Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-11-25
SWUNG OFF.
A Misguided StsubsnviIIian Hung at
DeadW00d.
Sketch Of the Short but checkered Career
Of James Gilmore, the Man Who
"Could Take His Medicine as
Well as the Next One"
LATEST NEWS FROM ALL QUARTERS.

DEADwooD, d. T., November A.-James
Gilmore, formerly Of Steubenville, O., was
hung here to-day. He had been respited
three times. The 18th of November, 1881,
was first set for his execution, but q new
trial was obtained, and, on conviction was
again sentenced for November 7th, 1882,
but he was respited for twelve days, which
threw the day of execution on Sunday. As
it would not do to have an execution on
that day, he was further respited until to-
day, when the law was allowed to take
its course. Gilmore is only twenty-five
years old, and the crime for which he wa, ex-
ecuted is as follows: In the spring Of 1881
young Gilmore and Mexican named 0rtez
were working on a farm together near
Deadwood, about two years ago, when
they quarreled, which resulted in Gill
more
Shooting the Mexican dead
with a revolver, four shots being fred.
After the crime was committed, Gilmore
escaped and travelled around under the
assumed name of James Layton until the
fall, when he was captured, tried in the
Territorial courts at Deadwood and con-
victed of murder in the first degree. When
sentence of death was about to he passed,
and the judge asked the prisoner If he had
anything TO say why the judgment of the
law should not be passed, he replied, mo;
60 on with your funeral" and while being
taken back TO Jail he said TO the guards:
You bet yoSr life will be able to-
Take NY Medicine
as easy as any body ever did," He was sem
fenced to hang November Is, 1881, but re-
spite and new trial were granted. The re-
spite was obtained through the industrious
efforts of young Giimores brother a law
yer in Steubenville, o., Gilmore's ho lie,
whose intercesson with the governor Of
Dakota, was backed by the atfidayits of
many Of the best citizens of that place. 1t
is the opinion OF many who knew him best
that James Gilmore had not mind suifi-
GENTLY balanced TO make him responsible
for the terrible deed for which he was sem
fenced. Many stories are told of his
Strapg ge Freaks when q Child
HE is not yet twenty-five years old which
shows that he was Of very irritable tenn
perament At one time, fancyIng himself
insulted by citizen of the plsre, he at
tempted to shoot two fine horses belonging
to the offender, with a small pistol He
shot several times and with difficulty was
restrained from accomplishing his purpose
At another time he set the school building
on fire and then placed himself in the
most dangerous position he could find. He
would frequently run away from home,
and was found once by brother, VINO is an
officer in the United States navy, in New
York City. At another time he was found
at the newsboys' depot in Chicago He has
traversed the whole country, and was for a
time on the sea.
He was Last In SteubeuviIIe
about five years ago. His friends tried to
induce him to stay, but without avail. His
fsther and two OF his brothers accompanied
him to the depot, where he jumped on the
train, and left them without even saying
goodbye. They did not hear from him
again until his conviction. Rev. Joseph
Buchannon, who was principal OF the
Steubenville public schools when Gilmore
was pupil, made affidavit that he did not
believe the young man was of sound mind
and that he did not consider him response
BILE for his acts when he was a scholar un-
der him. Affidsvts to the effect have been
obtained from former Comnanions of the
prisoner and from other reputable citizens
who knew him in boyhOod. On the new
trial
He Was Again Convicted.
The case was appealed, and the appeal
was decided against him. An appeal was
then made to the President through the
Attorney General. Counsel for Gilmore
represented to the President that his
client was insane, and that the circum.
stances surrounding the crime could only
be accounted for on that hypothesis, and
on the other hand, it was represented TO
the President that the man was a second
Guiteau of q most diabolical character.
The President, after full consideration,
came 10 the conclusion that the latter rep.
reservations were correct, and therefore de.
clined to interfere. Gilmore had a number
of aliases, and was tried under the name OF
James Leighton. His family in Ohio is OF
the highest respectability and social stand
ing, and the fate of this one black sheep
among the fock causes them intense sor.
row and regret.