Assassination: Idaho’s Trial of the Century is a docudrama which premiered on US television (PBS) in 2007.
The topic is a trial which was held in Idaho in 1907. The timing is significant. This docudrama premiered in 2007 in order to mark and commemorate the one-hundred-year anniversary of the trial which was held in 1907.
The trial lasted ten weeks. Obviously, the docudrama cannot cover the whole trial. It covers the most important moments of the original trial.
This trial is about the murder of Frank Steunenberg, the former governor of Idaho, who was killed in 1905.
He was killed by a bomb which exploded when he opened the gate to his residence.
The person who placed the bomb was found in 1906. His name was Tom Hogan. Alias Harry Orchard. Alias Albert Horsley (1866-1954).
When arrested, Harry Orchard admitted that he was the man who had placed the bomb. Having confessed, he added that he had only done this, because he was asked to do it, and because he was paid to do it.
Who had asked him to do this?
Who had paid him to do this?
According to Orchard, the order to kill Frank Steunenberg came from three persons:
** The well-known trade unionist William “Big Bill” Haywood (1869-1928)
** George Pettibone (1862-1908)
** Charles Moyer (1866-1929)
Why did these persons want to see Frank Steunenberg dead? Because they represented the Western Federation of Miners. And because Frank Steunenberg had been a sworn enemy of this radical trade union while he was the governor of Idaho.
William Haywood and the other two persons were found and brought to Idaho where they were charged with conspiracy to murder Frank Steunenberg.
During this trial, Harry Orchard is the key witness for the prosecution.
For the prosecution, there are two lawyers:
** James Hawly (1847-1929)
** William Borah (1865-1940)
For the defense, there are two lawyers:
** Clarence Darrow (1857-1938)
** Edmund Richardson
Here is some basic information about this drama:
** Writer and producer: Bruce Reichert
** Director and editor: Pat Metzler
** Production: Idaho Public Television
** Language: English
** Subtitles: English
** Run time: 56 minutes
Four persons are interviewed in this drama. Here are the names of the participants. Listed in alphabetical order:
** Katherine Aiken
Author of the book Idaho’s Bunker Hill
(2005) (2008)
** David Grover
Author of the book Debaters and Dynamiters
(1964) (2006)
** Byron Johnson
A former member of Idaho Supreme Court
** John Richards
The great-grandson of Frank Steunenberg
The Idaho prosecutors want to try the three defendants one by one. The first one up is William Haywood, perhaps because he is a well-known person; and perhaps because the prosecutors have a plan:
When Haywood is found guilty, they assume it will be easy for them to win the other two cases. If this is their plan, it does not work.
When Haywood is tried, the verdict is not guilty. When Pettibone is tried, the verdict is not guilty.
When Haywood and Pettibone are acquitted, the charges against Moyer are dropped.
What about Tom Hogan, alias Harry Orchard, alias Albert Horsley? What happened to him?
He was tried in a court of law in 1908. He was found guilty of murder and sentenced to life in prison. He was never released. He died in prison in 1954.
What do reviewers say about this docudrama?
This question is not easy to answer
It is not listed on IMDb
There are no user reviews
It is not available on Amazon
There are no customer reviews
The topic is important. The story of this trial deserves to be told, and in this drama, it is done very well.
I want to go all the way to the top with this product. I think it deserves a rating of five stars (100 percent).
REFERENCES
# 1. The following item is available online
The website Famous Trials
The Trial of William “Big Bill” Haywood
# 2. Books
The Confessions and Autobiography of Harry Orchard
By Harry Orchard
(First published 1907)
(Reprinted 2013)
The Autobiography of Big Bill Haywood
By William Haywood
(First published 1929)
(Reprinted 2020)
Debaters and Dynamiters:
The Story of the Haywood Trial
By David Grover
(1964 hardcover)
(2006 paperback)
Big Trouble: A Murder in a Small Western Town Sets Off a Struggle for the Soul of America
By J. Anthony Lukas
(1997)
Idaho’s Bunker Hill: The Rise and fall of a Great Mining Company, 1885-1981
By Katherine Aiken
(2005 hardcover)
(2008 paperback)
# 3. Film and video
Darrow
A historical drama
(1991)
This historical drama covers the life and career of the famous lawyer Clarence Darrow from 1894 to 1924. But the 1907 trial of William “Big Bill” Haywood is not mentioned in this drama!
*****
Assassination:
Idaho's Trial of the Century
This docudrama premiered on
US television (PBS) in 2007
*****
The well-known trade unionist
William "Big Bill" Haywood
(1869-1928)
*****
Big Bill Haywood
By William D. Haywood
(First published 1929)
(Reprinted 2020)
*****
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