Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1882-12-23

The FIRST legal execution that has tax
en- place in the Black Hills occurred at
the Lawrence county Jail ia Deadwood
at 24S O'clock. December 18th. James
Layton Gilmore, who killed a Mexican
named Bicentc ORTIZ. in the month OF
j"nc. 1870, IN the Pierre road. was the
victim Of the rope and scatf,ld. He p d
the penalty without tlinching and, ac-
cording to the following account Of the
hanging which We take from the Pioneer,
he WAS a revised edition of Guitteau:
AT l2:l2 O'Clock Deputy Marshal r /.
,nond entered the Jail and read the death
Warrant and the several rc>pitcs. At
the conclusion of this part of the cere
mony Gilmore requested another inter
view with Rev. Prlton. They knell in
sion was formed and marched from the
cell 10 the galows. IN this short but
fatal promenade Marshal Raymond
walked by the doomed mans side, with
his hand holding on 10 his arm There
was no occasion to support him, as he
was perhaps the iirmcst man in that
gloomy procession. Upon reaching the
scaflold he halted at the verge Of the
drop and stood there silent for some
time-thoughtfnlly looking AT the grim
and awful trap. Still he was as strong
and quiet rs ever. Not nerve was dis
turbed. The expression of his face,
! though somew hat more thoughtful and
solemn. WAS the same, and the only
time when he betrayed any agitation
was when he began his brief address,
and during his prayers. While invok:
ing the Lord to have mercy on him his
eyes became slightly suffrsed with tears
and his face flu he'd bu. from these out
ward evidences of emotion he soon re.
covered. Being asked if he had any
lining 10 ia, ne 'r.i hi> bvah aid SPOKE
as follows We give his exacl words, or
as near as they could be taken By Mr.
Frank Abbott, the stenographcr
\ }
WAS fetched here by my own fault
don't know what's the reason but when
! ! Was small always had a bad temper
| ] was not such wayward child but
! was born with Il desire 10 raiuhic all the
! time. Before my mother died | think
WAS good child in everything She
| Al | Il uFt lnt
| did not appear 10 have much pleasure
at home. My father was man willing
perhaps in everything to take care Of
me, bat ] wanted 10 Wander away hom
| ho nc and left h, me three times and
my father fetched me back. and | went
! to california. Sill my heart has not
! been bad. killed this Mexican. This
is the only man | ever killed. | did
shoot another man. but did not want
to kill him or anything like that. The
gun went off accidentally when | was
! fooling with it. have only this to say
! put my trust in God. know | have
been bad, ! put my trust in God even
now if il j. too late. All can say is /
put my trust in God That is all.
| IIcrcupon followed prayer by Rev
Pel,on and also by the prisoner. After
which he again spoke rs follows:
wish to say have no hard feelings
toward any one 1t is the saving have
been the man to Kill people, but it is not
in my heart. Everybody felt hard
against me, but / have not been that
kind Of man at ALL And ! can only
ask God to let death be short and speedy
That is all can ask.
While his arms and feet were being
pinioncd he stood as steadily as statue
on the center of the trap; and while the
black cap was placed over his head. and
during the time the fatal rope was being
adjusted about his neck he maintained
! the same erect and immovable position
As the fatal moose was being tight.ned
he began to pray again, and shot down
through the awful hole with half uttered
words of prayer on his lips.
The execution passed off without .
slip, delay or accident The drop was
about eight feet, which broke the con-
demned mans neck. lie expired with.
out struggle.