in which I felt such an interest, and never did I hope for a verdict in favor of my client as I hope for this….

But it is not for Bill Haywood I plead or for his widow or his orphans. If he dies 10,000 men who work in the mines will send their mite to support the widow and the little ones and a million people send their message of sympathy. I dont plead for Haywood. Don’t think for a moment that, if you kill Haywood, you will kill the labor movement of the world, or the hopes and aspirations of the poor. Haywood can die, if die he must, but there are others who will live if he dies, and they will come to take his place and carry the banner which he lets fall. I plead for the poor and the weak and the weary. The eyes of the world are on you 12 men of Idaho tonight, and wherever the English tongue is spoken and throughout the civilized world they are wondering about your verdict. If you decree his death the spiders and the vultures of Wall street will send up peans of praise and wherever men live who hate Haywood because he works for the poor you will receive your meed of praise.

But if you acquit this man there are millions of men-out on the broad prairies, on the wide ocean, in the factories and mills and down deep in the earth-there are-women and children who will pray for you. These men and women and children stand here with me tonight stretching out their hands and imploring God to guide your judgment and imploring you to save Haywood.

Continue reading “Hellraisers Journal: Clarence Darrow: “Haywood can die, if die he must, but..others..will come to take his place.”” →

Hellraisers Journal: Mrs. Steve Adams and Mrs. George Pettibone Visit with Husbands Through Barred Windows

Janet RayeHellraisers Journal
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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 July 21, 1907
Boise, Idaho – Wives of Prisoners at Barred Windows

From The Pittsburg Press, we find this touching photograph of Mrs. Steve Adams and Mrs. George Pettibone speaking to their husbands through the barred windows of the Ada County Jail.

HMP, Love Thru the Bars, Ptt PA Prs, June 19, 1907

Continue reading “Hellraisers Journal: Mrs. Steve Adams and Mrs. George Pettibone Visit with Husbands Through Barred Windows” →

Hellraisers Journal: From the Socialist Montana News: Clarence Darrow Opens for the Defense in the Haywood Trial

Janet RayeHellraisers Journal
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Who comes to speak for
the skin and the bone?
-Billy Bragg
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hellraisers Journal, Friday June 28, 1907
Boise, Idaho – Clarence Darrow Opens for the Defense

From the Montana News of June 27, 1907:

Darrow’s Statement
—–

Address to the Jury Outlining
Plans of Defense
—Orchard Spends Sunday Auto
Riding in Boise

Special to the Montana News—

Boise, June 24.

HMP, Darrow Opens June 24th, LA Herald, June 25, 1907

At the call of the defense attorneys the Federation men who are to appear as witnesses have come pouring into Boise the last few days. It seems good to see them here—all the old stand-bys that have so valiantly fought the struggles of the western labor for the last ten years. D. C Copely, formerly of the executive board, now a mine owner in Nevada; A. H. Floaten, candidate for governor of Colorado on the socialist ticket; Deportee from Telluride, a merchant who has been through the fiercest of the fight for his convictions; J. C. Barnes, who was up in a tree in Telluride, while the militia were hunting him underneath; John M . O’Neill, W. F. Davis, M. E. White, one after another. The very backbone of the Federation, fine, able, brainy men, more than a match for any capitalist prostitute that can be marshalled against them.

And they are here with the goods, the truth, the eternal fight against the injustice of employers, and the reasons for that fight. As one of them said:

We are here to go to the river, our cause is right and we’ll stay with it.

Continue reading “Hellraisers Journal: From the Socialist Montana News: Clarence Darrow Opens for the Defense in the Haywood Trial” →

Hellraisers Journal: From the Montana News: Orchard Weeps Under Cross-Examination by Edmund Richardson

Janet RayeHellraisers Journal
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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, Friday June 21, 1907
Boise, Idaho – Orchard Breaks Down Under Cross-Examination

Ida Crouch-Hazlett, editor of the Socialist Montana News, is on the scene in Boise covering the Haywood murder trial, and gives the following account of the cross-examination of the prosecution’s star witness, Harry Orchard, by Edmund Richardson, Attorney for the Defense:

Orchard Weeps
—–

Breaks Down on Witness Stand-
McParland’s Methods Exposed
Under Richardson’s Fire

HMP, Richardson Crosses Orchard, Richmond IN, June 18, 1907

Boise, June 15.

The attitude of the Boise press towards this trial is a disgrace to the name of human freedom. The way the defense has riddled Orchard and shown his utter incompetency and reliability as a witness is potent to all observers. Even the judge looks disgusted at the revelations of this abandoned wretch, as he reluctantly makes admission after admission on the cross-examination to crimes be had not mentioned before. It is common comment that no jury could convict a man on such contaminated evidence. Yet the local papers, notably the “Statesman” [Idaho Daily Statesman of Boise] comes out with flaring articles about Richardson’s “blundering” ways, and his utter failure with the witness, how the friends of the defense are disgusted, and how the socialist reporters throw down their pencils in despair over his stupid efforts. It is needless to say that this is all fiction, pure and simple. Richardson’s work has been magnificent. He has held the strong, aggressive from the very beginning. Orchard has had to put forth a terrible defensive against him in order to bear up at all, and the tactics of the famous attorney have laid bare the very soul of the cringing and cowering murderer.

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Hellraisers Journal: Summary of Moyer-Haywood-Pettibone Case From Current Literature: Kidnapping and Supreme Court

Janet RayeEugene Victor Debs
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If they hang Moyer and Haywood,
they’ve got to hang me.
-Eugene Victor Debs

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

Hellraisers Journal, Friday June 7, 1907
Current Literature on Moyer-Haywood-Pettibone Case, Part I

HMP, re Undesirable Citizen, June 1907

HMP, NYC Moyer Haywood Protest, Current Lit, June 1907

—–

WHAT Mr. Debs, once a Socialist candidate for President, calls “the greatest legal battle in American history,” is now in progress in Boise City, Idaho. Fifty special correspondents of newspapers and magazines from all parts of the country hastened last month to the little city to report the case, and the telegraph company installed ten additional circuits to handle the press of business. Boise City itself is not excited. It has not furnished any of the defendants, nor any of the lawyers, nor the victim whose murder is the cause of all this excitement. All it furnishes is the jury to try the case. But the country at large is furnishing the excitement. The President of the United States has been involved in a heated controversy over the character of the defendants. The United States Supreme Court has rendered a decision which is likened by Socialist orators to the Dred Scott decision of half a century ago. Thousands of men have been parading the streets of many cities—50,000 in New York alone according to The Herald’s estimate—waving red flags, singing the Marsellaise, denouncing the Supreme Court and assailing the President in terms of bitter reproach. And a collection of $250,000, according to some estimates, has been gathered from the members of labor unions to insure for the defendants in this trial an adequate defense.

Continue reading “Hellraisers Journal: Summary of Moyer-Haywood-Pettibone Case From Current Literature: Kidnapping and Supreme Court” →