Still on the Trail of Jack Simpkins............ Disappearing Dynamiter - What Happened to L. J. "Jack" Simpkins?

This is the forth recent post (see June 21, June 28 and July 13 or click on the links in the text below) related to Harry Orchard and more specifically his partner and co-conspirator Jack Simpkins. Evidence indicates Simpkins was in Caldwell, ID at the same time as Orchard but disappeared shorty before or after the murder of Governor Steunenberg. Simpkins was never again seen and little or no information has surfaced in the ensuing 100+ years.

The following article comes from True West Magazine and was written for the July 1988 edition by David Grover, author of Debaters & Dynamiters: The Story of the Haywood Trial. As you may know, David participated as an expert commentator in the production of Assassination: Idaho's Trial of the Century. It was with great pleasure that I had the opportunity to meet and chat with him following the premiere at the Egyptian Theater on November 7th, 2007 in Boise. You can see a picture among those at the end of the blog that shows my coveted copy of Debaters & Dynamiters (The Haywood Trial, Notable Trials Version) that I taken to get signed by David and other production participants.

Click on each page to enlarge.

To read the text of David's interview for the IPTV program, click on David Grover Interview.

Was Simpkins murdered to be silenced or did he somehow fade into the population never to heard from again? Perhaps he committed suicide as mentioned briefly in a small hidden article in the New York Times on 6/19/1907. See: On the Trail of Jack Simpkins - A Suicide? Or was he connected in some way with the alleged identify switch that was described my a Mr. O'Reilly in letters discussed in my June 21st post, Was That Harry Orchard In the Idaho Pen? We really don't know and may never know for sure. I do not believe any switch occurred or that anyone but the real Harry Orchard/Albert Horsely spent all those years in the Idaho pen until his death in 1954. Simpkins, a member of the executive committee of the Western Federation of Miner's (WFM), was probably in Caldwell to keep an eye on Orchard and make sure he accomplished the objective―assassinating my great grandfather. However, I imagine Simpkins exited the scene quickly before getting any blood directly on his hands and to avoid arrest.

Justice Byron Johnson expressed some skepticism about Harry Orchard's testimony because of it's "flawlessness" and that perhaps he was giving the wrong or not the whole story about Simpkins. With the utmost respect, I disagree with Byron on that point in terms of the overall accuracy of Orchard's testimony although undoubtedly there are some minor points of dispute or omission. Yes, Orchard had definitely been interviewed, interrogated, rehearsed and deposed as much as any witness in history. Probably so much so that it did often sound like he was reading a "narrative" what with all the repetition of his statements, the original written confession, McClure's magazine publication of it in serial form and the then soon to be released book The Confessions and Autobiography of Harry Orchard. Intelligent, calm, cold and calculating―that was Orchard both when it came to committing murder and giving testimony. He stood up incredibly well to the lengthy cross examination by Elliott Richardson. I do wish that Darrow had been given the opportunity to handle the cross examination and get more of a crack at Orchard but in the end it probably made little difference. Richardson was certainly no slouch in terms of his own legal skills.

Another interesting but tragic event in 1907, with a Haywood Trial and perhaps Jack Simpkins connection, was the murder of Sheriff Harvey Brown of Baker County, Oregon. The sheriff happened to be in Caldwell at the time of the governors assassination and assisted with the investigation. He was scheduled to testify at the Haywood trial when he too was blown up by a dynamite bomb planted at the gate to his home. Sound familiar? perhaps the missing Jack Simpkins had information about or some involvement in that crime too. Read more about it at: 1907 Bomb Murder Of Sheriff Harvey Brown.

Jack Simpkins may have lived out his life hidden somewhere in South America far out of the limelight and under a different name. If their is anyone that Mr. O'Reilly came across that was connected to the murder, it it more likely to have been Jack Simpkins rather then Harry Orchard. I think Judge Johnson and I agree on that point. See the June 28th post: Judge Byron's Johnson's take on those letters...was it the mysterious and missing L.J. "Jack" Simpkins? No direct evidence exists to support either theory.

Click here to again view the full text of Byron's interview with IPTV: Byron Johnson Interview.

Be it dead or alive―Haywood, Moyer and Pettibone certainly did not want McParland to have any chance to question Simpkins regarding the inner workings of the executive committee of the WFM. Either killing Simpkins or paying him off and hiding him away were the available options. Had McParland been given a chance to work on Simpkins as he did Orchard, the corroborating evidence that was missing from the Haywood trial might well have been available and we would know more about the role of all the participants (or at least have more testimony and information to debate) leading up to that evening of December 30th, 1905.

So Jack Simpkins remains an enigma. What exactly was his level of knowledge and participation in this story? Where and why did he disappear never to be seen or heard from again? We may never know all the answers but we have all seen examples of information coming to light many years after a crime has been committed...even 100+ years later. It is what keeps Judge Johnson and I and other amateur historians and sleuths looking for that one shred of evidence―a faded letter or memory―that might shine some light on the dark and mysterious role Simpkins played in my great grandfathers murder.

Jack Simpkins....Still a Wanted Man!

As of this writing, I was referred by one county coroner's office jurisdiction to another in Colorado regarding the existence of any 1907 records related to the small New York Time's article in the previous post alleging Simpkins suicide. If any of my Colorado friends can dig anything up related to Simpkins then have at it. When and if anything is found you will find it here on the blog.

**As a courtesy that I always try to extend, I have attempted to contact David Grover and True West magazine but have not received any response and/or objection to the use of this material for educational purposes on this blog. The material is over twenty years old and I am not aware of any copyright issues for non-commercial educational use. If any are brought to my attention then I will be happy to remove the offending portion.

On the Trail of Jack Simpkins - Justice Byron's Johnson's take on those letters...was it the mysterious and missing L.J. "Jack" Simpkins?

This is a continuation of last Saturday's post Was That Harry Orchard In the Idaho Pen? It pertains to the letters from Orchard's prison file that were provided courtesy of the Idaho State Historical Society. You will want to take a look at those if you have not yet done so.

Below is an excerpt from the IPTV interview of retired Justice Byron Johnson (BJ) that mentions those letters. Bruce Reichert (BR) of IPTV and the Producer of Assassination: Idaho's Trial of the Century is the interviewer. See the full text at: Byron Johnson Interview (updated link from IPTV with all interviews).

BR: Now, apparently there are some who wonder if the right man was imprisoned for the murder of the former governor.

BJ: Several months ago, while researching the Haywood trial in the archives of the Idaho Historical Society here in Boise, I went through the prison file of Harry Orchard, page by page, and I came across this sheaf of documents that I thought was very puzzling.

The first document was a letter dated May 3rd, 1939, addressed from Belt, Montana, to the Governor of Idaho; and what this letter said in effect was, you've got the wrong man incarcerated in the Idaho State Penitentiary. That's not the real Harry Orchard. The real Harry Orchard bought his freedom for $200,000.00 many years ago, and you ought to find out who is serving in his place.

Well, this befuddled the Idaho authorities a great deal, so they asked for clarification. The individual, whose name was O'Reilly, came back with the explanation that his brother-in-law had died avowedly by being thrown from a horse, but O'Reilly was convinced that a band of criminals in Montana had killed him, and that the leader of that band of criminals was Harry Orchard.

The Idaho authorities just couldn't make heads nor tails out of this despite some evidence that had been presented by Mr. O'Reilly.

As I have contemplated what might be behind this correspondence, I have concluded that there is at least a distinct possibility that Mr. O'Reilly had stumbled on what happened to Jack Simpkins, that Jack Simpkins may have changed identity; and since he is mentioned vaguely — although under the name of Simmons in this correspondence — that maybe Jack Simpkins had secreted himself in Montana, and maybe he did have a band of criminals that he was leading, and that we may actually have the final chapter of the story in this correspondence. And some day I hope maybe somebody will get to the bottom of what Mr. O'Reilly was talking about.

Photo from Big Trouble by J. Anthony Lukas

And I think the study of this case will never end. I expect a hundred years from now there will be somebody in some medium that has been developed technologically who will be commemorating the 200th anniversary of this trial, who will have new evidence, perhaps based on the correspondence of Mr. O'Reilly from Belt, Montana, perhaps based on new evidence that comes to light from sources that we do not yet know.

One would think after a hundred years we'd plumbed all those sources, but I am surprised every time I begin to look at this freshly, that I find a new interpretation of events, and I think some day we may have even a fuller understanding of all the ingredients of this case. (Courtesy of Idaho Public Television, Assassination: Idaho's Trial of the Century)
Here is a link to an article that appeared in the Idaho Statesman that is also an interview with Justice Johnson and contains some of the same information regarding the mysterious "Jack" Simpkins.
A Mystery From History: Who was behind ex-governor's murder?
And about a 100 years earlier in the New York Times (PDF file): Who Planned the Steunenberg Murder? Look at the photos and you will again find Jack Simpkins.
So what do I think of all this? Maybe tune in next week. I do know that I would sure like to find more information on what happened to L. J. "Jack" Simpkins or Simmons and/or additional evidence from this Mr. O'Reilly or any other parties that that might have been connected to these events. If any of their kinfolk are out there then please dig through those old papers, attics and bureau drawers. Simpkins remains probably the biggest unanswered question in the case surrounding the murder of my great grandfather Governor Steunenberg. If that question could be answered then the $2,000 reward offered by Governor Gooding and the Pinkerton's back in 1906 might even still be available!

A Public Silence Broken

Missing personal items of
Orchard's. See link below

 "This monograph introduces a lost cast of characters from a factual drama that played out in Idaho early in the 20th century. This cast includes a mother and child abandoned in Canada a decade earlier by a man who would become a notorious murderer. The murders, many committed in mining camps across the American west, were politically motivated. The murderer’s best known victim was Frank Steunenberg, a former two-term governor of Idaho. The murderer, Albert E. Horsley, is remembered by his favorite alias, Harry Orchard." —Jan Boles, Archivist, College of Idaho 

It doesn't look like the news article cited in the previous post includes any direct link to the very reason for the story.  I posted the link elsewhere but here it is again:
A Public Silence Broken

Additional comments, information and contact from Orchard descendants are welcomed. Email to: john.t.richards@sbcglobal.net

I will go ahead and include some links below to other Harry Orchard related blog posts that you can browse if interested:

Friday, July 2, 2010
Great Grandson of Albert Horsley (aka Harry Orchard) Speaks Out

Saturday, May 17, 2008
Have You Seen These Harry Orchard Items?

Sunday, May 29, 2011
Harry Orchard's Colt? Who are P.R.Edlington & Rev. Marshall F. Montgomery? Is there an Idaho Pen link? Email if you know these names or have any info.

Saturday, November 22, 2008
Knife Made by Harry Orchard, Mass Murderer

Monday, February 27, 2012
The Best of Tim Woodward: Warden’s daughter recalls life in the Old Pen

Saturday, March 21, 2009
Harry Orchard's Cottage at the Pen?

Saturday, October 10, 2009
A Harry Orchard Sighting?

Friday, July 18, 2008
Still on the Trail of Jack Simpkins............ Disappearing Dynamiter - What Happened to L. J. "Jack" Simpkins?

Saturday, January 5, 2008
"The Song of Harry Orchard”

No Neckties Allowed #4 - Governor Steunenberg, Sheriff Harvey Brown & other stuff

I hope everyone is enjoying a nice Thanksgiving weekend and getting some quality time with friends and family. For those that are Boise State fans, there is unfortunately nothing I can say to relieve your pain and suffering.

This is my fourth "No Neckties Allowed" entry that I started awhile back. These entries comprise an informal smorgasbord of information and contacts from recent weeks.

First up today are some links from our friend Gary Eller, who continues his good work of finding, preserving and recording historic Idaho music. Check it out, as you can sample the music and his CD's are available to purchase for folks on your holiday list.

The Idaho Songs Project

Early Songs of Southern Idaho and the Immigration Trails

The Idaho Songbag available from the Idaho Humanities Council

Miscellaneous
J. Anthony Lukas & Big Trouble - A look back

Dark Destinations (the old Idaho Pen)

As some of you know, Harve Haskell has been in contact with me from time to time regarding his interest in Frank Steunenberg, the assassination, and the connection to Sheriff Harvey Brown of Baker County, Oregon. Now if that sounds familiar, it is, because Harve and Gary Dielman (see Saturday, November 20, 2010 post) are each writing about the eerily similar murder of Sheriff Brown shortly after the end of the Haywood trial. I am guessing there may be a friendly competition between Gary and Harve as they continue researching and writing their respective books. Apparently they already know each other but I will do my best not to reveal any pre-publication secrets unless they have provided permission to do so. Mums the word.

Here is a sample of a recent email exchange between Harve and me, posted with his permission. I thought others might be interested in some of the information. My answers are interspersed throughout the email in red. These are just our informal emails so don't hold us too accountable for spelling and punctuation.

From: harve haskell
Sent: Wednesday, November 10, 2010 8:48 AM
To: john richards steunenberg family
Cc: harve haskell
Subject: information re: Franks' children

Dear John:

Greetings! It has been awhile since our last communication. Progress is slow, but hopefully thorough.

To that end, I suppose the information is probably right under my nose somewhere, however I cannot readily locate it, and I am currently righting the Chapter on the last few days of the Governor as seen and experienced through his own eyes and thoughts. It is a time of great reflection obviously as I'm sure it would have been if he had been that sense of impending doom.

I cannot seem to locate all the information on the names, dates of birth, etc. of all his children. Did I read that he had five? I believe that the girl Frances was born August 8, 1892.

The five children of Frank and Eveline “Belle” Steunenberg are:
1. Julian Pope Steunenberg (my grandfather) born July 1, 1886, Knoxville, Iowa and died Feb. 11, 1966 in Ventura, CA. Married Oct. 18, 1906 in Caldwell, ID to Francis Beardsley Wood.

2. Felix Steunenberg born Dec. 13, 1888 Caldwell ID. Died May 1894 Caldwell, ID.

3. Frances L. Steunenberg born Aug. 12, 1892, Caldwell, ID. Died Aug. 1956 in Stockton, CA

4. Frank Willis Steunenberg (sometimes referred to as Frank Jr.) born Mar 1, 1900 in Caldwell, ID. Died Aug 12, 1990.

5. Edna Jessie Steunenberg born Sep. 25th, 1902 Caldwell, ID. She was an adopted child by Frank and Belle in 1905. Died on Jan 1, 1981 in Sonoma, CA. Married Herbert Oldridge (date unk).

I know that Julian was the eldest son, but do not know his date of birth. Based on the testimony, that I could make out, he appeared to be somewhere between 16 and 18 when this occurred, is this correct?

Julian was about 19 at the time of the assassination and nearing 21 at the time that he testified in June 1907.

I know that Frank (Jr.) was born after Julian and attended Walla Walla College. Was that the same institution Julian attended as referenced in that letter from Frank Senior where he sends money to Julian to return home on the train?

Yes, Julian attended Walla Walla College and that is where he met my grandmother Francis. We have a lot of historical connections to the development of Walla Walla College on my grandmothers side (Maxon/Wood Family). Julian’s brother Frank attended later and graduated 1924 and went into the ministry. Julian did not complete college after his father was assassinated. He married my grandmother soon thereafter and they were lifelong SDA’s. Most are gone but there are still a couple of SDA family members living today.

I believe I have made out most of the correct wording in the letter but am not exactly sure what the first sentence says. It appears to say "Herewith (pay, fare, pan ?) to (Huntington?)

Yes, “Herewith” and I have assumed that to be referencing Huntington Oregon, near the Oregon/Idaho border, a major train route and as you know no doubt, in Baker, County!

However, to me, when taken in context with the rest of the letter it does not quite make sense. I get the sense that the majority of the $25. is for something else, something more important, say tuition? But also, it is not clear to me whether the reference of the $3.00 fare regards the entire trip from place of departure to Caldwell, or just from Huntington home?

The $3 as I view it is just Huntington to Caldwell and would seem to be the appropriate amount for that relatively short distance. The rest of the money would be for the greater portion of the fare and expenses.
3/16/1905 - Letter from Governor Frank Steunenberg ("Pop") to son Julian

Additionally there is a reference to a Mr. Oleustaurm (sp.?) allotting Julian a certain amount of fund, as though he were in charge of the balance. Do you know of this man? Was he a headmaster, or College Dean?

I have not researched Mr. Oleustaurm (never been quite sure on the spelling) to any degree. I assumed it was a railroad official that the governor may have known and would bill him for any extra cost based upon Julian having the letter. It seems the $25 check may have actually been written payable to this person.

I would so much appreciate any help or direction you can give me here. I am also trying to place this letter within a time frame. Was it written perhaps in Julian's first year away at College, and if so, what was the name and locale of the College?

It is postmarked March 16, 1905, so some nine months prior to the assassination. Appears to perhaps be a Spring break of sorts for Julian and he is coming home from Walla Walla College/College Place, WA through Milton, OR (another stop on our family history trail), Pendleton and Baker City to Huntington and home to Caldwell.

If there is an obvious source of reference on your website for all this information (including names and dates of birth of children), I would greatly appreciate your steering me in the appropriate direction.

Let me know anything else and eventually I will get back to you. Thank you for your comments regarding a desire for factual accuracy. I may share these questions and answers on my blog. If I do that, do you want me to keep you name confidential so the source of the questions is not revealed? Regards, John

Thank you so much for your continued assistance and support on my project. I believe that I have discerned, or at least have a good working theory as to what finally happened to Jack Simpkins and who murdered Harvey K Brown.

Best Regards, Harve Haskell

From: John T. Richards Jr. [mailto:john.t.richards@sbcglobal.net]
Sent: Sunday, August 22, 2010 3:56 PM
To: harve haskell
Subject: Frank Steunenberg letter

Harve:

Here is another personal though politically pertinent letter written by Frank Steunenberg on 1/12/1890 to the family in Iowa. He had been elected as a representative to the Constitutional Convention for Idaho in early 1899. I think it gives you a flavor of his dry humor, lack of formality and down to earth nature (my interpretation of a few of his personality characteristics).

On November 5, 1899, the citizens had voted to ratify the State Constitution and on July 3^rd 1890, President Harrison signed it into law and Idaho became a state.

I have attached the four page penned letter first followed by a three page transcribed version. This is in the COI archives but not online. You might want to check with Jan Boles regarding other letters and photos that are not yet posted as a part of the online collection. Please reference the COI archives if you use any of this material.

(The above photo is just a teaser. I will post the complete four page original and three page transcribed version soon as another COI Archives Spotlight, jr).

As for Sheriff Brown, I keep looking but is not much out there.

John

From: John T. Richards Jr. [mailto:john.t.richards@sbcglobal.net]
Sent: Saturday, August 14, 2010 2:36 PM
To: harve haskell
Subject: FW: questions re: steve adams testimony (?) at George Pettibone Trial

Harve:

You raise many interesting questions on which I am not sure I can shed much in the way of new information. Poor Sheriff Brown, although right there in Caldwell from the very beginning after my great grandfathers assassination, has been relegated but to a footnote in history. I too have attempted to find out more about him in past years but only run across bits and pieces including this Oregon Genealogy web page that has been around for years. I took another try at it using my footnote.com account. You probably have already, but you might want to browse my Footnote.com "Spotlights." Most relate to the Haywood trial and Steunenberg.

The mysterious Jack Simpkins in another player that I believe was more deeply involved in this matter then we shall ever know. Although Orchard gave a detailed and chilling account, I believe he still carried a few secrets to his grave.

A few specific links are below:

Sheriff Harvey Brown Charges Bomb to Miners

Is Simpkins in the toils?

Idaho Detective (Sheriff Harvey Brown) Bomb Victim

May be a victim of Idaho Miners' Union

Steve_Adams_who_may_repudiate_his confession

I made a few notes in red below interspersed with your email. You have brought Sheriff Brown and Steve Adams back up on my radar screen. I will keep my eyes open. As you indicated, historical information can get so overwhelming that sometimes I forget stuff that is sitting right under my nose. I have so many documents, copies and notes that keeping up is impossible. While being asked for information, photos, news accounts, etc. for the Assassination: Idaho's Trial of the Century project, my blog became a reasonably quick and easy way that I could start posting some items as I found them and not have to go dig though files and boxes each time. However, the blog is only a small sample!

If you ever want to see this wonderful 1906 court docket pictured at the links below with some names you will recognize, just go over to the College of Idaho, Smylie archives in Sterry Hall and mention to Jan Boles, archivist, that we been in contact and he will be happy to show it to you along with any of the other Steunenberg documents (although most of them are online for viewing).

1906 Criminal Docket Cover

Docket spine with title

Court Docket Names

Photos of the docket courtesy of Jan Boles, COI Archives

You should be able to open and view all the above links at Footnote.com but navigation will be restricted.

Harve, how would you feel about me sharing some of our correspondence on my blog? I am ok whichever way you might feel about it.

Keep me posted on the progress with your book.

John

From: harve haskell [mailto:hshaskell.2@live.com]

Sent: Friday, August 06, 2010 2:08 PM
To: john richards steunenberg grt grnson
Cc: harve haskell
Subject: questions re: steve adams testimony (?) at George Pettibone Trial

Dear John:

I may be looking in the wrong places, but if I am I think I've looked in ALL of them.

Here is my dilemma: Sheriff Harvey K. Brown stated that he was supposed to testify at "the trial" upcoming some time after September 1907. I have found written reference to the fact that the Defense was paying him for his testimony in the Steve Adams Trial in Coeur d 'Alene. I have only found two references to trials for Steve Adams. One was prior to the murder of your Great Grandfather. The other is a passing reference to another trial for Adams after the Haywood Trial. However I can find no record of the trial of Steve Adams in Northern Idaho after Haywood's Trial which I know took place because after he recanted his testimony against the WFM leaders i know that he was to be prosecuted for "related" crimes.

The first trial is referenced in Big Trouble beginning with the last paragraph on page 500 and goes for several pages. Adams was tried in Feb 1907 (before the Haywood trial) in Wallace for the murder of alleged claim jumpers Fred Dyer and Ed Boule (not charged in the current trial). It resulted in a hung jury. It was at this trial that Adams recanted his previous confession to the murder of these two men. There was at least consideration given to refilling the charges and requesting a change of venue away from Northern Idaho. Adams was also wanted in Colorado for crimes committed there. As far as I know, he was never extradited to CO to face charges but I could be wrong on that count. I have seen only brief references that there was a second attempt to try Adams in Northern Idaho (post Haywood Trial) but it also resulted in a hung jury.

While in Wallace, McParland met Sheriff Brown who was there with Steve Adams uncle, James Lillard. Brown was not there to testify. McParland, through his newfound connection with Sherriff Brown, then launched an effort to influence Lillard to encourage Adams to “come clean.” I would assume that Sheriff Brown’s reference to upcoming trials could only mean the Pettibone, Moyer and Orchard trials. Of course, we know Pettibone was found not guilty and charges against Moyer were dropped.

Adding to my confusion is the Trial of George Pettibone in January of 1908. It would seem more likely that this was the trial Sheriff Brown was referencing that he was supposed to testify at for the Prosecution. But by September 30, the date of his death the Haywood Trial was over, he had been acquitted. I can find NO Trial Transcript of Pettibone's Trial other than he was tried in January 1908 and acquitted as well in March 1908.

I have not seen a trial transcript anywhere. Just the various brief references that he was tried and acquitted.

It would seem common sense that if Steve Adams had confessed implicating the Big 3, which we know he did, and also led Jas. McParland and Gov Gooding to the burial site of the "Hellfire" Bombs Pettibone had given him for another assignment, which then helped to support his confession, that if he then recanted his confession they could/would still put him on the stand read his confession, he could deny the truth, but the State could shore it up by the fact that part of his confession was proven by the Pocatello discovery that Adams led them to himself.

Adam’s actually recanted only that part of the confession related to the two claim jumpers that he was accused of murdering. Interestingly, under cross examination, he stated for the record at his trial that the rest of his confession was true.

I can sense that at different times (Haywood Trial, Pettibone Trial) Either/ or the Prosecution and Defense felt there was some value in Harvey Browns testimony about what Steve Adams told him on his extradition to Idaho from Baker City. It is known that Brown encouraged Adams to come clean. Some part of their conversation was important to both sides.

Conflicting information was reported that Brown would testify at: A. Steve Adams Trial in North Idaho, which I believe was held in January 1908. or B. Brown would testify at the Pettibone Trial, which also started in January of 1908. The timing of his execution on September 30, 1907 suggests one or the other wanted him out of the way by Trial time.

Brown was in Wallace to attend the trial but did not testify. I would like to find out more specifics about whether Brown was in fact going to be called to testify at Pettibone’s, Moyer’s and/or Orchard’s trial.

But here is something else that does not add up: If Adams testimony, or recanted testimony, was not used at Haywood's Trial why would they introduce it into Pettibone's Trial where Sheriff Brown then might be necessary to testify about he and Steve Adams private conversation on the way to Boise???

There was probably a fleeting hope that Adams, still under some threat of extradition to Colorado, would come clean, boost the prosecution and get a guilty verdict against Pettibone. Although Haywood had been freed, such a verdict against Pettibone would stain and cripple Haywood and the WFM even more.

I am hoping/praying you have any answer to any of the above that will help clarify some or any of this. Brown was certain that this is the reason for his death and said so in a death bed statement. He knew he had been followed closely in the prior weeks of his death. He had received a threatening letter postmarked Colorado in which he was told if he didn't leave the country(Idaho) and if he testified that he was a dead man.

One cannot say with certainty, but we have an established history of threats, intimidation and murder during that period. There is no reason to doubt Sheriff Brown’s feelings about the subject, just as my great grandfather felt the same although did not share it to any extent with family.

Any Ideas, thoughts, guesses, John?

Sincerely Yours, Harve Haskell

(I look forward to following Harve's progress with his research and book. If anyone has information, opinions and/or comments regarding Sheriff Brown, please let me know or post as a comment to this entry, John).

Owen Van Duyn—Continuing from 3/31/13 blog post.

I am finally getting something posted while I have a few minutes. No shortage of material but very busy with life and work so not keeping up the blog lately as well as I would like.

Here we continue the story of Owen Van Duyn (see Sunday, March 31, 2013, Owen M. Van Duyn—Perjurer or Public servant doing his legal duty?).
As in some previous posts, I am utilizing excerpts from Big Trouble. Being it is a rather big book with the regressive/progressive writing style of Lukas, a lot of folks are not able to tackle reading it. So sprinkled throughout the blog I try to give readers a flavor of the pertinent pages that apply to various historical points of interest.

From Big Trouble by J. Anthony Lukas:
"The new year dawn was cold and clear. At the Canyon County Probate Court, the first business of 1906 was an appearance by Johnson, who presented a complaint charging Hogan with murder in the first degree. Judge M. I. Church, recently recovered from typhoid fever, was on the bench. He issues a warrant and, toward four that afternoon, Nichols and a deputy strode into the Saratoga bar, where Hogan was having a drink—for the first time since his arrival in Caldwell he'd been drinking heavily—and arrested him. Putting up no resistance, he let the sheriff escort him to the office of county prosecutor, Owen Van Duyn, in the courthouse. There Van Duyn advised Hogan of the charges against him."

"...to give his (McParland's) operation the camouflage of routine extradition, it would be necessary for Owen Van Duyn, the county attorney, and M. I. Church, the probate judge, to play out their prescribed roles. Van Duyn would have to file formal complaints against the three federation leaders, and on that basis Church would have to issue warrants for their arrest."

"On February 8, Governor Gooding summoned Van Duyn to the state-house for a cursory briefing on Orchard's confession. At thirty-one the state's youngest prosecutor, Van Duyn was a graduate of the University of Oregon, had read law at a firm in Eugene, and in 1900 had moved to Nampa, where he served one year as city attorney. Since his election as Canyon County attorney in 1904, he'd won over 70 percent of the criminal cases he'd prosecuted. A curious-looking fellow, with slicked-down hair, watery eyes, and a prissy mouth—all of this perched unsteadily atop a dandy's high stretched collar—he was pliant and resolute. To McParland's relief, when Van Duyn heard what the detective had been up to he was 'simply dazed, but did not seem to take any offense that this fact had been concealed from him to the present time.' With that, Hawley took over, instructing Van Duyn in exacting detail as to how the complaints and warrants should be drawn up and how to explain what he was dong to Judge Church, Sheriff Nichols, and Nichol's deputies."
 —Big Trouble by J. Anthony Lukas

More to come.

*If you would like to take a look at the wonderful old Canyon County Probate Court Criminal Docket shown above, rescued by a dumpster diver, meander on over to the College of Idaho Archives in Sterry Hall, Caldwell, Idaho.

A Big Trouble Virtual Cemetery

I decided instead of constantly going to different links and locations to locate death, burial, cremation, location. etc. information that it would be easier to start a virtual Big Trouble Cemetery using Find A Grave. Of course not every participant nor ancestor who participated in these events is on Find A Grave or can be easily found. However, if a Find A Grave search comes up empty, and with minimal information, we can create a page and add to it as more missing pieces are located. 

For example, still wanted:  L.J. 'Jack Simpkins'. 

This is only a start and I have much more information and photographs to add and you can too. To be included in the Big Trouble Virtual Cemetery, historical figures just need to be connected in some way to Big Trouble—A Murder in a Small Western Town Set of a Struggle for the Soul of America by J. Anthony Lukas and/or IPTV's Assassination: Idaho's Trial of the Century.

If you have DOB, DOD, burial/cremation sites, missing persons, etc. to add to the Big Trouble Cemetery, let me know by email or commenting on this link. You can also sign up for Find A Grave and create a memorial page yourself. If the person is a part of our story, I can add them to the Big Trouble Virtual Cemetery if you provide the memorial #.

There are of course some Steunenberg's included in the above but I also have a separate Steuneneberg Virtual Cemetery. If the Steunenberg name appears in your family—we are related.

Find A Grave is another good source of information for tracking down and documenting your ancestors and/or other interesting individuals in history.  

On the Trail of Jack Simpkins - A Suicide?

New York Times, June 19, 1907. This small mention in the NYT was not very definitive. Anyone have more information? It looks like the trail will be taking me to the coroner's office in Fort Collins, Colorado to see what kind of records were kept in 1907. I will let you know what I find.

And that is again the Pinkerton wanted poster from Big Trouble shown on the right.

Who is Rose Flora? What could she tell us? What do you know about her? Are there any photos of Rose?

On the morning of December 30th, 1905:
"Their hired girl, Rose Flora, served up the austere breakfast prescribed by Adventists: wheat cereal, stewed fruit, perhaps an unbuttered slice of oatmeal bread (the sect believed that butter-like eggs, bacon, other meats, coffee, and teas—stimulated the 'animal passions')."

OK, so maybe not as as drama packed as the missing Jack Simpkins, but who is this disappearing Rose Flora? The brief, almost unnoticed, early appearance (p.16) of Rose in Big Trouble by J. Anthony Lukas is about all we know about her. She is not mentioned anywhere else in the book. Lukas, with his extreme attention to detail and indexing, does not even list Flora in the books index or page notes. 

So how long had she worked for the Steunenberg's, where did she live, was she in the house at the time of the explosion, what happened to her after Frank's murder, etc.? These and other questions linger, as Flora, we would assume, would have considerable insight as to the daily life of the Steunenberg family—a fly on the wall so to speak. How did Flora come to be working for the Steunenberg's, what happened to her, where did go, what family did she have.....

Here are a few facts from a quick check of census information and other records:

1885 Census: Rosella Flora was born 9/12/1884 in Larimer Couny, Colorado, the daughter of William and Susanna Flora. Seven other older siblings are listed.

1900 Census:  We see the family is in Cliffs, ID (Owyhee Co.) and Rose is age 16 with three brothers listed, Peter the oldest at 19 and three younger, Carl 15, Charles 14 and Elijah 11.

1908 Marriage Certificate: A marriage certificate was located and shows on August 18th, 1908, Rose married Joseph Lessman. Both Rosa and Joseph are listed as "of" Cliffs, ID. The marriage takes place in Caldwell, ID and is presided over by Clergyman, College of Idaho (COI) President, and Steunenberg friend and confidant, William Judson Boone. William L. Flora signed the certificate as a witness.

1910 Census: Rose, Rosalia, or Rosella Flora (now Lessman) is listed as age 24 (about 19 at the time of Frank's murder) and Joseph Lessman as born in CA 1872 (estimated) and now age 38. They are living in Pleasant Valley, Idaho. A daughter, Lina Rose Lessman, age 0 (under 12 months) and born in Idaho, and a brother (of Rose), Carl Flora, age 14, born in Colorado, are all a part of the household.

1920 Census: Rose died 9/23/1920 and does not appear on the 1920 Census (not that I have spotted anyway). She would have been 36 years young. I have not done an extensive search but haven't yet found Joseph either.

1930 Census: Joseph does show up here, now age 58, still living in the Owyhees at Dairy, Idaho with three children, Alica or Alice age 9, Glen age 14 and Ralph age 16. No Rose or other spouse although James is listed as married.  

Our friend Vivian Good, up at the Owyhee Museum, tells us the Lessman children are mentioned in the May 1984 Outpost as attending the school in Cliff's ID.  This edition was about Owyhee County Schools.

Canyon Hill, Caldwell, ID. The 1890 birth year is apparently incorrect.

Next stop as I track Rose and Joseph is Find a Grave. Low and behold we are back in Caldwell, ID at a familiar place to many Steunenberg kin—Canyon Hill Cemetery.

Rosella "Rose" Flora Lessman (and you can link to Joseph & other family from there) is back where we first found her, near the Steunenberg family she served during those dark days of late December 1905. Rosa's birth year, as indicated in the Find a Grave information and inscribed on the headstone, does not appear to be correct.

Next time I am in Caldwell, and up to Canyon Hill, I will be sure to find and visit Rose. If only she could talk and tell me what it was like working in the Steunenberg household circa 1905.


If you are descendants of Rose and Joseph, and have any knowledge of her life in Idaho and time with the Steunenberg's, I would enjoy hearing from you. A picture of Rose would be a real bonus.
 

Comments from a reader

Here is part of a recent email exchange with Gary Heagy. Gary in undoubtedly an avid history buff and well versed on the subject of Harry Orchard. Some good comments that I don't want to bury in the guest book and Gary agreed to let me use as a main post. Although I still want to encourage folks to use the guest book (near the top left column), I think I will start sharing a few of the more thought provoking emails as a blog post when it is OK with the author.
From: Gary & Terri Heagy
Sent: Sunday, September 12, 2010 10:11 AM
To: john.t.richards@sbcglobal.net
Subject: Governor Steunenberg

John,

I just came across your blog about the history of the 1800-1900's in Idaho, especially of your great-grandfather Frank Steunenberg. Wow! I really appreciate all you've put together, though I've only had an opportunity to browse through it briefly so far. I wish I had found it a few years ago.

I grew up as an Adventist reading the Harry Orchard book. A few years ago I decided to do more research about the story on the internet and then took a trip to Caldwell and Boise. I learned so much about your great-grandfather and the great man he was. I saw the place where his home was, his bank, the monument, AK's home, the gravesite, the library collection of material, etc. In Boise I went to the museum, the monument, the Idanha, the penitentiary, the historical society, etc. I purchased and read the books "Big Trouble", "Idaho's Governors", "Greater Love", "The Martyr of Idaho", "The Idanha", "A Room For the Summer", etc. I made a huge notebook of copies of documents from the newspapers, Crookham collection, files at the historical society, etc. This whole story really absorbed my attention, though it has been on the back burner for the last couple years.

I agree with you and your great-uncle Frank that too much was made of Harry Orchard and not enough was said about your great-grandfather. He was very courageous and did what he knew to be right regardless of the outcome. I have come to greatly admire him and the depiction of his murder, especially by his brother in a letter, is so grievous. I have no doubt that AK died of a broken heart because of it. Harry Orchard was a thug and despicable criminal.

To me, though, through all of this I have come to also admire your great-grandmother. The story of her forgiveness of Harry Orchard is amazing. Especially at the time when he was still an evil, murderous thug of the unions who had just ripped her life apart, mangled her husband, horrified her family, ruined her future, and more. You might understand if she had forgiven the elderly, grandfatherly Harry Orchard, but what she did speaks of an amazing woman. Her comments to the press, her sending books to Harry, even meeting with him, and in 1921 signing a petition along with your grandfather and her other children to allow Harry to be released... wow. I would love to know more about her as well.

I personally believe Harry's confession and change of life to be real, and I believe Belle did as well. There is no doubt that he could have gotten out of it just like Adams, Haywood, and the others if he would have stuck to his original story. The letter he wrote to your great-great uncle Peter begging him to ask for the death penalty seems genuine. He said he would much rather die for his deeds as he deserved than to live out the rest of his life in the pen. I don't think he turned state's witness just to keep from hanging. If it hadn't been for him, the state would have had zero opportunity to go after the unions. They would have had the union, too, if Adams hadn't recanted.

I do think that God changed Harry Orchard from the vile person he was, who could kill a great man like Frank Steunenberg in cold blood, to a humble repentant sinner saved by God's grace. I feel that is what makes people focus on his story. But unfortunately they have raised him up to being a hero instead of your great-grandfather. I have thought about writing another book for the Adventist denomination that balances the story a bit better than the original Harry Orchard book, but we'll see...

Anyway, it is an honor to be able to communicate with you,

Gary Heagy

From: John T. Richards Jr. [mailto:john.t.richards@sbcglobal.net]
Sent: Sunday, September 12, 2010 4:16 PM
To: 'Gary & Terri Heagy'
Subject: RE: Governor Steunenberg

Gary:

I really appreciate the email. It appears you have put a considerable amount of time and thought into you study of this subject.

Are you in Idaho? As you may have read, I am a CA boy but we have roots in Idaho and kinfolk still living in the Caldwell/Boise area. I hope to make another visit there soon. 

There was a Deanna Davis that I corresponded with and finally met in 2007 that was interested in writing a new book. Deanna and I, along with archivist Jan Boles, met in the archives at the College of Idaho. Here is a summary of that meeting from my daily log in case you have not discovered it yet on my blog. It may be of some interest. 

November 9, 2007 - College of Idaho Archives with Jan and Deanna

Today we headed over to the COI archives for a visit with Jan and I wanted to get a look at that wonderful old court docket from 1906 that had been rescued from the dumpster. Quite a find with the names we all know (Haywood, Petitioner, Moyer, Orchard, Simpkins, etc) but including the quiet presence of a young Julian Steunenberg as a witness to Orchard’s presence in Caldwell. Thank you Cousin Bill and Jan for seeing that the item found its way safely into the hands of the archives. Our friend Jan has of course been of great importance to the Steunenberg family with the establishment of the George L. Crookham Jr. collection. He served as a consultant to the IPTV production and his white beard and hair served him well as a member of the Haywood trial jury. He is not really as old as any of those Haywood trial jurors but he played the part well! Thank you for all your work and for keeping me in touch with happenings in Idaho. You are an invaluable resource.

Jan, John, Deanna

We also had the pleasure of meeting with Deanna Davis from Pacific Press in Nampa. Deanna and I had corresponded briefly and we arranged to meet and discuss the SDA Church’s desire to have her write a new book on Harry Orchard. I was happy to hear Dianna say that she wanted to do more then just a rehash of The Man God Made Again, and plans to update and include other elements from the story on which we have been focusing so much recent interest. Perhaps it is Belle Steunenberg and later Frank Steunenberg Jr. who played significant roles in Orchard’s alleged salvation that deserves more prominent recognition. Regardless of one’s personal view of Orchard’s real or faked conversion, as someone opposed to capital punishment I cannot apply that view only to modern times and ignore the past. I am at peace with Orchard’s life sentence, supportive of my ancestors that made sure it stayed that way but find regrettable some of the unusual freedom’s that Orchard enjoyed during his life at the Idaho pen. Deanna also spent a considerable amount of time looking over my mother Brenda’s treasured copy of 60Years of Progress-Walla Walla College. The book has many notations and markings made by my Grandmother Frances Beardsley Wood Steunenberg. Some of our ancestors on my grandmother’s side were pioneers in the early days of the college and the Walla Walla Valley. That is another story to be told but suffice to say that Julian Steunenberg was smitten by the young Frances while attending college and we know the story went on happily for a lifetime thereafter.

Jan and I were recently corresponding and mentioning that neither of us has heard from Deanna so I am not sure the status of her book efforts.

The SDA has played an important, albeit sometimes controversial, role in our family. Great Grandma Belle was viewed as a bit fanatical by the mostly Presbyterian Steunenberg clan. Her forgiveness of Orchard put her at odds with many that preferred to see him swing from a rope. We still have a few living family members that are SDA. I am not but we grew up always familiar with the church and respecting the Sabbath due to the many happy weekends spent with my grandparents Julian and Francis Steunenberg.

As you read over my blog, I think you will find many indicators of my views and findings. Of course, the story seems never ending as a new bit of information or person of interest always seems to pop up, one being the recent surfacing of a great grandson of Harry Orchard. There may be more information coming in that regard soon.

Please keep in contact, let me know if you have any questions and always feel free to share your views. The blog has grown far beyond my original intent and some things are rather hard to find. If looking for something particular, please let me know.

BTW, would you mind if I post your email letter as a main post entry? Your expressed interests and many excellent points would be worth sharing. If you prefer, I will delete you email address so it will not show. Let me know.

Kind Regards,

John