Crime News in Ada County, ID

Crime News in Ada County, Idaho

Homicide at the Junction House
A difficulty occurred at the Junction House, about eleven miles below this place, on Thursday last, between James Harding (better known as English Jimmy) and Pony Lawrence, which resulted in the death of the latter. The circumstances so far as we could learn, are about as follows. It appears that Harding rented for the present season some ground of Wallace Lawrence, a brother of deceased, who was killed near the same place a few weeks ago. On the death of Wallace, the management of affairs fell to his brother, Pony Lawrence. A part of the crops were being harvested and stacked by “Jimmy” who was about stacking a load of oats he had on the wagon, when a dispute arose between deceased and Harding, in regard to the division of the crops, during which the latter shot Lawrence twice, killing him instantly. Lawrence it is said had nearly recovered from a wound he received at the time of his brother’s death, the particulars of which the public are familiar with. There are various versions of the matter as to whether Harding was justified in the killing, but we prefer not to publish any further particulars until they are ascertained by judicial investigation, which will be had before Justice Holton next Monday. Harding is in the custody of the Sheriff.
Source: Idaho Statesman - August 6, 1864
Submitted by Nancy Piper

Committed James Harding, at the conclusion of his examination on Monday for the killing of Lawrence was committed to the county jail for his appearance at the District Court. The Justice disallowed the prisoner bail, who is now in the guard house awaiting conveyance to the jail at Idaho City
Source: Idaho Statesman - August 11, 1864
Submitted by Nancy Piper

No Title
Two masked men entered the post office at Boise, Idaho and at the point of a pistol compelled Postmaster Leonard to hand over $1,200.
Source: Middletown Daily Times, Middletown, NY - April 6, 1892
Submitted by Shauna Williams

Who Is Miss Sanders?
Boise, Idaho, July 2-Miss Birdie Sanders was attacked by three men who opposed her retention as teacher of the White Horse school. Two were shot and the third ran away.

It is supposed the men intended to abduct Miss Sanders in order to scare her out the country. She is from Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Source: The Gazette, Fort Wayne, IN - July 3, 1898
Submitted by Shauna Williams

No Title
There was a proposition to argue a young lady out of a school in Boise, Idaho. The result of it is succinctly stated in his dispatch from that town: "It is believed that two of the men shot last night by Miss Birdie Sanders will die. The third man escaped by running away and is thought to be uninjured. Miss Sanders lately has been teaching the White Cross school, and the three men, who opposed her retention as teacher, called and tried to scare her into leaving the county." While politics is not necessarily wrong, even in school matters, it must be insisted that there must be nothing of that kind which militates against the chivalry of this enlightened period. It is barely possible, however, that this lady knows how to take care of herself, no matter what the nature of the argument which may be presented against her desires or her rights.
Source: Fredericksburg News, Fredericksburg, IA - September 1, 1898
Submitted by Shauna Williams

No Title
Charged with bigamy, William T. Ashley, of Cambridge, Mass., was arrested at Boise, Idaho.
Source: The Indiana Messenger, Indiana, PA - August 12, 1903
Submitted by Shauna Williams

JURY TO DECIDE HAYWOOD CASE
Motion of Defense to Dismiss the Charge, After Argument, Pro and Con, Overruled by the Court
Attorneys for Haywood Declare Orchard's Wild Story is Wholly Unsupported
Prosecution Relies on General Theory of Conspiracy
Defense Makes Opening Statement Monday
Boise, Idaho, June 22.- When the state yesterday closed its case against William D. Haywood, charged with the murder of former Gov. Steunenberg, the defense made an unsuccessful attempt to procure from the court an order directing the jury to acquit the prisoner. Judge Wood's ruling, which requires the defense to meet with evidence the case that the state has presented, was made at 5:15 o'clock, and it was then arranged that Haywood's counsel should make their opening statement and present their first testimony on Monday next. After court was called to order after the recess, E. F. Richardson, for the defense, announced that he had filed a motion with the clerk of the court. Judge Wood dismissed the jury, in charge of the baliffs pending the reading of the motion, and the argument. The text of the motion is as follows. "Now, on this 21st day of June, A. D., 1907, comes the above named defendant, Wm. D. Haywood, by his attorneys, and moves the court to advise the jury in the above entitled case to acquit the defendant, William D. Haywood, in accordance with section 7877 of the revised statutes of the state of Idaho, for the following reasons, and each and every one of them, to-wit: "First - The only testimony which tends to connect the defendant, Wm. D. Haywood, with the homicide charged in the indictment herein is that of Harry Orchard, who testified that he was an accomplice in the Commitment of said offense. "Second - The testimony of the alleged accomplice in this case is uncorroborated by any other evidence, which in itself, and without the testimony of the accomplice, tends to connect the defendant with the commission of the offense charged. "Third - Because the Corroboration of the accomplice witness in this case is not sufficient, since it fails to show the commission of the offense or the circumstances thereof in anyway which in either way connects or tends to connect this defendant therewith. "Fourth - Because the testimony in this case is wholly insufficient to warrant the rendition of a verdict or the pronouncement of sentence thereof, under section 7872 of the revised statutes of the state of Idaho. "Fifth - Because the evidence received in the case is immaterial, irrelevant and insufficient upon which to found a verdict, or to sustain one if found. "Sixth - Because the evidence wholly fails to disclose that the defendant is in any wise connected with or had knowledge of the perpetration of the offense charged in the indictment. Evidence Fails To Connect, They Say. "Seventh - While it is charged in the indictment that this defendant was personally present and did commit the crime therein charged upon the body of one Frank Steunenberg on or about the 13th day of December, 1905, nevertheless the evidence fails to disclose that he was present, or that he was either an aider, abettor, procurer or adviser of any one connected with or who committed the alleged offense which compassed the death of the said Frank Steunenberg, in this, to-wit: That the evidence which tends to connect the defendant on trial there with is given solely and wholly by one Harry Orchard, who admits that he, himself, was guilty of the perpetration thereof, and without the aid of the testimony or evidence which in any vise tends to connect the defendant with the commission of the said offense, and the said testimony and evidence of the said Harry Orchard is wholly uncorroborated, within the meaning and intent of section 7871 of the revised statutes of the state of Idaho. "Wherefore, the defendant, Wm. D. Haywood, asks the court to advise the jury to return a verdict in favor of the defendant. E. F. Richardson John F. Nugent Peter Breen Fred Miller Edgar Wilson Attorneys for the defendant, William D. Haywood.
Source: The Quincy Daily Journal - June 22, 1907
Submitted and transcribed by Debbie Gibson

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