Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1882-12-20

Deadwood Pioneer, 18th.
Tie first legal execution that has ever
taken place in the Black Hills occurred
at the Lawrence county jail in Dead
wood, at 2:44 o'clock yesterday after
noon. James Layton Gilmore, who
killed the Mexican Bicente ORTIZ, in the
month OF June, 1879, on the Pierre road,
was the victim OF the bartarous custom
still in vogue in this land of civilization
and in the language of the frontier he
died game.
Bnring his sixteen months ilnprison-
ment in our county Jail Gilmore has
manifested degree OF fortitude that is
in no small degree remarkable. and dur
ing his last days and hours he has been
as calm as saint. When oil hope van
lshed he was the same. There was none
Of the bravado in his demeanor at any
time: He seemed to be resigned to his
fate from the first, and died trusting in
God that his future life would possess
more OF the elements of peace than his
short career on earth.
1t is needless to reiterate, Under the
circumstances, the particulars of the
crime, the arrest, trial and conviction of
the deceased, and the brief space we shall
devote to the tragedy will be regarding
the scenes about the gallows.
At 1912 o'clock Deputy Marshal Ray.
mond entered the Jail and read the death
warrant and several respites. at the
conclusion of this part of the ceremony
Gilmore requested another interview
with Rev. Mr.. Pelton. They knelt in
prayer, after which the solemn process
sion was formed and marched from the
cell to the gallows. In this short but
fatal promenade Marshal Raymond
walked by the doomed mans side, with
his hand holding on to his arm. There
was no occasion to support him, as he
was perhaps the frmest man IN that
gloomy procession. Upon reaching the
scaffold he halted at the verge Of the
drop, and stood there silent for some.
time-thoughtfully looking at the grim
and awful trap. Still he was as strong and
quiet as ever. Not nerve was disturbed
The expression of his face, though some.
what more thoughtful and solemn, was
the same, and the only time when he be-
trayed any agitation was when he began
his brief address, and during his prayers.
While invoking the Lord to have mercy
on him his eyes became slightly suffused
with tears and his face flushed, but from
these outward evidences of emotion he
soon recovered. Beng asked if he had
anything to say he lifted his head and
spoke as follows. We give his exac,
words, or as near as they could be taker
by Mr.. Frank Abbott, the Steao
grapher:
l have to say gentlemen here, that ]
was fetched here by my own fault.
don't know what is the reason, but whe,
l was small always had bad temper
was not such a wayward child, but
was born with desire to ramble all til
time. Before my mother died think
was good child in everything. Sh
died when was young; and after that
did not appear to have much pleasure a
home. My father was willing perhaps il
everything to take care of me, but
wanted to wander away from my hom
and left home three times and my fathe
fetched me back, and l went to Califor
MIA. Still my heart has not been bad
[ killed this Mexican. This is the onl,
man ever killed. 1 did shoot anothe
man, but l did not want to kill him O
anything like that. The gun went Of
accidentally when l was fooling with i
| have only to say this: l put my trus
in. God. know have been bad. pu
my trust in God even now if it is to
late. All can say is I put my trust i
God. That is all.
Hereupon followed prayer by Re,
Pelton and also by the prisoner. Afte
which he again spoke as follows:
I wish to say have no hard feeling
toward any one. 1t is the saying 1 hav
been man to kill people, but it is nc
in my heart. Everybody felt har
against me, but have not been tn,
kind of man at all. And can onl
ask God to let death be short and speed
That is all I can ask.
While his arms aud feet were bein
pinioned he stood as steadily as statu
on the centre of the trap; and while IL
black cap was placed over his head, al
during the time the fatal rope was bein
adjusted about his neck he maintaine
the same erect and immovable positio
AS the fatal moose was beng tlghtene
he began to pray again, and shot dow
through the awful hole with half uttere
words at prayer on his lips.
The execution passed off without
, slip, delay or accident. The drop W,
about eight feet. which broke the CO..
demned mans neck. He expired wit
out struggle.
= ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
Bismarck Tribune special: Deadwoo
Dec. l5-At 1912 o'clock Marshal Ra
, mond entered the Jail, and in thy pre-
ence Of the few there assembled, res
the death warrant and numerous re
pites, which were listened to by IL
prisoner with head bowed in a reverel
, tial manner. AT the col
clusion Gilmore requested anotl
er conference with Reverend NJ
Pelton, which was granted, and the tv
: knelt in prayer, after which the proce
l sion formed in the following order: Re
Pelton, A. j. Plowman, Marshal Ra
mond, prisoner, jailor, physician, jur
peace officers. The jailer's quarters al
the yard were crowded with spectator
. some with passes, but the majority wit
, out. They were held back until Il
gloomy procession filed through Il
Kitchen, assembled the narrow stairwa
and had groped its way through the lc
E to the scatfold, upon which Gilmo
stepped with firm tread, taking a po
ton on the edge of the drop. A pau
was called until the gathering cou
Q reach the platform, Rev. Mr.. Pelton al
o the prisoner improving the opportuni
q for reciting in unison, the apostles cree
The prisoner was then given an opport
y nifty to make such remarks as he might {
Il sire, when he delivered final statemel
i. His voice was loud, but his words issu
with the most melancholy cadence.
:, prayer by MIR. Pelton was followed b,
very pathetic supplication by t
n prisoner. whose eyes were fixed upon I
n azure dome above him, and whose exc
. nations aroused pity in every brea
stlll there was naught of weakness