Friday May 25, 1906
Report from Boise: Second of Five Part Series by Jacob Waldeck

Correspondent Jacob Waldeck, nationally recognized as a star among newspaper reporters, recently spent a month in Idaho researching the facts surrounding the Moyer-Haywood-Pettibone affair. His findings are offered here as a five-part series which began yesterday and continues today with Mr. Waldeck's reporting on the conditions under which the leaders of the Western Federation of Miners have been held in Idaho.

TREATED PRISONERS
LIKE JAIL DEMONS
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Was There a Plan to Drive Moyer, Haywood and
Pettibone to Death or Confession?-Their Common
Rights As Presumed to be Innocent Withdrawn-Are
Now Better Treated and Comfortable
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(Note-The following is the second in the series of articles written by Correspondent Waldeck, who went to Idaho for this [The Spokane Press] newspaper to investigate the case of Moyer, Haywood and Pettibone, miners' officials charged with the murder of ex-Governor Steunenberg.-Editor.)

By Jacob Waldeck.

BOISE, Idaho. May 17.-Inquiries as to the health and spirits of Moyer, Haywood and Pettibone and the treatment accorded them, come in great numbers to representatives of the defense. They are prompted by the hardships endured by the trio for a time after their arrest.

When the three men were arrested in Denver they were taken, not to Caldwell, Canyon county, where the warrants were sworn out, but to the state penitentiary in this city. Their friends say that from February 19 to March 6, except during two trips to court, they were virtually in solitary confinement. They were given fewer privileges than were accorded convicts serving terms in the prison. They were allowed to talk to one another, but not to other prisoners. Cells intervening between those of the miners were occupied by convicts. They may have been detectives. The exercise permitted the prisoners was restricted.

Prison rules as to letter writing were enforced for a time, but afterward relaxed. Moyer suffers from asthma and an attack was brought on by a cold contracted in the prison. He was compelled to wrap himself in a blanket to keep warm. The men were at first denied newspapers, but the warden afterward admitted them. He continued to bar Socialist publications, however, on the ground that their teachings were dangerous to society and to admit them would be a serious violation of prison rules. Electric lights in the cells were replaced with candles.

THE ATTORNEYS FOR THE PRISONERS WERE PERMITTED TO SEE THEM IN THE PRESENCE OF THE WARDEN.

All the time the air was filled with stories of the desperate character of the prisoners and rumors of an attempted rescue. Elaborate tales were told of schemes to dynamite the jail at Caldwell or the penitentiary. At Caldwell a large force of guards was provided and the pen was a fortress.

Then the attorneys for the prisoners got busy. They protested to Judge Smith at Caldwell against what they denounced as the inhuman treatment of the men at the penitentiary. Another week, they said, would probably kill Moyer. Judge Smith came over to Boise and held a conference with Governor Gooding, Attorney Hawley, counsel for the state, and others. He was told that the stories of suffering had been overdrawn to excite prejudice against the state. It was claimed that the electric lights had been removed because of reduced power.

For a week from March 13 the men occupied the little county jail at Caldwell. It was crowded, but a great improvement over the penitentiary. Sheriff Nichols allowed them the privileges usually accorded in a prison to trustworthy prisoners. They slept in ceils, but during the day occupied a grated room in common with other inmates.

While this condition was satisfactory to the prisoners it was not so to the prosecution. On request of the later Judge Smith notified them on March 21 that they would be obliged to return to the penitentiary or be confined separately in county jails. The prosecution said the Caldwell jail was unsafe and unsanitary.

Friends of the defense believe that the real purpose was to get them back to the penitentiary so they might be worked upon by the Pinkerton detectives.

Suddenly the court changed his mind and sent them to the Ada county jail in this city.

The sheriff is D. H. Moseley. He is a humane man and one having a high idea of his duty. He believes that men are sent to him not to be punished unnecessarily, but to be held safely for trial. He did not recognize in Moyer, Haywood and Pettibone men of the prison demon class. He has accordingly treated them as he treats other "trusties" among the prisoners. They sleep in a room with two large, heavily grated windows. They are given good food. They may write letters and have all the reading matter they choose to buy. Their attorneys may see them at will. They are allowed to see friends. The attorneys for the defense, however, withhold such permission from newspaper men.

There are boxing gloves and dumb bells for exercise. Singly the men are permitted to walk about in the sun on the big lawn beside the jail. Extra guards and handcuffs do not figure in their treatment. Moyer has recovered and the three men are now in excellent health and spirits,

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(Waldeck's article tomorrow will tell of the murder of ex-Governor Steunenberg and incidents that led up to it, of the arrest of Orchard and Adams and their "confessions," and the arrest and kidnaping of Moyer, Haywood and Pettibone.)

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[Photographs of Moyer, Haywood, and Pettibone added.]

SOURCES

Wilkes-Barre Leader
(Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania)
-May 9, 1907
https://www.newspapers.com/image/116462783/

The Spokane Press
(Spokane, Washington)
-May 17, 1906
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn88085947/1906-05-17/ed-1/seq-4/

IMAGES
HMP, Jacob Waldeck, Reporter, W-B PA, May 9, 1907
https://www.newspapers.com/image/116462783/
Photos from Spokane Press:
-HMP, Jdg Smith, Waldeck 2, Spokane Press, May 17, 1906
-HMP, Shf Nichols, Waldeck 2, Spokane Press, May 17, 1906
-HMP, Shf Moseley, Waldeck 2, Spokane Press, May 17, 1906
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn88085947/1906-05-17/ed-1/seq-4/
HMP, Moyer Haywood Pettibone, ab 1906
pdf! http://darrow.law.umn.edu/documents/Wilshire_Mag.pdf
http://darrow.law.umn.edu/photo.php?pid=777

See also:

C99 Tag: Haywood-Moyer-Pettibone Case
http://caucus99percent.com/tags/haywood-moyer-pettibone-case

The Cripple Creek Strike
-by Emma Florence Langdon
Denver, 1904-05
http://www.rebelgraphics.org/wfmhall/langdon00.html
Appendix, April 1908
(Coverage of Haywood-Moyer-Pettibone Case)
http://www.rebelgraphics.org/wfmhall/langdon29.html#dedication

The Darrow Collection, Haywood Trial
http://darrow.law.umn.edu/trials.php?tid=3

Carry It On - Buffy Sainte-Marie
Lyrics: Buffy Sainte-Marie
http://buffysainte-marie.com/?page_id=1597#12

Humans are vulnerable, governments come and go, and Nature is sacred, so take care of your link with Life and thrive.

This is my favorite song. Not sure how I got so lucky as to find it in my head, but it stabilizes me and inspires me no matter what else is going on. I really believe it.