George A. Pettibone | |
|---|---|
 1907 photo of (l-r)Charles Moyer,Bill Haywood, and Pettibone | |
| Born | May 1862 |
| Died | August 3, 1908 (age 46) Denver, Colorado, US |
| Resting place | Fairmount Cemetery (Denver, Colorado) |
| Occupation(s) | Miner, labor leader |
George A. Pettibone (May 1862 – August 3, 1908) was anIdaho miner. Pettibone was best known as a defendant in trial of three leaders of theWestern Federation of Miners for the 1905 assassination by bombing ofFrank Steunenberg, former governor ofIdaho.
Pettibone was convicted ofcontempt of court and criminalconspiracy in theCoeur d'Alene labor strike of 1892.
He was later implicated in the 1905 assassination ofFrank Steunenberg, ex-governor of Idaho,[1] by a confession and testimony fromHarry Orchard.
Western Federation of Miners (WFM) general secretaryBill Haywood and WFM presidentCharles Moyer were also implicated. Haywood was represented byClarence Darrow, the most renowned defense lawyer of the day, who obtained an acquittal. Pettibone was tried after Haywood, and was defended byOrrin N. Hilton of Denver. Pettibone was also acquitted, and charges against Moyer were dropped.[2]
Pettibone fell ill with cancer during his trial.
After his acquittal he returned home toDenver, Colorado. On August 1, 1908, Pettibone underwent surgery for stomach cancer in Denver.[3] Surgeons pronounced Pettibone terminal following the operation and he died in Denver two days later.[3]