Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1881-02-10
Helena, Montana Thursday, February 10, 1881
4 H Beattie

awaiting the UTeau event. Strange 10 say, sew
eral women were noticed among the lockers
on. So densely were the sheds packed that
the roofs of three went down with crash,
and many were precipitated to the ground
So far as we have been able to learn, how
ever, no one was seriously injured.
AS measure Of precaution an extra guard
was placed in the corridor of the Jail last
night, and ten additional peace officers sworn
in who this morning were stationed about
the jail yard and upon the scafolding which
encircled the fence. Pelkey slept soundly
during the night, and this morning ate a
hearty breakfast. At 10 o'clock Rev. Father
Palladino arrived at the, jail and engaged
with him in prayer for some time. After
wards the prisoner came out into the corridor,
appearing to be in good spirits, and chatted
for while with the other convicts. He then
returned to his cell and again engaged in
prayer, remaining at his devotons until sum-
moned by the Sheriff.
At half past eleven q coffin was brought
into the Jail yard, wrapped in q blanket, and
placed beneath the gallows Under Sheriff
John Jefferis and Constable Mcfarland en-
tered the cell Of the prisoner at a quarter to
twelve o'clock and conducted him out into
the corridor. He was then placed in a chair
while Sheriff Jefferis read the following:
DEATH WARRANT.
In the District Court of the Third Judicial
District, Territory of Montana.
The People of the Territory Of Montana to
the Sheriff of the County of Lewis and
Clarke greeting:
Whereas, at the November term of the
District Court of the Third Judicial District,
in and for the county of Lewis and Clarke,
Territory of Montana, begun and held at the
court house in said county of Lewis and
Clarke, on the twenty y-ninth day Of Novem-
Der, 1880, before Hon. E. j. Conger, Associate
Justice of the Supreme Court of Montana,
sitting as Judge, and by twelve good and
lawful jurors, duly impanneled and sworn
and charged, Peter Peikey alias John O'Brien
was duly tried and committed of having
as charged in the Indictment, and was there
upon, on the 9th day of December, 1880,
sentenced by the Judge Of the said court dur
ing said November term, and in open court,
to be hanged by the neck on Friday, the 4th
day of February, 1881, between the hours of
II o'clock a. m. and 3 o'clock p. m. of said
day until he should be dead. Now. / do by
this warrant, pursuant to the statute in such
cases made and provided, require and appoint
that you cause the said sentence to be exc
cuted, ON the day and between the hours
herein mentioned and at the place and in
the manner prescribed by law. Given under
the hand of the undersigned, being the Judge
who constituted said Third Judicial District
Court on this 9th day of December, 1880,
and also under the hand of the undersigned,
the clerk and the seal of said court.
Ell CONGER,
Associate Justice of the Territory of Mon
tana, sitting as Judge
ALEX. II. BEATTIE,
Clerk of the District Court, in and for the
county of Lewis and Clarke, Territory of
Montana.
While the warrant was being read Pelkey
seemed entirely unconcerned and smiled and
bowed to several who were present. When
the Sheriff concluded he bowed his head and
said, That's all right" The Sheriff then led
the way to the gallows the prisoner being
supported by the Rev. Father Palladino and
guarded by several Deputies and Constables.
When the party entered the Jail yard the
noisy boisterous crowd suddenly became
silent and feelings of awe were depicted upon
the faces of many. With firm step and un-
daunted mien the prisoner assembled to the
gallows and knelt for few moments in
prayer. He was then securely pinioned. A
broad leather band was passed around the
waist, on either side Of which were two
smaller straps that enclosed the wrists and
held them down. A similar band was passed
around the breast which secured the upper
portion of the arms Another was buckled
about the knees and still another around the
ankles During this trying ordeal the
prisoner still preserved his calmness and
assisted so far as possible in fixing the straps
and properly adjusting the moose about his
neck, working his head back and forth several
times in order that the rope might be made
to fit as closely as possible. Just before his
arms were pinioned he grasped the hand of
Sheriff Jeferis and said, 'Good bye The
black cap was then drawn down over his
face. At one minute past twelve the signal
was given, the Sheriff ffsevered the cord, the iron
lever flew back with sharp clang and the
body shot through the trap. For few Sec
onds it hung silent and motionless; then
twitched and trembled spasmodically, and
then was still. After hanging four minutes
Doctor Madden and Morris reported Sc beats
of the pulse per minute. At five and half
minutes it had reached 1856 After six
minutes the pulsations were too rapid to be
counted. At twelve minutes it was Sc and
after fourteen minutes the heart ceased beat
ing. After sixteen minutes stethoscope
was applied to the heart and life pronounced
extinct. After hanging 90 minutes the body
was cut down, placed in coffin and deliver
ed to the county undertaken. All examina-
ton of the remains showed that the neck
hrvx !, 4. L, ,