Boise news. (Bannock City, I.T. [Idaho City, Idaho]) 1863-1864, 1864-03-26
EXECUTION OFTHE MAGRRUDER
= MURDERERS. III.


we clip from the ". ". Statesman thu
following Letter from Lewiston ~
!" EDS STATEsMAN:- The 18th of March
has come and gone, and SO far as law is con.
cerned its supremacy has been fully vindica-
ted in the execution of G. c. Lower, David
Renton and James Romano. For the past
two weeks the prisoners have had almost IN
interrupted intercourse with one another. and
a visible change in their demeanor has been
pereeptible to the most casual observer.
Previous to this, they had exhibited an in
clination to be communicative upon the sub
ject of the murder but no sooner had free
intercourse been established, than all former
signs of penitence, for the awful crime of
which they stood convicted, disappeared, and
instead the most ribald jests and saCrileyious
illusions followed. This, however, was more
particularly the case with Lower than with
either Of the others. In conversations with
the others on two occasions, he observed that
he would precede them and select the first
camping ground )" also, that he would like
to "bribe some s-n of b-h to take him IN
strangers gulch two days before the time"
There was evidently some mutual understan-
ding as to the programme to be followed out
after they had consulted together, that sadly
contrasted with the partly written confessions
heretofore made. The three men now be-
came apparently contented, and frequently
referring 70 their death and wishing the day
would come when, as they expressed it they
would go where they "eould get fair trial
and where there was no hanging"
Some Of our citizens sent for and obtained
the attendance of the catholic priest, from
your valley, who endeavored to minister 10 |
their spiritual wants increasingly till all was
over. / am informed that they slept well
during the two nights previous to the fourth,
with the exception of Lower, who seemed to
lay awake most of the time The guard
says he (LOwer) turned frequently in bed
and appeared to be much troubled about
often uttering the words "d-n
the thing" and "d-n it," On the night
preceding their execution they asked for
dose of morDhene, which was given them.
and they slept sOundly through the greater
part of the night. The Rev. Father occu-I
pied the most Of the morning with them and
n the interim their acquaintance were allow
ID to bid them good bye and take their
cave. At half past eleven o'clock, on the
morning Of the 4th. the Infantry from Fort
.apwai entered town, md the vehicle that
vas to convey the prisoners and their guard
o the gallOws, approached. At quarter |
last IL the troops under command of Iieut. ]
'urdy formed q hollow square around the
ehicle, the doors of the Luna house were a
brown open and the prisoners accompanied C
y their guard emerged from the front Csim- a
ly hand-cufed,) and took their seats in the t
'agon, each between two guards, when the e
Tder was given and the Cavalcade moved Fl
II the scene of execution. They looked and a
cted much the same as upon their trial be-
re the District Court, with the exception of
Toward, (Renton,l who hid his face in his
andS for some time as though engaged in
rayer. Upon nearing the scafFold the mill
Try formed square around the place, and
lie prisoners, the sheriff, his deputy, Hill
sachy, deputy United States Marshal, and I
70 of the guard accompanied them toll,
le foot of the stairs leading to tha scafFold. D
enton mounted the steps in quick, trip ID
ng manner, followed by the sheriff. Lower q
ext followed with slow, steady and firm ia
ep, with the appearance OF as little concern NJ
though treading the public thoroughfare &C
unsupported man. Romano followed up tn
th an unsteady step like one laboring under ne
insupportable burden of mental agony. an
hairs were placed upon the scafFold and the 1 ?,
isOners were soon seated listening attentive ID
to the exhortations of the Minister and wi
e short prayer customary on such occasions. eF
oward then arose as if to address the audi 70
ce. Taking hold of the rope that was soon b'
pass over his head be held it up and re- ny
arked that it would soon end his career, VIZ
d that it would strangle AN innocent man. al
.lling upon Heaven to witness the truth of
prOtestation, he again asserted his inno-
nee and said he had nothing more to say ha
,wer next stepped forward aud addressed tot
+. Frank Kenyon. yet loud enough for 9th pc
to hear. He said that he could in FIVE cal
nutes clear both the others, but in order to "a