Your TR Source
President Roosevelt was shocked to hear of the death of Lula Jones Fitzgerald’s husband, Postal Inspector Charles Fitzgerald. Roosevelt offers his sympathy, and praises Inspector Fitzgerald’s character.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-30
The Daily News covers Grand Jury disclosures in the land fraud case of Charles H. Moyer, Big Bill Haywood and George A. Pettibone. The disclosures seem to indicate a connection to the late Idaho Governor Frank Steunenberg, as well as an anonymous message that was sent to Moyer, Haywood, and Pettibone’s attorney. Significant support of Moyer, Haywood, and Pettibone was also noted in a series of speeches made at the Coliseum protesting their incarnation.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-03-31
John St. Loe Strachey congratulates President Roosevelt on the recent election results. Strachey published an article about the election in the Spectator. He is now working on an article about murder in the United States. Strachey was impressed by Roosevelt’s recent comments on social class conflicts. Strachey sees a strong judiciary as the key element in fighting corrupt capitalism.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-11-24
Uncle Sam and President Roosevelt look at a variety of graves: Frank Steunenberg, Arthur L. Collins, and others. In the background is a skeleton that says, “murder,” “ruin”; and explosions at Vindicator Mine, Independence Depot, and Bunker Hill Mill. There is a handwritten note under “Lest we forget!”: “…[t]hat I was with you as newspaper correspondent in Victor when you were mobbed there by this same outfit. Harold Baxter E.M. Consulting Engineer for Davis [,] Goldfield.” Caption: Uncle Sam–“Must we have murder and destruction before we need troops?”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-12-21
President Roosevelt agrees with Emerson Hough that Pat F. Garrett, widely known as the man who killed Billy the Kid, was murdered.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-03-06
President Roosevelt asks Philip Battell Stewart to send him the pamphlets they discussed about James Hamilton Peabody and the Western Federation of Miners. Roosevelt was told that Stewart or William Lenox could provide him with detailed statements “showing that there is no moral doubt” that the leaders of the Western Federation of Miners have used murder as a weapon in the past.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-08-03
George E. Frost provides a character witness for his former comrade, Albert P. Russell, who was indicted for murder. He hopes Theodore Roosevelt will assist in the matter.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-01-16
Will Irwin discusses the corruption of the Tillman family, specifically surrounding the shooting of journalist Narciso Gener Gonzales by John H. Tillman. Irwin claims that Tillman’s uncle, Senator Benjamin R. Tillman, instructed members of the South Carolina Dispensary to pose as canvassers selling enlarged photographs to ascertain South Carolinians’ opinions on the shooting. Using this information, Irwin asserts, the jury was selected to be prejudiced in favor of James H. Tillman, which led to his acquittal.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-01-11
William H. H. Llewellyn encloses a newspaper clipping detailing how George F. Murray, a former Rough Rider of Troop G, shot and killed James German. Llewellyn has been asked to work in his defense but does not have the time. Murray is the ninth man from Troop G to have been killed since the war, and Llewellyn believes all of the killings were justified.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-03-18
Llewellyn, William H. H. (William Henry Harrison), 1851-1927
William H. H. Llewellyn provides President Roosevelt with some details about the recent killing of Pat F. Garrett. Llewellyn will participate in the trial of J. Wayne Brazel, the man who killed Garrett, as the Territorial District Attorney was away. While Llewellyn disagreed with Garret on many issues, he regrets his death and says that Garret was a great supporter of Roosevelt.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-03-14
Llewellyn, William H. H. (William Henry Harrison), 1851-1927
Secret Service Agent Wheeler notifies Secret Service Chief Wilkie of the murder of Secret Service Agent Joseph A. Walker at the mouth of the Hesperus mine, owned by Porter Fuel Company, near Durango, Colorado. Walker went to the mine with three other government agents, Callahan, John E. Chapson, and Thomas Harper to inspect the mine in support of a government case against the Porter Fuel Company. Walker stayed near the mouth of the mine while the other men went inside, and when they re-emerged, they found Walker dead of gunshots to the head and neck. Later, two men, William R. Mason and Joseph Vanderwiede, gave themselves up to the sheriff but claimed Walker was shot in self defense. Wheeler will keep Wilkie advised of developments in the investigation.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-11-03
Secretary of the Interior Garfield sends President Roosevelt the report on the murder of Secret Service Agent Joseph A. Walker, who was shot at the mouth of the Hesperus Mine near Durango, Colorado, while investigating coal land fraud. Garfield assures Roosevelt that the land fraud case will receive his personal special attention.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-11-07
John Allison, Chancellor of the Davidson Chancery Court in Tennessee, notes that the African American churches and organizations protesting President Roosevelt’s dismissal of a battalion of African American soldiers have not made any resolutions condemning the soldiers that he believes are responsible for killing innocent civilians in Brownsville, Texas, nor have they expressed any sympathy for those victims or regret at the conduct of the battalion whom he believes are protecting the murderers. Allison tells President Roosevelt’s secretary, William Loeb, that this is typical behavior for African Americans, and he urges Roosevelt not to countermand his order of dismissal because it might embolden the “worst elements of their race.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-11-21
President Tomás Estrada Palma addresses the Cuban Congress at the start of a special session regarding revolutionary and insurgent activity that has been taking place in certain provinces.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-09-14
Prosecuting Attorney Van Duyn has prepared an arrest warrant for William D. Haywood charging him with the murder of Frank Steunenberg in Canyon County, Idaho. The State of Idaho requests Haywood’s requisition from Colorado where it is believed he has taken refuge.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-02-12
Chronology of the daily life of Theodore Roosevelt from January 1884 to December 1891. Notable events include the deaths of Alice Lee Roosevelt and Martha Bulloch Roosevelt, Roosevelt’s time on his ranch, the completion of Sagamore Hill, Roosevelt’s engagement and marriage to Edith Kermit Carow, Theodore “Ted” Roosevelt’s birth, the “Great-Dieup” of cattle in North Dakota, and the founding of the Boone and Crockett Club.
Theodore Roosevelt Association
1985
Moore, Robert J. (Robert John), 1956-; Theodore Roosevelt Association
Freemason John Norwood and Albert W. Talkington testify that James F. Ailshie, a candidate for a judgeship in Idaho, killed A. D. Greene. Ailshie’s later application for membership in their lodge was rejected.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-02-16
Grand Jury indictment of Big Bill Haywood, Charles H. Moyer, George A. Pettibone, and John L. Simpkins for the murder of ex-Idaho Governor Frank Steunenberg.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-03
District Court, Seventh Judicial District of the State of Idaho
A large red hand labeled “Organized Murder” drips blood over the western states on a map of the United States.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1907-07-03
William H. H. Llewellyn reports on the unfortunate recent activities of former Rough Riders. James D. Ritchie of Troop G is in jail for murder in Colorado and Gerald A. Webb of Troop D killed two men in Arizona. Public sympathy has been growing for Frank Brito, currently incarcerated in New Mexico for killing his sister-in-law, since Brito’s wife ran off with Mr. Coyne of Troop H.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-02-20
Llewellyn, William H. H. (William Henry Harrison), 1851-1927