Rick Just
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Author
  • Speaker
  • Contact
  • Subscriptions
  • Heroes & Villains

Photo I.D. (Tap to read)

5/22/2023

Comments

 
It’s fun looking at old pictures. You get to daydream about what the lives of the people in the photos would have been like. You could look at this one from 1907, courtesy of the Idaho State Historical Society digital collection, and wonder what these nattily dressed men were doing standing around in front of a formal carriage. Politicians, maybe? Landowners on an inspection tour?
 
What about that guy in the center with the number 3 written across his shoulder? Is he looking relaxed with his hands folded behind his back?
 
We don’t have to wonder what was up because the Historical Society has provided us with a handy key to who was in the picture. Man number one is Warden E.L. Whitney of the Idaho State Penitentiary. The number two man is Deputy Bartell, a trial witness for the State of Colorado. Man number four is an Idaho prison guard, last name Ackley. Number five is Edgar Hawley, and number six is Detective Charles Siringo of the Pinkerton Detective Agency.
 
Oh, and number three? Harry Orchard. He wasn’t just standing at ease with his hands behind his back. They were likely in handcuffs. Orchard was convicted of setting the bomb trap that killed ex-Idaho Governor Frank Steunenberg. The picture was likely taken during the famous Haywood trial, where Orchard was a key witness.

Picture
Speaking of Idaho history posts are copyright © 2020 by Rick Just. Sharing is encouraged. If you don’t find a button that lets you do that, find the post on Speaking of Idaho. If you’re missing my daily posts, select the RSS button, or select See it First under the Facebook Following tab.
Comments
    Picture
    The first book in the Speaking of Idaho series is out. Ask for it at your local Idaho bookstore, find it on Amazon, or, if you want a signed copy, click the button.
    Picture
    The second book in the Speaking of Idaho series is out. Ask for it at your local Idaho bookstore, find it on Amazon, or, if you want a signed copy, click the button.
    Picture
    Rick's book about Fearless Farris is available on Amazon! Click the picture above to be taken to Amazon. If you'd like an autographed copy, click the button below.

    Author, Speaker

    Rick Just has been writing about Idaho history since 1989 when he wrote and recorded scripts for the Idaho Centennial Commission’s daily radio program, Idaho Snapshots. One of his Idaho books explores the history of Idaho's state parks: Images of America, Idaho State Parks. Rick also writes a regular column for Boise Weekly.

    Rick does public presentations on Idaho's state park history and the history of the Morrisite war for the Idaho Humanities Council's Speakers Bureau.idahohumanities.org/programs/inquiring-idaho/
    ​


    Check out Rick's history of Idaho State Parks.

    The audio link below is to Rick's Story Story Night set called "Someplace Not Firth"

    RSS Feed

Speaking of Idaho history posts are copyright © 2025 by Rick Just. Sharing is encouraged. If you’re missing my daily posts, select the RSS button, or select See it First under the Facebook Following tab.

*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. That means if you follow a link (generally to a book) from my page to an Amazon page, I get a tiny percentage of any purchase you may make.